FILE - In this photo taken on May 21, 2015 file photo, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum speaks at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in Oklahoma City. He exceeded the political world’s expectations by scoring a second-place finish in the race for the Republican presidential nomination four years ago. Yet as he readies a second White House run, Santorum may struggle even to qualify for the debate stage in 2016. An aggressive advocate for conservative family values, the 57-year-old Republican is announcing his presidential intentions on Wednesday, May 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams, File) Former U.S. Senator and 2016 presidential candidate Rick Santorum is coming to Chattanooga next month to speak with local Republicans and drum up support for his White House bid.
Santorum, who won Tennessee in his 2012 presidential primary attempt, will be the the key note speaker at the Hamilton County GOP's Lincoln Day dinner on June 10 at the Chattanoogan Hotel.
Local GOP Chairman Tony Sanders said Thursday the event is open to anyone who wants to buy a ticket. The proceeds will stay in the local party. Sanders said this is not a Santorum fundraiser.
"It's an event that we do every year, and Rick is going to be our speaker this year. This is a Hamilton County GOP event," Sanders said.
This will be the second major Republican event in town in June.
Starting June 4, the three-day National Pachyderm Convention will be held at the Marriott downtown.