Republicans ask for ‘bona fides’
Julia Hurley, State Executive Committeewoman for the Tennessee Republican Party speaks Thursday at the Anderson County Republican Forum.
The meeting was to increase voter awareness of Republicans seeking elected office, and to clarify the qualification process required to run as a ‘bona fide’ Republican candidate.
The Anderson County Republican Party issued a press release prior to the meeting last week stating that the county Republican Party holds elected primaries “to welcome growth and opportunity to the party.”
“The Republican Party is an earned label, not a charitable distribution of the representation that it holds,” continued the press release. “The name, logo, reference and (R) belong to the party. Therefore, the state party is required to list the candidate as an approved ‘bona fide Republican.’”
To be a ‘bona fide’ Republican, candidates must submit proof of the following for public entry into the Anderson County Republican Party record: copy of candidate’s voting record showing where candidate has voted in at least three of the four most recent statewide Republican primary elections; copy of candidate’s active involvement in the Tennessee Republican Party, his or her County Republican Party, or any recognized auxiliary organization of either and resides and is registered to vote in said county; and any individual who is vouched for in writing to the satisfaction of the State Chairman as a bona fide Republican, such as by an officer of the Tennessee Republican Party, a member of the State Executive Committee, Executive Committee of the County where the individual resides, or a Republican elected official.
The State Chairman may require additional verification that the individual in question is indeed a bona fide Republican, and shall have final authority to make the determination, according to the press release.
Previously, the requirements in order to be bona fide was that candidates had to have voted Republican in two out of four local primaries, but that was amended to the requirement being that candidates must vote Republican in three out of four statewide primaries.
The reason behind the changes was to put a halt on Democrats “crossing over” crossover votes often go towards the weakest Republican candidates to help bolster a victory for the opposition party.
Tennessee is an open primary state, meaning a voter can vote Democratic in one primary election and in the next election vote Republican.
“The Republican Party is something worth fighting for. We want people who are convicted, lifelong Republicans to run,” stated Scott Golden, State Chairman for the Republican Party, on Thursday.
“We want to be a welcoming party, but at the same time, we want lifelong Republicans to be protected,” added Julia Hurley, State Executive Committeewoman.
“We want to ensure the Republican brand is protected.”
The idea behind the qualifications changes is to expand the party with qualified candidates, said Anthony Allen, Chairman of the Anderson County Republican Party.
“The Republican Party is a brand that needs to be protected,” Allen reiterated.
Many local elected officials running as Republicans spoke at the forum and talked about their longtime commitments and contributions to the Republican Party local, state, and nationwide.