NASHVILLE - Despite their best efforts, state Rep. Robin Smith, R-Hixson, Hamilton County GOP Chairwoman Marsha Yessick and local political consultant Dalton Temple came up short in their efforts on Super Tuesday to win Tennessee delegate spots for President Donald Trump at this summer's Republican National Convention.
A total of 14 statewide delegates were chosen on the 29-candidate Republican primary ballot. Twenty-nine Republicans sought to become delegates. All 14 who won were among 24 hopefuls who ran as Trump delegates.
Rep. Smith, a former Tennessee Republican Party chairwoman, was in 15th place with 118,812 votes. Temple, whose clients include U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, came in at No. 20 with 92,940 votes. Hamilton County Chair Yessick placed 17th with 71,515 votes. All three ran as Trump delegates.
Rep. Robin Smith, R-Hixson, answers a question at the Times Free Press on Nov. 15, 2019. / Staff Photo by Robin RuddThe top vote getter was Chad Blackburn, the son of U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn. He won 249,026 votes to become a Trump delegate, according to unofficial results listed on the Tennessee Secretary of State's website.
Winning RNC slots as 3rd Congressional District level delegates were Tom Decosimo of Chattanooga, managing principal at Decosimo Corporate Finance, who garnered 21,771 votes. Other 3rd Congressional District delegates are Randy Ellis and Emily G. Beaty with 30,508 and 24,692 votes respectively. Also running was former state Rep. Ken Meyer of Chattanooga, who fell short with 18,820 votes.
All are committed Trump delegates who will serve alongside those elected from the state's other seven congressional districts when the RNC holds its Aug. 24-27 convention in Charlotte, N.C.
Tennessee Democrats use a different process to select their national convention delegates.
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550. Follow him on Twitter @AndySher1.
Hamilton County Republican Party Chairwoman Marsha Yessick speaks during the Hamilton County Republican Party's annual Lincoln Day Dinner at the Westin Hotel on Friday, April 26, 2019, in Chattanooga, Tenn. / Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter
Campaign manager Dalton Temple smiles as election results for his candidate Erskine Oglesby, right, roll in at the Alton Park headquarters. Erskine Oglesby won the runoff election from District 7 on April 11, 2017. / Staff file photo