The state Republican Party is removing seven Senate candidates and one gubernatorial candidate from the August ballot, saying they lack the proper credentials.
Party officials said they were removed for "failing to meet the bona fide standards set" in party bylaws.The rules provide that candidates be active in the party and vote in three of four statewide Republican primaries in their counties of residence.
The Senate candidates removed are David Anderson, Rashard Lamar Coker, Larry Crim, Tommy Hay, Theresa Honeycutt, J. Darrell Lynn and Ronaldo Toyos.
Eddie Murphy was the candidate for governor taken off.
Mr. Lynn said, “I am obviously disappointed that I will not be a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate for the August 2 primary. I don’t like the provision in the state GOP by-laws defining a 'bona fide' Republican for purposes of candidacy nor do I agree with any determination that I am not a Republican, especially in view of my donations, fund-raising efforts and work for Republican candidates in the past, including President Donald J. Trump.
“However, I understand and accept the action taken by the SEC and I appreciate and respect the leadership and commitment of Chairman Scott Golden and other SEC members who are working hard to keep Tennessee in the ‘Red’ column at every level. I share that commitment, and was always more focused on electing good, conservative, business-oriented and principled Republicans - and supporting and re-electing President Trump in 2020 - than I ever was on getting elected myself.
"I look forward to working with Chairman Golden and other Republican leaders in Tennessee and nationally to raise money, win races and promote solid conservative policies in 2018 and beyond.”
He added, "I so appreciate all of my supporters and you can be completely sure, I will not be going away, will continue to be a voice for Conservative Republicans, and will continue to use my resources, to promote my beliefs and policies."
Mr. Crim, a previous Senate candidate who is CEO of Christian Counseling Centers of America Inc. and President of Veterans Comprehensive Network Inc., said he "had filed federal candidacy papers as a Republican for U.S. Senate on October 13, 2016 and toured as a Republican at UT football games, parades, fairs, festivals, party events, Trump rallies and television programs ever since."
He said the move had been “precipitated by TNGOP Chair Scott Golden, former deputy chief of staff for Marsha Blackburn, who is trying to rig the system to assure a favorable outcome for Blackburn who suffers from strong unfavorable ratings among most Tennesseans.”
Mr. Crim said he had toured all 95 counties speaking with Tennesseans who are “not favorable toward Marsha Blackburn, a lifelong career politician who claims love for Corker’s politics but says she’s running to represent the conservative voice.”
He said Scott Golden “orchestrated a change in party by-laws on August 26, 2017 in an effort to exclude my Republican candidacy” without notice to me less than one week after I appeared on August 20, 2017 as a Republican U.S. Senate candidate on WKRN-TV This Week With Bob Meuller where he said he explained his conversion from Democrat to Republican this way - 'The Democrat Party left me and the people of Tennessee.' ”
Mr. Crim said he also defended President Trump for “advancing concerns shared by all Americans such as Veterans, Infrastructure, Jobs and honoring our country’s deal made with workers for Social Security, common ground issues of the people” which Mr. Crim said Tennesseans agree with, but which he said the Democrat Party had largely abandoned in favor of social issues.
Mr. Crim said he has supplied letters to the TNGOP from elected Republicans vouching for his bona fide Republican allegiance and based on public records. On Wednesday April 4, 2018, Mr. Crim said he filed his nominating petition with Tennessee officials and the Tennessee Republican Party, which he said was signed by “Tennessee voters, from everyday Americans to elected Republican leaders” placing in nomination his name to be on the Republican Party ballot for U.S. Senate.
He said, “Choosing a United States Senator is a process for the voters - not the choice of an appointed hireling for Marsha Blackburn.”