Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
The legislative summary for SB0799/HB0855 presents the bill as seemingly innocuous, simply stating that county election commissions would be required to ask if they may use a private building free of charge for polling places during negotiations for its usage. But a late amendment added to the caption bill makes it a completely different matter.
The amendment dictates, “Statewide political parties shall nominate their candidates in primary elections for all offices for which partisan elections are held at the regular August or regular November election.”
As some counties use caucuses or conventions to select their candidates for local partisan races like sheriff, mayor, or county commission, this amendment would essentially strip them of their autonomy to conduct party business and put elections firmly under control of the state.
While it does grandfather in any counties which used another method than a regular primary election during their 2022 and 2024 elections, allowing them to continue in that method for now, it removes their ability to employ any other avenue than a primary election should they ever wish to choose candidates in a different manor. And all counties who currently utilize primary elections, the majority across the state, would be forbidden from selecting any other option in the future to pick party candidates for partisan races.
During the Senate State and Local Government Committee meeting, Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin-District 27), the bill’s sponsor, claimed that the caucus method only works in “limited circumstances” and “disenfranchises” voters who may not be able to attend an evening or weekend meeting.
“You are disenfranchising those Republicans or Democrats who wish to participate in the nomination of a candidate for county mayor, sheriff, county commission, county clerk, any of these county offices. We use the term codifying existing practice, that’s exactly what we’re doing with this legislation,” he stated.
Kimberly Calcote of Williamson County, who ran for GOP Secretary as part of what was called a “dishonest RINO campaign” by conservatives in Williamson, spoke in favor of the bill, calling the caucus-style event, “chaotic” and “unorganized.”
Referencing the recent Williamson County GOP reorganization convention, she claimed the caucus, “left many qualified voters disenfranchised. If we allowed our nominees for county offices to be selected this way, we would depress the vote even further and allow only political insiders to have their voices heard. A caucus doesn’t allow for absentee voting or early voting which disenfranchises thousands of important voices in our community and all deployed personnel. Primary elections provide the public, not just party insiders, a role in selecting who appears on the general election ballot.”
Testimony was then heard from Steve Hickey, the newly elected Chair of the Williamson County GOP, who opposed the legislation on the grounds that it, “unduly infringes upon private organizations such as my county party.” He elaborated that the root problem of his objections stems from crossover voting in open primaries that “dilutes the voices of Republicans in our own elections. While this is illegal, it is a law that is never enforced.”
Notably, this same Senate committee killed a bill on Tuesday which would have closed primaries in the state by refusing to second the motion, meaning members deliberately chose not to hear, discuss, or vote on the measure.
Hickey also shared two open calls for crossover voting, one published as an op-ed in the Williamson Herald from a former chair of the county Democrat party, the second from leftist group Williamson Strong, both encouraging Democrat voters to cast a ballot in Republican primaries.
Additionally, he referenced two US Supreme Court Decisions, Eu and Tashjian, which affirmed political parties have the right to choose their own structure and how they select nominees.
The vote was 8-1 in favor with the amendment, including both committee Democrats. Republican Senator Page Walley was the lone “No” vote. Members voting “Yes” were Briggs, Gardenhire, Hatcher, Jackson, Kyle (D), Lowe, Roberts, and Yarbro (D).
The bill will now move to the full Senate.
Subject: Sneaky Caption Bill Strips Local GOPs of Caucus Rights
To contact your Senator regarding SB0799 before the floor vote, use this tool: Find My Legislator
To contact members of this committee to ask about their votes on the legislation, use the information below:
Sen.richard.briggs@capitol.tn.gov, sen.tom.hatcher@capitol.tn.gov, sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov, sen.ed.jackson@capitol.tn.gov, sen.sara.kyle@capitol.tn.gov, sen.adam.lowe@capitol.tn.gov, sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov, sen.jeff.yarbro@capitol.tn.gov
The House version of the bill (HB0855) was scheduled to be heard in the the House State & Local Government Committee on 4/2/25 but action has been deferred to 4/9/25. Their contact information can be found below:
Rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dave.wright@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rush.bricken@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jeff.burkhart@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ed.butler@capitol.tn.gov, rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov, rep.vincent.dixie@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dan.howell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tom.leatherwood@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov, rep.greg.martin@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jake.mccalmon@capitol.tn.gov, rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov, rep.bo.mitchell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tim.rudd@capitol.tn.gov, rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov, rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov
Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Thanx, emailed them, “NO!!
Unwanted by some, unneeded by anyone.”, posted to X with “Tennesseans!
Y’all help!!
This is unwanted by some, unneeded by anyone.”