A letter sent to the state from the Tennessee Republican Party asked for over 100 names to be withdrawn from the Republican primaries — though the party chair says candidates have a week to get back on the ballot.
Sent to the state election coordinator Feb. 25, the letter includes four Hamilton County names: County Mayor Weston Wamp, County Trustee Bill Hullander, Criminal Court clerk candidate Archie Currence and school board candidate Tom Marshall. The state’s Republican Party chair, Scott Golden, said the list is curated each election cycle based on whether candidates meet the party’s qualifications to be considered a “bona fide” Republican.
Golden could not confirm why each Hamilton County name ended up on the list but said by phone Wamp and Hullander have resolved their issues and will be on the May 5 ballot.
Hamilton County elections administrator Scott Allen confirmed Currence will also be on the ballot, while Marshall still has yet to be reinstated.
A bona fide Republican candidate, according to party bylaws, is someone who’s actively involved in the party, registered to vote where the individual is running for office and has voted in three of the four most recent Republican primary elections. The party bylaws also lay out a list of fees to run for certain kinds of offices, which are supposed to be submitted before the petition filing deadline for the office.