State Dems Choose Forrester as New Chair

Members of the Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Committee gathered in Nashville over the weekend and selected Chip Forrester as the party’s new chair. Forrester won despite having senior party members campaign against him.

Forrester’s opponent, Nashville attorney Charles Robert Bone had the support of 4 of the 5 democratic congressmen, Governor Phil Bredesen and several former party chairmen. They all supported Bone because of his fundraising abilities. But Bone ended up with only 25 votes to Forrester’s 42.

Forrester says he’s going to reach out to the party’s establishment, as well as local volunteers.

“I know that I campaigned from the grass roots up. We’ve seen the success of that kind of campaigning with what happened with Barack Obama and his presidential campaign.”

Forrester says that’s how the Democrats will win back their majorities in the General Assembly. He has offered Bone the position of party treasurer, but no staff decisions have been made. Bone says he’s not considering the post, but says money will continue to be a challenge.

“I do think we are at the beginning of a very, very difficult fundraising cycle both with the economy and both with where the party is in Tennessee.”

In the meantime, Republicans are maintaining their current leadership. Tennessee GOP Chairman Robin Smith will be staying on for another election cycle.

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Forrester used his acceptance speech to blast state Republican Party election tactics as “racist.” Forrester says a campaign mailer used in the race against Representative Nathan Vaughn (D-Kingsport) crossed the line, as did several items used against President Barack Obama.

“It was very clear in this last election cycle that there were extremely negative and racist campaign tactics…There’s nothing wrong with debating the issues and dealing with the substantive issues, but to use that sort of racist, bigoted attacks is unacceptable. And as chair of the party, I’m not going to stand and let the Republican Party define races in that way.”

Forrester says many Republicans were likely upset by “those attacks” as well.