Mary Mancini is administered the oath of office after her election as chairwoman of the Tennessee Democratic Party in Nashville in this Jan. 10, 2015, file photo.NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Democrats hoping to reverse their negative prospects have elected activist Mary Mancini as their next chairwoman.
The party’s executive committee on Saturday elected Mancini 61-9 over Lenda Sherrell of Monteagle.
Mancini succeeds former state Sen. Roy Herron, who did not seek another term. She is a Nashville resident who formerly headed the advocacy group Tennessee Citizen Action, where she helped organize large-scale voter registration drives.
Mancini sought the party leadership position after losing a bid for the Democratic nomination to succeed state Sen. Douglas Henry, who retired last year.
Sherrell unsuccessfully challenged Republican U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais in the November election.