Those sneaky Democrats need to stop meddling with Republican elections in Tennessee — at least that’s the sentiment of a new push by conservative members of the Tennessee Republican State Executive Committee that’s forced party Chairman Chris Devaney to call an emergency meeting. Earlier this month a group of 16 members of the GOP state executive committee requested the party call a special meeting to discuss a resolution pertaining to open primaries. If the resolution is adopted, the Tennessee GOP would officially support requiring everyone to register to vote by party and allowing people to vote only in the primary election of their party. Seems simple, and it’s required in 28 other states. But in Tennessee, voters don’t need to register by party and they can choose to vote in the Republican or Democratic primary. In the view of many tea party-aligned Republicans, that leaves the party open to Democrats voting for moderate Republicans in the primary because they know their Democratic candidates can’t win in Tennessee, particularly in statewide races.
That’s essentially how the resolution reads, noting allegations of similar cross-party voting in Mississippi in 2014, saying the trends left Republicans in Tennessee and across the country “disturbed.”
“Whereas the diminished status of the Democrat Party in Tennessee has led to increased instances of coordinated crossover voting in Republican primaries with intent to influence Republican elections,” the resolution reads in part.
“Whereas a growing majority status for Republicans has resulted in increased participation and influence over county Republican conventions and caucuses by non-Republicans.”
Full Article: Tennessee GOP calls emergency meeting on open primaries.