Losing Breeds Infighting in Tennessee GOP
NASHVILLE — Barely a week after their crushing defeat in Tennessee’s gubernatorial race and their loss of seats in the General Assembly, Tennessee Republicans find themselves engulfed in numerous internecine battles for power. Tennessee Democrats, meanwhile, appear to be united behind their leadership choices. Today’s Commercial Appeal reports that Steve Cohen will resign his State Senate seat in early December, leaving the Shelby County Commission enough time to appoint a replacement before the next session of the General Assembly begins in January. Cohen was elected to Congress last week, replacing Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Speculation had swirled around Cohen’s decision, due to the 17-16 split in the State Senate in favor of the Republicans and the upcoming election of the Senate Speaker, a post held by John Wilder since 1971. Shelby County Commission Chairman Joe Ford told the Commercial Appeal the county legislative body will pick a replacement for Cohen at its December 18 meeting. The paper also reports that with “a 7-6 Democratic majority on the County Commission, it appears likely Cohen’s replacement will be a Democrat and thus a potential vote for Wilder.”
The move could seal another term as leader of the Senate for Wilder. Published reports indicate that Senate Speaker Pro Tempore Mike Williams, a Republican, may switch his party affiliation to Independent and cast the deciding vote for Wilder. If this happens, Williams would again thwart Ron Ramsey’s ambition to take over the Senate, as he did in 2005. Republicans are already plotting to run an opponent — right-wing ideologue Mike Faulk — against Williams in 2008. All 16 Senate Democrats support Wilder’s re-election.
The Republicans also have problems in the House and at the helm of the Tennessee Republican Party. Radical blowhards Jason Mumpower and Glen Casada appear poised to challenge House Minority Leader Bill Dunn and Republican Caucus Chairman Charles Sargent respectively in next month’s leadership elections. Another extremist, State Representative Eric Swafford, has declared his intention to challenge Bob Davis for the chairmanship of the Tennessee GOP in January.
“Defeat breeds discontent,” Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Bob Tuke said. “Their failures in last week’s elections are making many Tennessee Republicans question the efficacy of their leadership. There are some deep-seeded wounds in the Tennessee Republican Party that won’t heal quickly or easily.”
