You’re reading one story in WPLN’s series exploring the wide-ranging impacts of a hard-right political faction in Middle Tennessee. Find all parts here.
Sumner County’s upcoming elections could have a major impact on public life for years to come. That’s thanks in large part to a hard-right branch of the Republican party and its surprising rise to power.
The Sumner County Constitutional Republicans act like a political action committee. They endorse candidates, recruit members, and are deeply embedded in the county’s government. Candidates they’ve endorsed now make up the majority of the county commission.
Their founder, Kurt Riley, told the Tennessee Star in 2022, that he formed the group because he thought Republicans in Sumner weren’t conservative enough.
“I’ve always felt like the ingredients for constitutional conservative republicanism is overwhelming here in Sumner County,” said Riley. “So, I keep telling people if we just organize these people and get them focused that the vast majority of these citizens here, they believe and want what we want.”
The group’s website says their platform is derived from the Bible, with a focus on limited government, free speech and a right to bear arms. It also sports a custom Don’t Tread On Me flag. If you don’t align with their views, you end up on their page titled “The Wall of the Unaccountable.”
“They’re personal vendettas,” County Commissioner Wes Wynne, who isn’t affiliated with the group, tells WPLN News. “It’s like, ‘Hey, I didn’t agree with, or I didn’t like you and I didn’t agree with some of the things you did. And so, I’m going to make sure I run you through the ringer.'”
Wynne is the first face you see on the group’s wall — next to the word “fraudster,” in all caps.
How we got here
The Constitutional Republicans secured their majority on the county commission in 2022, with 14 candidates taking office and dominating the 24-person commission. Thirteen of the candidates the group endorsed won their races outright, but the 14th race ended in a tie that eventually sowed distrust and confusion in the community.
That tied race, in District 13, was between Republican Terri Boyt and Democrat Brenda Dotson.
If Dotson, 50 years old, won, she would have been the first Democrat to hold a seat on the commission in nearly three decades, and the only Black person on the commission.
Dotson is a 30-year Gallatin resident and primarily worked as a barber. Through that work, she became well-liked in the community and says she was asked to run because of that popularity.
“Somebody actually came to me and said, I know a lot of people,” said Dotson. “And said that I may be a good person to influence the culture.”
Breaking a tie
Many in the county assumed that a run-off election would be held in the case of a tie. But the commission, now dominated by Constitutional Republicans, had two options under state law: hold a runoff election or appoint a candidate of their choosing.
Riley began emailing commissioners and insisting that they appoint Boyt.
But Commissioner Danny Sullivan didn’t agree. He thought they should let the residents decide the winner with a runoff election.
“We have another election that’s already scheduled in November about 62 days from now,” said Sullivan during the first meeting of the newly elected commissioners in 2022. “This will cost the county no additional funds for this to be added to the ballot.”
His point of view was in the minority on the commission, but several members of the public agreed with him.
“I’m here today to ask you to allow American democracy to play out,” Jim Stocks of Hendersonville said during public comment at the meeting.
County Commissioner — and Constitutional Republican-endorsed candidate — Jeremy Mansfield expressed his own thoughts on democracy, quoting former president John Adams.
“Adams stated that democracy will soon degenerate into an anarchy,” said Mansfield. “Our founding fathers were very, very clear we were not and never to become a democracy.”
Boyt was elected to the commission in a 20 to 1 vote. Sullivan was the single “no” vote.
Early voting in Sumner County’s elections begins Feb. 14. Residents can vote to fill six school board seats, a general sessions judge and an assessor of property. The Constitutional Republicans are endorsing four candidates for seats on the school board.
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