This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(September 2016)
The Republican Party of Shelby County is the Republican political organization for Shelby County, Tennessee. It has a long history of impacting politics in Shelby County long before the Republican Party was popular in the south[citation needed].
Despite being in a heavily Democratic county, the Republican Party of Shelby County is the largest county Republican Party in the state. Though Tennessee does not register by party, it is estimated that there are roughly 272,000 Republican voters in Shelby County.
The party has its origins in the Lincoln League, which was founded by Robert Church Jr. in 1916 to promote black voter registration. Church was one of the most prominent African-American businessmen in the nation and is credited with the early development of Beale Street. By the 1950s conservative Democrats were joining the party as blacks were leaving.[1]
In the 1970s the party remade itself as a suburb-focused party that relied on activities like backyard parties, door-to-door campaigning and telephone networks to coordinate conservative voters in the suburbs.[1]
Starting in 1992, the party began holding a primary election to pick candidates in the general election. It was scheduled for the same day as Tennessee's presidential primary, and represented the first partisan local elections in the County since before 1900. The county Democratic party soon copied the practice. The move meant the end of nearly a century of nonpartisan elections in the county.[2]
Memphis City Councilman (2008–2020), Chairman of the Memphis City Council in 2016 and 2019, Vice Chairman of Memphis City Council in 2015.
Bill Giannini
(2005–2009)
Shelby County Election Commission Chairman (2009)
Lang Wiseman
(2009–2011)
Deputy to the Governor and Chief Counsel for Governor Bill Lee (2018–2022)
Justin Joy
(2011–2015)
Mary Wagner
(2015–2016)
Appointed Circuit Court Judge (2016)
Lee Mills
(2016–2019)
Served as 1st Vice Chairman under Mary Wagner. Elevated to Chairman after Judge Wagner was appointed to her judgeship. Ran successfully for a full two-year term in 2017.
Chris Tutor
(2019–2021)
Cary Vaughn
(2021–present)
References
^ abDries, Bill (2003-03-09). "GOP LEADER: OUTREACH CRUCIAL - NEW CHAIRMAN MAKING WAVES WITHIN OWN PARTY". Commercial Appeal. pp. B1.
^Bernsen, Charles (1991-12-06). "COUNTY GOP SWITCHES TO PARTY VOTING IN PRIMARIES". Commercial Appeal. pp. A1.
External links
Republican Party of Shelby County
August 21, 2023
shelby, county, republican, party, tennessee, this, article, needs, updated, please, help, update, this, article, reflect, recent, events, newly, available, information, september, 2016, republican, party, shelby, county, republican, political, organization, s. This article needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information September 2016 The Republican Party of Shelby County is the Republican political organization for Shelby County Tennessee It has a long history of impacting politics in Shelby County long before the Republican Party was popular in the south citation needed Republican Party of Shelby CountyChairmanCary VaughnIdeologyConservatismFiscal conservatismSocial conservatismNational affiliationRepublican PartyColorsRed unofficial Despite being in a heavily Democratic county the Republican Party of Shelby County is the largest county Republican Party in the state Though Tennessee does not register by party it is estimated that there are roughly 272 000 Republican voters in Shelby County Contents 1 History 2 Chairpersons 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditThe party has its origins in the Lincoln League which was founded by Robert Church Jr in 1916 to promote black voter registration Church was one of the most prominent African American businessmen in the nation and is credited with the early development of Beale Street By the 1950s conservative Democrats were joining the party as blacks were leaving 1 In the 1970s the party remade itself as a suburb focused party that relied on activities like backyard parties door to door campaigning and telephone networks to coordinate conservative voters in the suburbs 1 Starting in 1992 the party began holding a primary election to pick candidates in the general election It was scheduled for the same day as Tennessee s presidential primary and represented the first partisan local elections in the County since before 1900 The county Democratic party soon copied the practice The move meant the end of nearly a century of nonpartisan elections in the county 2 Chairpersons EditRobert Church Jr 1910s leading African American businessman founded Lincoln League 1916 founder of Memphis NAACP 1917 Lt George W Lee 1920s 1940s Walker Wellford Jr 1954 Dr R Q Venson 1954 1970 Alternate to the Republican National Convention in 1956 founder and general chairman of the Cotton Makers currently Kemet JubileeBob James 1961 1963 Memphis City CouncilmanGovernor Winfield Dunn 1963 1967 Governor of Tennessee 1971 1975 Judge Harry W Wellford 1967 1969 Judge U S District Court Western District of Tennessee 1970 1982 U S Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit 1982 2021 Alex Dann 1969 1971 Dr Kyle Creson 1971 1973 Bill Lawson 1973 1975 Governor Don Sundquist 1975 1977 Congressman 7th district 1983 1995 Governor of Tennessee 1995 2003 William H Watkins Jr 1977 1979 Tom Pyron 1979 1981 Maida Pearson Smith 1981 1985 Republican National Committeewoman 1984 1992 Jack J Craddock 1985 1987 John L Ryder 1987 1991 Republican National Committeeman 1996 2004 2008 2016 Chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority 2019 2021 Dr Phil Langsdon 1991 1995 Author of Tennessee A Political HistoryDavid Kustoff 1995 1999 Congressman 8th district 2017 present Alan Crone 1999 2003 R Kemp Conrad 2003 2005 Memphis City Councilman 2008 2020 Chairman of the Memphis City Council in 2016 and 2019 Vice Chairman of Memphis City Council in 2015 Bill Giannini 2005 2009 Shelby County Election Commission Chairman 2009 Lang Wiseman 2009 2011 Deputy to the Governor and Chief Counsel for Governor Bill Lee 2018 2022 Justin Joy 2011 2015 Mary Wagner 2015 2016 Appointed Circuit Court Judge 2016 Lee Mills 2016 2019 Served as 1st Vice Chairman under Mary Wagner Elevated to Chairman after Judge Wagner was appointed to her judgeship Ran successfully for a full two year term in 2017 Chris Tutor 2019 2021 Cary Vaughn 2021 present References Edit a b Dries Bill 2003 03 09 GOP LEADER OUTREACH CRUCIAL NEW CHAIRMAN MAKING WAVES WITHIN OWN PARTY Commercial Appeal pp B1 Bernsen Charles 1991 12 06 COUNTY GOP SWITCHES TO PARTY VOTING IN PRIMARIES Commercial Appeal pp A1 External links EditRepublican Party of Shelby County RPSC History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shelby County Republican Party Tennessee amp oldid 1132788659, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
