Rick Scarbrough will be the Republican nominee for State Representative for District 33 (Anderson County).
Image Credit: Jennifer Hay
By Jennifer Hay [Special to The Tennessee Conservative] –
By a vote of 41-7, the State Primary Board (SPB) upheld the primary election for District 33; Rick Scarbrough will be the Republican nominee for State Representative in the upcoming general election.
The meeting on Sept. 7, 2024, lasted about 90 minutes. After introductory remarks, Rep. Ragan made his plea to set aside the results of the election because of illegal crossover voting by Democrats. He compared crossover voters to “political identity thieves” who stole influence from the rightful decision makers – bona fide Republicans.
At his turn, Rick Scarbrough argued that it was his campaign—not crossover voters—that earned him the votes necessary to win the election. “I’ll work hard for the state; I’ll work hard for the party,” he concluded.
Scarborough’s attorney, Lang Wiseman, also spoke. Wiseman argued that the number of crossover votes were insufficient to change the outcome of the election.
Ragan had two minutes to rebut and emphasized his analysis of primary voting records showing that more than 1000 voters had not demonstrated commitment to the Republican party by voting in more than one of the last four Republican primaries.
Ten people made public comments, alternating between those supporting Ragan and Scarbrough.
Members of the primary board then spoke. Many expressed frustration with the General Assembly in failing to close primaries. Members did not ask questions of the candidates; instead, they presented arguments for and against Ragan’s challenge.
Terry Frank (District 5, Anderson County) made an impassioned plea to validate Ragan’s challenge and set aside the election results. She rejected as unreasonable the suggestion that poll watchers for Ragan should have challenged voters at the polls. “I vouch for what Ragan has presented,” she said.
Lee Mills (District 32) also supported Ragan’s challenge: “Our bylaws are not great; our laws are not great. But the intent of both is that Republicans should elect Republicans. In my opinion, the results of this election are incurably uncertain.”
John Stanbery expressed the opinion of the majority of board members. He acknowledged problems with the election but thought that overturning it was not the proper remedy. “This is a problem created by the Tennessee Legislature,” he said. “Take all your animosity and channel it toward the General Assembly for not closing our primaries.” He also took issue with the definition of “bona fide” in the current Tennessee Republican by-laws. “If we really took that definition of ‘bona fides’ then we would never grow our party.”
The State Primary Board comprises the same people as the State Executive Committee (SEC), only acting in a specific role to decide a contested election.
Voting to honor Ragan’s challenge and set aside the results of the election were: Terry Frank, Kent Morrell, Jim Sandman, Myra Simons, Lynne Davis, Angie McClanahan, and Lee Mills.
Voting to uphold the election results and keep Scarbrough as the Republican nominee were: John Stanbery, Bill Russell, Anita Hodges-Taylor, Matthew Johnson, Linda Buckles, Tim Hutchison, Brian Hornback, Jane Chedester, David Bishop, Patty Mills, Josh Collins, Ken Meyer, David Queen, Tina Benkiser, Ben Gann, Ann Ayers-Colvin, Linda Clark, Dr. Jerry Anderson, Amy Dennis, Jerry Beavers, Terri Nicholson, Chris Hughes, Chase Montgomery, Karen Bennett, Ron McDow, Lulu Elam, John Richardson, Pat Allen, Larry Hillis, Mary Ann Parks, Tess Robbins, Jimmy Harris, Johnny Bellis, Stacey Brewer, Steve Allbrooks, Cyndi Miller, Chris Morris, Tina McElravey, Tim Beacham, Peggy Larkin, and Charlotte Kelley
Absent were: Emily Beaty, Cindy Hatcher, Todd Fowler, Karen Brown, Nancy Wilson, Emily Goldberg, Richard Floyd, Mike Callahan, Maria Stewart, Doug Englen, Ryan Ellegood, Shannon Haynes, and Terry Roland.
About the Author: Jennifer Hay is a Catholic mother of six who is on a mission to expose the whole truth about Knoxville’s Planned Parenthood arson. Check out her substack at Knoxville Nobility.
5 Responses
I am truly disappointed in this result…although I suspected this might happen. Our party leadership is definitely RINO and change must happen at the local level first for this to be different. Get active in your local GOP chapter, change RINO leadership, and see if you can change this outcome in future!
Again, RINOs are the majority.
This was indeed rigged, we were there. The bylaws state voters must be bonafide, which requires voting 3x from the last 4 elections. 1300 voters had NEVER voted. And there was evidence some of them were Dems. The GOP and the Repub SEC were all disgusting. It takes a strong showing from grassroots level to oust these unethical people.
“…the definition of “bona fide” in the current Tennessee Republican by-laws. “If we really took that definition of ‘bona fides’ then we would never grow our party.”
Well maybe the Party would GROW when people see it acts with integrity. That is a poorly reasoned argument and not worthy of consideration. The cons had very poor arguments. The pros were well reasoned and eloquently spoken.
It was very evident there was another agenda and all should be ashamed.
The Tennessee General Assembly is mainly at fault for not passing a bill for closed primaries. If you watch the video of
a vote on Closed Primaries. It is laughable (sadly) how quickly the vote goes in the committee meeting to not advance
the bill to a vote on the Tennessee General Assembley’s Floor. Ragan is not the only Conservatie that lost. We have
several Conservatives across the state that lost. The Tennessee General Assembly Conservative Members should take this seriously and get closed primaries for our state. Hopefully it is not too late!