Nashville mayor Megan Barry is out, resigning as part of a plea deal about a month after admitting to an extramarital affair with her bodyguard. 

And it could have repercussions in a much bigger contest in November — the Senate battle to replace retiring Sen. Bob Corker. 

Here's why: A Tennessee observer reminds us that Democratic Senate frontrunner and former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen was a big booster of Barry's during her mayoral run, issuing a rare endorsement of her in August 2015. (A former Nashville mayor himself, Bredesen had declined to endorse in the previous two mayoral races.)

"I have watched Megan Barry in the council, and openness and coalition building is what she does, and she does it very well, and it is what we need to keep doing here in Nashville," he said during that contest. 

In a statement Tuesday, Bredesen said Barry's departure was "in the best interest" of the city.

“Megan Barry has done what she needs to do in the best interest of Nashville and I respect her for it," he said. "Now, we all need to rally around Mayor Briley so that he can effectively lead our city and continue without interruption to build on its great success.” 

Still, with Barry's ouster reverberating around the state, it's a good bet the Republican Marsha Blackburn may resurface Bredesen's past support for the disgraced mayor in TV ads. And if the #metoo movement comes up in this race, Bredesen may find himself on the wrong side of the issue.