Tennessee SEC Member May Be In Direct Violation of GOP Bylaws By Promoting A Democrat

Image Credit: brianhornback.com

The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –

Republican State Executive Committee member (SEC) Brian Hornback may have promoted and supported a Democrat during the August 1, 2024, election, a direct violation of state GOP bylaws. 

Hornback represents District 6, which includes part of Knox County, and served as the Chair of the Knox County Republican Party from 2005-2007, as a school board member from 2000-2004, and was elected to the SEC in 2001 where he serves as a member of the bylaws committee.  

The State GOP bylaws are explicitly clear that, “Neither the SEC nor a County Republican Party or CEC as a body or individual member, shall endorse, or assist in any manner, a Democrat or other non-Republican in an election or primary election in which a Republican is a candidate or has filed as a candidate”

Yet Hornback allegedly promoted Democrat candidate Matthew Park for County Commission District 9 in Knox County, who was endorsed by the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, Democrat State Representative Sam McKenzie, and Run For Something, an organization dedicated to recruiting and supporting progressive candidates.  

On Hornback’s website there appears to be a post serving as an ad promoting Park and his liberal platforms, and in Park’s candidate expenditures there also appears to be a $900 advertising payment to BH LLC, supposedly Hornback’s company. There is no similar post or ad promoting Republican Andy Fox who was also on the ballot.

According to the bylaws, a breach of this magnitude could be cause for immediate removal from the SEC, under the “Disqualification” clause which is defined as “open and overt support of a declared non-Republican candidate in either a contested primary or general election in which candidates run under party labels.”

Notably, Hornback was also one of the 41 SEC members that voted not to uphold the House District 33 primary election challenge, and is now publicly endorsing Rick Scarbrough on his website and Facebook. 

It seems that county GOPs and citizens are growing more outspoken in their displeasure with Republicans not adhering to the principles and tenets they promote, as evidenced by the Williamson County Republican Party recently passing of a resolution condemning disloyal GOP local elected officials. 

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 grassroot organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.