Image Credit: TN General Assembly & Canva
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
After nine House Republicans voted to kill two pieces of legislation which would have required party affiliation and ensured Tennessee primary elections are truly closed, some members of the Republican Party State Executive Committee (SEC) are expressing their displeasure and discussing what action they can take to hold accountable and align these legislators with the will of their constituents.
All SEC members were contacted by The Tennessee Conservative with the following questions:
Do you have a statement regarding the votes by these nine Republicans against the bills which would have implemented party affiliation, helping create enforcement for closed primary elections in Tennessee and ensuring only Republican voters select Republican candidates?
Do you plan to take any action or apply any pressure to these lawmakers in your capacity as an SEC member?
The Tennessee Conservative also contacted the GOP Chairs with similar questions in the counties represented by the nine Representatives who voted to allow Democrats to have a say in what Republican candidates appear on the ballot.
We received the following responses before the time of publication and will update this article if any additional statements are received.
Darrell Tipton, SEC District 2- Being a SEC member who holds no leadership position, I can only express my opinion of the nine Republican representatives who voted with the Democratic to defeat a bill that the SEC has strongly endorsed for years. I have not spoken with any other members; however, I will support any action that the SEC feels appropriate to convey our disappointment in their vote. If any of these have opposition in the primary, to me, this vote is reason enough to support their opponent. At the very least, I hope our SEC leadership will bring forth a resolution condemning their vote and that action be shared so their constituents are aware they have lost favor with the SEC.
Tina Benkiser, SEC District 11- Tennessee Republicans have built one of the strongest conservative majorities in the nation, but the failure to advance party registration legislation reveals a troubling blind spot in our commitment to principled self-governance.
Political parties are not simply electoral vehicles — they are coalitions bound by shared values and a common vision for governance. The fundamental purpose of a political party is to choose nominees who reflect its values, then send those nominees into the general election to compete for the minds and hearts of every voter. That is how representative democracy is supposed to work: parties define themselves; voters choose between them. What is the point of winning elections if those we elect fail to govern according to the principles that are supposed to define us? Party registration is basic common sense that the majority of states already enjoy, and it exists for a simple reason: the people who build a party, fund it, volunteer for it, and believe in it should be the ones who choose its standard-bearers.
Tennessee has rightfully earned a reputation for strong election integrity laws, and I am proud of that record. However, we have a glaring inconsistency. We guard the ballot box with admirable vigilance while leaving our primary elections — the very mechanism by which we select our nominees — wide open to manipulation. A tiger with no teeth is still impressive to look at, but it cannot protect what matters.
To those who voted against this legislation, I would ask a straightforward question: who exactly are you protecting, and why? If your answer is that you are protecting voter access and a “big tent” philosophy, I would remind you that a tent without stakes or walls eventually blows away or collapses. Growth is a worthy goal, but growth without definition is not strength — it is dissolution.
I am generous enough to assume that some opponents of this bill are simply unconvinced of its necessity. But I am also honest enough to acknowledge that others may be calculating their own primary survival over the health of our party and its principles. Both are problems. One is a failure of understanding. The other is a failure of character.
We will continue to make our case to the people of Tennessee – this issue is not going away.
Brad Lytle, SEC District 17- As both a party chairman and a member of the Republican State Executive Committee, I am beyond frustrated with the continued refusal of the Tennessee General Assembly to address a glaring weakness in our election system: the absence of party registration and the ongoing abuse of crossover voting.
Let’s be clear—Tennessee is falling behind. The majority of states in this country have some form of party registration or closed primary system to protect the integrity of their elections. Tennessee does not. Instead, we maintain an open primary system that invites manipulation and undermines the very purpose of partisan elections.
Here are the facts:
- Tennessee voters are not required to register with a political party, unlike voters in many other states.
- This loophole allows individuals to vote in a party’s primary without any real allegiance to that party.
- Crossover voting is not hypothetical—it is openly discussed, encouraged, and used as a political tactic.
This is not “voter freedom.” It is a broken system that allows bad-faith participation and dilutes the voices of actual party members. Primaries are meant to reflect the will of a party’s base—not outside interference. What is most troubling is not just the problem itself, but the Legislature’s unwillingness to act. Despite repeated concerns raised by party leaders, grassroots activists, and everyday voters, meaningful reform continues to be ignored or dismissed.
Tennesseans deserve better than excuses. They deserve a system that is fair, transparent, and secure—one where party nominees are chosen by voters who genuinely support that party’s values. The continued inaction by the Legislature sends a clear message: the concerns of engaged citizens are being sidelined. That is unacceptable.
It is time for lawmakers to stop avoiding this issue and start doing their jobs. Implement party registration. Protect the integrity of our primaries. Restore confidence in our elections. Anything less is a failure of leadership.
Terri Nicholson, SEC District 17- This issue has become deeply frustrating for me. Why is it so important in a Legislature that holds a super majority of Republicans to incentivize manipulation that undermines the very purpose of partisan elections by voting against closed primaries?
When incentives appear to favor a system that allows for external influence, it raises important questions about the commitment to preserving the integrity of the Republican nomination process. Our primaries are intended to reflect the will of foundational Republicans and not to be influenced by those who do not share our principles.
The Legislature’s failure once again to close our primaries sends a clear message: the voices of engaged citizens continue to be intentionally ignored and not a priority.
Larry Hillis, SEC District 23- I have no specific comment other than to note the SEC as a body is on record with a resolution asking the legislature to close primaries… I believe the legislature is moving in that direction but it is a process… We are as close as we have ever been and chances are good in the next few yrs the legislature will pass the laws closing TN political primaries and having voters register by party.
Terry Roland, SEC District 29- Yes, I am very Disappointed and the SEC needs to address this as soon as possible.
Randy Hendon, SEC District 31- I support registration by Party and the “Closed” primary system that is being considered at this time. It is just a matter of time until it is passed in Tennessee. It has tremendous support at both the local and state levels of grassroots
Republicans and Party leadership. I understand the difference of opinions regarding this issue at the state representative level (John Gillespie is my Representative). I hold no grudges against any of the 9 who see this matter in a different light. We are all good Republicans. I only hope they will reconsider their vote next time.
Lee Mills, SEC District 32- This one hits close to home. I’ve been beating this drum for the better part of a decade on the State Executive Committee. The SEC has gone on record supporting closed primaries multiple times. This is not a fringe position within the party. It is the party’s position.
So when nine Republican legislators turn around and kill the bill that would implement it, that demands an explanation. These legislators want to put an R by their name, but they won’t vote for legislation the party that puts that R by their name actually wants. That’s a problem, and Republican voters deserve to know it. We ask Republican voters to show up, donate, knock doors, and carry water for this party. The least we can do in return is make sure their primary ballot actually means something, that the person who wins a Republican primary was chosen by Republicans. Right now we can’t guarantee that, and these nine votes just made sure we still can’t.
The Supreme Court settled the legal question in California Democratic Party v. Jones. Parties have a First Amendment right to control their own nominating process. These members didn’t just vote against a bill. They voted against the party’s own constitutional rights as an association.
As for next steps, I’ll be consulting with other SEC members to see what options are on the table. Republican primary voters have long memories, and they’re paying attention.
Danielle Goodrich, Washington County GOP Chair- Our County Executive Committee passed a resolution in support of this law. The State Executive Committee passed a resolution in support of this law. Primaries are meant to reflect the voice of a party’s voters. Currently, outcomes are shaped by those who don’t share our principles. We can prove there is crossover voting. Letting Dems pick our candidates is like Bama picking UTs QB. That’s unacceptable.
Martin Daniel, Knox County County GOP Chair- The KCRP does not have a position on this issue. As legislative session nears in the Fall, we will make a determination on that issue.
About the Author: 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
They ain’t happy, I’m not happy, we’re not happy, but of the nine making us unhappy NOT ONE is facing an opponent in next August’s Republican primary. This game is decided by elections and the ability to defeat, or at least challenge, your opponents. Until we conservatives in Tennessee get together and find a way to make support of open primaries a “third rail” of Tennessee Republican politics, we will just have to resign ourselves to joining our activist Democratic neighbors when we vote in Republican primaries.