The Tennessee Republican Party’s State Executive Committee voted overwhelmingly to deny outgoing Oak Ridge Rep. John Ragan’s challenge of his August primary loss to Rick Scarbrough.
The committee voted 41-7 against Ragan’s claim that Democrats crossed over in the Anderson County Republican primary to help Scarbrough, who won the race by 258 votes.
Though the vote total was narrow, Scarbrough’s 5-point victory margin was larger than several other Republican primaries that went unchallenged.
After his defeat, local officials voiced frustration at Ragan’s refusal to concede and pointed to his support for private school vouchers and other unpopular education positions.
“Ragan lost because he listens to lobbyists and party hacks, and not to his constituents,” said Angi Agle, an Oak Ridge Board of Education member, to the Lookout last week.