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***Note from The Tennessee Conservative – this exclusive press release is posted here for informational purposes only.
Press Release –
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (July 20, 2026) — Don Beehler, a Franklin resident and bona fide Republican voter, today submitted a complaint with District Attorney Stacey Edmonson in Williamson County’s District 21, alleging willful violations of T.C.A. 2-7-115(b) on the part of another Franklin voter and requesting enforcement of the law through criminal prosecution.
T.C.A. 2-7-115(b) prohibits persons who are not bona fide members of a political party, or affiliated with that party, from voting in its primary elections. Violation of this section of the code is a Class C misdemeanor.
Beehler submitted the complaint, along with supporting documentation, against Anthony J. “Tony” Meadows. He noted that the allegations set forth in his complaint are entirely based on Meadows’ own words and primary voting record.
“This is a single case, but an important one because Mr. Meadows has clearly demonstrated intent to defy and circumvent state election law, believing there is no way to enforce it,” Beehler said. “He is not ignorant of the law, he is willfully disregarding the law.”
Beginning on or about June 16, 2026, in an exchange of comments on the social media platform Nextdoor, Meadows admitted to violating T.C.A. 2-7-115(b) by voting in Tennessee GOP primaries even though he is not a Republican. He further stated the Republican Party doesn’t align with his values.
Meadows acknowledged having read the relevant election law but stated, “There’s no real way to enforce it. They’re open primaries. And the state doesn’t ask what your affiliation is when you vote.”
In one of his Nextdoor comments Beehler shared the following with him: “It is a violation of Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-7-115(b), and punishable as a Class C misdemeanor under Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-19-102, if a person votes in a political party’s primary without being a bona fide member of or affiliated with that political party, or to declare allegiance to that party without the intent to affiliate with that party.”
Meadows’ reply included the following: “I’m voting for the candidate I support. That person may be in the GOP. They may be a Democrat.”
Beehler conducted a search of Meadows’ primary voting records and found that in primaries (prior to the May 5, 2026, primary election) Meadows voted Democrat, Republican, Democrat and Democrat. Based on his voting history and the standards of both parties, Meadows appears to be a bona fide Democrat voter.
When Beehler confronted Meadows with his record, he didn’t deny it. Instead, he wrote: “I voted in GOP primaries because I wanted to pick the candidate I could live with. That’s not crossover voting. That is me voting for a candidate I can support in a list of people that don’t pass my personal muster.”
Beehler provided Edmonson with screenshots of Meadows’ Nextdoor comments, which he hand delivered along with the complaint.
“By his own admission, Mr. Meadows is not a bona fide Republican, nor does he affiliate with the Republican Party or intend to do so. His primary voting record further affirms this. Based on these realities, according to T.C.A. 2-7-115(b), he is not entitled to vote in Republican primaries,” Beehler said.
“If the Tennessee legislature isn’t going to do anything to stop illegal crossover voting in primaries, it’s up to the citizens to be vigilant and take action whenever they become aware of activity that threatens election integrity, such as individuals who unlawfully vote in the primaries of political parties they are not affiliated with in order to influence the outcome,” Beehler continued.
“If left unchallenged, people who are not bona fide or affiliated with a party, and do not share its values, will continue to have a say in choosing its candidates. This should be of concern to Democrats and Republicans alike.”
3 Responses
Thank you, Mr. Beehler, for taking this step.
Crossover voting — voters voting in a party’s primary in which they haven’t expressed membership with that party or intent to align with that party — is a huge problem in Tennessee elections. Mainly because so many RINOs depend upon the votes of Democrats for them to win their PRIMARY election over what is usually a far more qualified, conservative candidate who has voiced favor and intent to carry out the values of true conservatives. Sometimes the crossover voter wants to select the weakest Republican candidate to win in the primary only to increase the likelihood that he or she will be defeated in the general election by a far more radical Democrat candidate.
And as you pointed out, it is illegal according to Tennessee Code Annotated 2-7-115(b). It couldn’t be plainer. Especially since Mr. Meadows expressed his full INTENT to purposefully violate the law. Since he isn’t a member of — nor even aligns with — the Republican party, he legally shouldn’t be pulling a Republican primary ballot. He DOES have the right to vote in the general election after the two parties have established their candidates.
Until legislators or District Attorneys address this issue, bona fide Republicans will continue to have their votes canceled out in primary elections by people who care nothing for the party and it’s values. Nor the laws of Tennessee.
I appreciate you starting the process to get it addressed.
Bravo to Don Beehler!! Much like Democrats’ desire to naturalize all illegal aliens to water down the votes of Americans, Democrats’ participation in Republican primaries is designed to negate the true voice of conservative Tennessee. The fact that this has been allowed unchecked is a disgrace, but sadly not surprising from our supposed Republican state.
Thank you Don.
It is cheating to do that. It says a lot about the Dems. I hope Republicans don’t do that. This is why the Dems can’t be trusted.