The Tennessee State House on Monday passed House Bill (HB) 855 by State Representative Lee Reeves (R-Franklin), which would prohibit counties from using the controversial caucus system, which has historically been opposed by Republicans, to select candidates for county level races.
Amending existing Tennessee law to include county offices among those in which candidates must be nominated through traditional primary elections, as is already required for state and federal offices, the legislation passed with 60 votes in favor and just 25 votes against. The State Senate passed its version, Senate Bill (SB) 799 by Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), with 27 votes in favor and three against last week.
Speaking on the House floor, Reeves argued enshrining primary elections will make it easier for Tennesseans to engage with the political process at the grassroots level, while opponents, including State Representatives Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) and Monty Fritts (R-Kingston), asked Reeves to comment on the recent resolution opposing his legislation by the Republican State Executive Committee (SEC).
“I will stand with the voters, the mom and dad who can’t make it to a caucus. I will stand with the military member who is on active duty overseas, defending our right to vote but unable to participate in a caucus,” Reeves told Cepicky. “I will stand with the emergency workers who are on duty that night, and I will stand with the pregnant mother giving birth on the night of the caucus.”
In response to a similar question from Fritts, he added, “I will stand with voters over party insiders any day of the week.”
A total of 23 Republicans were joined joined two Democrats, State Representatives Antonio Parkinson (R-Memphis) and Gabby Salinas (R-Memphis), in their votes against the legislation.
Republicans who voted against the bill include State Representatives Jody Barrett (R-Dickson), Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood), Kip Capley (R-Somerville), Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka), Elaine Davis (R-Knoxville), Clay Doggett (R-Pulaski), Monty Fritts (R-Kingston), Ron M. Gant (R-Portland), Rusty Grills (R-Newbern), Bud Hulsey (R-Kingsport), Chris Hurt (R-Halls), Kelly Keisling (R-Blountville), Brock Martin (R-Nashville), Debra Moody (R-Covington), Jay D. Reedy (R-Erin), Michele Reneau (R-Nashville), Tim Rudd (R-Murfreesboro), Lowell Russell (R-Vonore), Mike Sparks (R-Smyrna), Chris Todd (R-Jackson), Greg Vital (R-Harrogate), and Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill).
