Tennessee Republican Party

Tennessee Republican Party
Tennessee Republican Party
Chairperson	Scott Golden
Governor of Tennessee	Bill Lee
Senate Leader	Lt. Gov. Randy McNally
House Leader	Speaker Cameron Sexton
Headquarters	95 White Bridge Road, Suite 414; Nashville, Tennessee 37205
Ideology	Conservatism
National affiliation	Republican Party
Colors	Red (unofficial)
United States Senate delegation	2 / 2
United States House of Representatives delegation	8 / 9
Seats in the Tennessee State Senate	27 / 33
Seats in the Tennessee House of Representatives	75 / 99
Election symbol
Website
	tngop.org
	Politics of Tennessee; Elections;

The Tennessee Republican Party (TRP or TNGOP) is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Tennessee. Since the mid-1960s, the state has become increasingly Republican. The current chairman of the Republican Party of Tennessee is Scott Golden. It is currently the dominant party in the state, controlling all but one of Tennessee's nine U.S. House seats, both U.S. Senate, the governorship, and has supermajorities in both houses of the state legislature.

History

Upon its entry into the Union in 1796, Tennessee was strongly Democratic-Republican. Tennessee became a two-party system for more than 20 years during the Jacksonian era. The Democratic Party was formed by Jackson followers, and this party was dominant against the rival Whig Party led by Henry Clay. But in 1835, there was a turn in power of party, and a Whig governor was elected. Tennessee, after the American Civil War was part of the Democratic South for about a century. East Tennessee, however, remained strongly Republican. Even though the state was predominantly Democratic, two different presidential elections won the state of Tennessee in 1920 and 1928. In the 1960s and 1970s Republicans made a push into the Democratic power when, in 1966, Howard Baker was elected US senator. Then again Republicans made another push when Winfield Dunn was elected governor, the first Republican Governor in over 50 years.^[1]

Republicans rarely held seats in the U.S. House from the South during the Solid South period with the party only holding two seats in Tennessee between 1947 and 1952, out of the 105 seats in the south.^[2] Republicans won 80 of 2,565 congressional elections in the south during the first half of the 20th century. 50 of these victories were in eastern Tennessee.^[3]

Leadership and staff

The Tennessee Republican Party has had five chairmen since 2005. On December 11, 2004, the State Executive Committee unanimously elected Bob Davis^[4] as Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party to serve for the calendar years 2005 and 2006. He was subsequently elected to a second two-year term, 2007 and 2008, but resigned from the chairmanship in August 2007 to become Senior Adviser to presidential candidate Fred Thompson. The party's State Executive Committee then chose Robin Smith,^[5] former chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party and vice chairman of the Tennessee GOP under Davis, to complete Davis's two-year term.

Republicans won a victory in Tennessee's 2008 elections, when the party won majorities in both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly for the first time since the Reconstruction Era election of 1868. Smith was unanimously re-elected at the end of 2008 to a full two-year term as chairman for calendar years 2009 and 2010. In April 2009, Smith announced her resignation in order to run for Congress in Tennessee's 3rd congressional district in the August 2010 Republican primary.^[6]

Staff

The Chairman of the Republican Party of Tennessee is Scott Golden, who was elected on December 3, 2016.^[7]

Current elected officials

The Tennessee Republican Party controls the governor's office and a supermajority in the Tennessee Senate and the Tennessee House of Representatives. Republicans hold both of the state's U.S. Senate seats and 8 of the state's 9 U.S. House seats.

Members of Congress

U.S. Senate

Senior U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn
Junior U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty

U.S. House of Representatives

Statewide offices

Legislative leadership

Tennessee state senate

As of 2025:

Tennessee state house

As of 2025:

John Crawford - District 1
Bud Hulsey - District 2
Timothy Hill - District 3
Renea Jones - District 4
David Hawk - District 5
Tim Hicks - District 6
Rebecca Alexander - District 7
Jerome Moon - District 8
Gary Hicks - District 9
Rick Eldridge - District 10
Jeremy Faison - District 11
Fred Atchley - District 12
Robert Stevens - District 13
Jason Zachary - District 14
Michele Carringer - District 16
Andrew Farmer - District 17
Elaine Davis - District 18
Dave Wright - District 19
Tom Stinnett - District 20
Lowell Russell - District 21
Dan Howell - District 22
Mark Cochran - District 23
Kevin Raper - District 24
Speaker Cameron Sexton - District 25
Greg Martin - District 26
Michele Reneau - District 27
Greg Vital - District 29
Esther Helton - District 30
Ron Travis - District 31
Monty Fritts - District 32
Rick Scarbrough - District 33
Tim Rudd - District 34
William Slater - District 35
Dennis Powers - District 36
Charlie Baum - District 37
Kelly Keisling - District 38
Iris Rudder - District 39
Michael Hale - District 40
Ed Butler - District 41
Ryan Williams - District 42
Paul Sherrell - District 43
William Lamberth - District 44
Johnny Garrett - District 45
Clark Boyd - District 46
Rush Bricken - District 47
Bryan Terry - District 48
Mike Sparks - District 49
Susan Lynn - District 57
Gino Bulso - District 61
Pat Marsh - District 62
Jake McCalmon - District 63
Scott Cepicky - District 64
Lee Reeves - District 65
Sabi "Doc" Kumar - District 66
Aron Maberry - District 68
Jody Barrett - District 69
Clay Doggett - District 70
Kip Capley - District 71
Kirk Haston - District 72
Chris Todd - District 73
Jay Reedy - District 74
Michael Lankford - District 75
Tandy Darby - District 76
Rusty Grills - District 77
Mary Littleton - District 78
Brock Martin - District 79
Debra Moody - District 81
Chris Hurt - District 82
Mark White - District 83
Justin Lafferty - District 89
Todd Warner - District 92
Ron Gant - District 94
Kevin Vaughan - District 95
John Gillespie - District 97
Tom Leatherwood - District 99

Current structure

Here is the structure of the party as of December 2011^[8]

Elected officers of the state committee

State Chairman
Vice-chairman
Secretary
Treasurer
Vice-Treasurer
National Committeewoman
National Committeeman
General Counsel

State executive committee

The state executive committee (SEC) operates as the governing body for the state party. They establish rules and measures that best promote the success of the Republican Party and the broadening of its base. The SEC serves as the TRP's state primary board and establishes to guide and direct County Republican Parties. One man and one woman are elected from each state senate district.^[9]

33 districts
66 total representatives of the TRP
33 are male
33 are female

Coalitions

African American Development Council
College Republicans
Republican Jewish Coalition
Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Tennessee
Teenage Republicans
Young Republicans
Tennessee Federation of Republican Women

Electoral achievements

Government trifecta

In the 2010 Tennessee gubernatorial election, Republican nominee Bill Haslam flipped the governors seat. With the state legislature also being controlled by Republicans, this established a historic Republican government trifecta for the first time since the reconstruction era election of 1869.^[10] Ever since this election, Republicans have maintained their trifecta, electing Republicans since then.

Legislative achievements

In 2008 Republicans won a historic victory when the party won majorities in both chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly for the first time since the reconstruction era election of 1868.^[11]

Since 2008, Republicans have maintained their majorities in both chambers and gained a historic Supermajority in both chambers in 2012.^[12]

Federal elections

Like other Southern states, before the 1960s, Tennessee was a solidly Democratic state. However, that started to change in the 1970s.

Presidential

Since 2000, Republicans have maintained their presidential election winning streak. The last time Tennessee voted for a Democratic presidential nominee was in 1996

U.S. legislative

Republicans have held hold both of the state's U.S. Senate seats since 1994. The current Republican senators are Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty.

Republicans have also held a majority of U.S. House seats since 2010. The current delegation is an 8-1 Republican majority.

Former Chairmen

Guy Smith, editor of the Knoxville Journal, from 1948-1958 ^[13]
Congressman Carroll Reece (R-Johnson City), from 1958 to 1961. Reece was Chair of the Republican National Committee from 1945-1948.
Congressman Howard Baker, Sr. (R-Huntsville), from 1961 to 1962^[14]
Erby Jenkins, from 1962 to 1963
George Ed Wilson, from 1963 to 1964
Harry Carbaugh, from 1964 to 1965^[15]
Julius Hurst, the McNairy County Superintendent of Schools, was the first person from West Tennessee to chair the party and served from 1965 to 1966^[16]
Ernest Koella, from 1966 to 1977
Claude Robertson, from 1967 to 1969
State Rep. Ed Bailey (R-Lexington) from 1969 to 1971
S.L. “Kopie” Kopald, Jr., from 1971-1974
Dortch Oldham, from 1974-1977.
Thomas W. Beasley, from 1977 to 1981.^[17]
Charles L. Overby, from 1981-1982.
Susan Richardson Williams, from 1982 to 1984.
State Rep Jim Henry (R-Kingston), from 1984 to 1988. Henry was also House Republican Leader from 1982 to 1988.
Former State Rep. Brad Martin (R-Memphis), from 1988 to 1990.
Tommy Hopper, 1990 to 1992.
Randle Richardson, from 1992 to 1995.
Jim Burnett, from 1995 to 1999.
Chip Saltsman, from 1999 to 2001.
Beth Harwell, from 2001 to 2004.
Bob Davis, from 2005 to August 2007.^[18]
Robin Smith, from August 4, 2007, to May 30, 2009.^[19]
Chris Devaney, from 2009 to 2015^[20]
Ryan Haynes, from 2015 to 2016.

Past Republican governors

Edward H. East 1865
William G. Brownlow 1865–1869
Dewitt C. Senter 1869–1871
Alvin Hawkins 1881–1883
Ben W. Hooper 1911–1915
Alfred A. Taylor 1921–1923
Winfield Dunn 1971–1975
Lamar Alexander 1979–1987
Don Sundquist 1995–2003
Bill Haslam 2011–2019

Notable Tennessee Republicans

Controversy and scandals

Controversies

In 2008, the Tennessee Republican Party issued a press release that featured a photo of Senator Obama dressed in traditional Kenya clothing that the TN GOP called "Muslim attire" and used Obama's middle name "Hussein." Both Senator John McCain and State Democratic Chairman Gray Sasser decried the press release.^[21]^[22]

Scandals

In July 2009, state senator Paul Stanley resigned after being caught in a sexual relationship with a 22-year-old intern. Paul Stanley was known for running for family values.^[23] Stanley resigned because he wanted to focus more on his family and better that since his indiscretions. He was quoted saying, "And just because I fell far short of what God's standard was for me and my wife, doesn't mean that that standard is reduced in the least bit."^[24]
Keith Westmoreland a Republican Tennessee State Representative, was arrested on 7 felony counts of lewd and exposing himself to girls under the age of 16. He committed suicide before he could be prosecuted.^[25]
Operation Tennessee Waltz was a statewide bribery sting, where 3 Democratic Senators and 1 Republican Representative were either convicted or pleaded guilty. 8 other people also either pleaded guilty or were convicted.^[26]

Electoral history

Gubernatorial

Tennessee Republican Party gubernatorial election results
Election	Gubernatorial candidate	Votes	Vote %	Result
1994	Don Sundquist	807,104	54.27%	Won Y
1998	Don Sundquist	669,973	68.63%	Won Y
2002	Van Hilleary	786,803	47.59%	Lost N
2006	Jim Bryson	540,853	29.74%	Lost N
2010	Bill Haslam	1,041,545	65.03%	Won Y
2014	Bill Haslam	951,796	70.31%	Won Y
2018	Bill Lee	1,336,106	59.56%	Won Y
2022	Bill Lee	1,129,390	64.91%	Won Y

References

^ [1],History of Tennessee Politics.
^ Moreland, Steed & Baker 1991, p. 201.
^ Black & Black 2002, p. 59.
^ "Bob Davis, Jr". RDJ Group.
^ "Robin Smith". RobinForTennessee.
^ Sher, Andy (May 16, 2009). "Tennessee GOP chief Smith to resign, study 3rd District race". Chattanooga Times Free Press.
^ "Scott Golden elected new Tennessee GOP chairman". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
^ [2], Current Structure.
^ [3], SEC.
^ "Tennessee - Election Results 2010". The New York Times. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
^ [4], Historic state election.
^ "Republicans Gain Supermajority In Tennessee House & Senate". WREG.com. 2012-11-07. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
^ "Knoxville Editor Guy Smith Dies -- Was Mr. Republican." The Tennessean Nov. 22, 1968, pp. 1 and 15.
^ "Republicans Elect Rep. Baker Chairman." 1961.The Tennessean May 28, 15.
^ "Two Members of GOP Unit to Step Down." 1968. The Tennessean May 8, 10.
^ Jobe, Ben. 1965, "First Weststater Elected GOP Chair." The Tennessean June 20, 3A.
^ Bill Haslam, State of Tennessee House Joint Resolution No. 248, April 21, 2011
^ Locker, Rick (July 24, 2008). "GOP chair won't say whether Rove ordered media ban". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
^ Sher, Andy (May 16, 2009). "Tennessee GOP chief Smith to resign, study 3rd District race". Chattanooga Times Free Press.
^ "GOP elects Devaney state party chairman". WAAY-TV. Associated Press. May 30, 2009.
^ Humphrey, Tom (February 27, 2008). "Tenn. GOP stands by "Anti-Semites for Obama" piece". Knoxville News Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2008-03-12. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
^ Sher, Andy (January 20, 2009). "Tennessee: Democrats say Obama will be fair to state". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
^ [5], Immorality of Tennessee state senator.
^ [6], Paul Stanley,
^ [7], Immorality of Tennessee state Representative.
^ [8], Operation Tennessee Waltz.

Works cited

Black, Earl; Black, Merle (2002). The Rise of Southern Republicans. Harvard University Press. ISBN 067400728X.
Moreland, Laurence; Steed, Robert; Baker, Tod, eds. (1991). The 1988 Presidential Election in the South: Continuity Amidst Change in Southern Party Politics. Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0275931455.

External links

[1] [1],History of Tennessee Politics.

[FOOTNOTEMorelandSteedBaker1991201-2] Moreland, Steed & Baker 1991, p. 201.

[FOOTNOTEBlackBlack200259-3] Black & Black 2002, p. 59.

[4] "Bob Davis, Jr". RDJ Group.

[5] "Robin Smith". RobinForTennessee.

[6] Sher, Andy (May 16, 2009). "Tennessee GOP chief Smith to resign, study 3rd District race". Chattanooga Times Free Press.

[7] "Scott Golden elected new Tennessee GOP chairman". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2018-02-15.

[8] [2], Current Structure.

[9] [3], SEC.

[10] "Tennessee - Election Results 2010". The New York Times. Retrieved 2020-07-31.

[11] [4], Historic state election.

[12] "Republicans Gain Supermajority In Tennessee House & Senate". WREG.com. 2012-11-07. Retrieved 2024-02-15.

[13] "Knoxville Editor Guy Smith Dies -- Was Mr. Republican." The Tennessean Nov. 22, 1968, pp. 1 and 15.

[14] "Republicans Elect Rep. Baker Chairman." 1961.The Tennessean May 28, 15.

[15] "Two Members of GOP Unit to Step Down." 1968. The Tennessean May 8, 10.

[16] Jobe, Ben. 1965, "First Weststater Elected GOP Chair." The Tennessean June 20, 3A.

[17] Bill Haslam, State of Tennessee House Joint Resolution No. 248, April 21, 2011

[18] Locker, Rick (July 24, 2008). "GOP chair won't say whether Rove ordered media ban". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 2009-01-03.

[19] Sher, Andy (May 16, 2009). "Tennessee GOP chief Smith to resign, study 3rd District race". Chattanooga Times Free Press.

[20] "GOP elects Devaney state party chairman". WAAY-TV. Associated Press. May 30, 2009.

[21] Humphrey, Tom (February 27, 2008). "Tenn. GOP stands by "Anti-Semites for Obama" piece". Knoxville News Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2008-03-12. Retrieved 2009-05-23.

[22] Sher, Andy (January 20, 2009). "Tennessee: Democrats say Obama will be fair to state". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved 2009-06-17.

[23] [5], Immorality of Tennessee state senator.

[24] [6], Paul Stanley,

[25] [7], Immorality of Tennessee state Representative.

[26] [8], Operation Tennessee Waltz.

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