The Weakley County Republican leadership has announced June 1st for its caucus date to choose a candidate to be on the ballot to represent the party in the Weakley County Mayor’s race. In a press release sent to Thunderbolt Radio “only one person will be selected by the caucus to carry the “R” on the ballot. Registration is at 10am and the caucus at 10:30 a.m. at the Weakley County Headquarters on Lindell Street in downtown Martin.”
Qualified candidates are nominated from the floor for Weakley County Mayor to serve the unexpired term to of former Mayor Jake Bynum.
The Weakley County Republican Party sent the following information for clarity regarding process.
Only “bona fide Republicans” – as defined by the Tennessee State Republican (TRP) Party Bylaws, Article IX (link to TRP Bylaws in its entirety), and accordingly verified as such by the Weakley County GOP County Party Contest and Credentials Committee – will be allowed to participate in the Caucus. (Please note that only bona fide Republicans will be admitted into the meeting room (i.e., no observers, with the exception of members of the press or TNGOP Executive Committee Members).
In accordance with the Bylaws of The Tennessee State Republican Party and the directive of the TRP State Executive Committee, for the purposes of the “bona fide Republican” voting record criteria for the Weakley County GOP June 1st Caucus, a person must have voted Republican in three (3) of the past four (4) STATEWIDE primary elections (and none of the Democrat) as follows:
– March of 2020 (Super Tuesday).
– August 2020 (GOP state and federal primaries).
– August 2022 (GOP state and federal primaries).
– March 2024 (Super Tuesday).
With respect to the “actively involved” criteria, again per the TNGOP Bylaws Article IX, Section 1.A.2.:
For purposes of this Article, “actively involved” includes, without limitation, attending TRP meetings or events; regularly attending Republican county party meetings or events; being a member of a recognized auxiliary organization for at least one year; working on the campaign of a Republican candidate for office in the most recent previous election cycle; contribution of money to the TRP, a county party, any recognized auxiliary organization, or to a Republican candidate committee with confirmation by the candidate or candidate’s campaign official; provided, however, that such activity or actions must have occurred during the time period elapsing since the most recent reorganization of the county Republican party in the county in which the individual resides. [Note: The most recent reorganization was 2023 .]
Please again note that the current Bylaws eliminates the previous “vouching” option for those who do not meet the definition of “bona fide Republican”. In accordance with Article IX of the TNGOP Bylaws, potential candidates are permitted the request of a “waiver” from the TNGOP State Committeeman and Committeewoman for Senate District 24 requirements as follows:
Section 2. The TRP, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any individual from running as a Republican candidate if it determines the individual does not meet the standards or requirements set forth in this Article IX. In addition, individual Republican voters may challenge an individual’s bona fide Republican status for purposes of seeking public office as detailed in Article IX, Section 2, Paragraph A below.
- Any challenge of an individual’s bona fide Republican status must be made to the State Chairman by at least five (5) individual registered voters (excluding SEC members), each of whom must 1) live in the district in which the challenged candidate has filed to run, and 2) have voted in at least three (3) of the four (4) most recent statewide Republican primary elections. Challenges must be made no later than five (5) days before the deadline for removal of a candidate’s name from a ballot under TCA Section 2-5-204 or other applicable statute, rule or regulation, or any other applicable deadline.
- In the event of any dispute about a prospective candidate’s qualification to seek office as a Republican or request for a waiver of TRP requirements, the final decision is within the TRP’s sole discretion. Any prospective candidate who is disqualified or challenged will be notified by the TRP and may respond to the decision and/or challenge provided that the response is provided to the TRP by its applicable deadlines.
- Any challenge to, or request for a waiver of, an individual’s qualification to seek public office as a Republican will be determined by a majority vote of the following: the State Chairman, each SEC member who represents any portion of the district covered by the individual’s proposed candidacy, and the SEC Political Subcommittee. To avoid doubt, the SEC Political Subcommittee will have one collective vote. SEC members who serve on the Political Subcommittee shall not vote in the Political Subcommittee on any challenge or waiver related to their respective districts. Neither the SEC nor any portion or subcommittee thereof is required to follow the Tennessee Rules of Evidence, Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure, or any other standards required in American courts of law or equity in considering and determining any challenge or request for a waiver.
- The State Chairman shall communicate to the appropriate election officials all TRP decisions regarding a Republican candidate’s qualifications as determined pursuant to this Article.
