A stuffed orange envelope was anonymously delivered to Scene headquarters in mid-February, containing a dossier detailing infighting within the Tennessee Democratic Party. The state executive committee meeting had descended into chaos, with name-calling and profanity. The main issue was whether the president of the Tennessee High School Democrats should be included as an ex officio member of the committee, leading to a split along generational lines.
Chair Hendrell Remus and committee members exchanged emails discussing the meeting, with some advocating for emotional appeals over rules-based order. Members referenced vocal Democratic state Reps. Justin Jones, Justin J. Pearson, and Gloria Johnson as symbols of resistance against the Republican supermajority.
The party suspended listserv communications on Feb. 1, prompting members to communicate directly until a new method is identified. Farrah Renfroe, a high school senior leading the Tennessee High School Democrats, expressed disappointment in the lack of consideration given by older members at the meeting, despite their active involvement in campaigns.
Ultimately, despite the legal hurdle of high school students not having voting history, Renfroe was allowed to join the committee after a vote that passed 40-15. A statewide memo confirmed that the party sought legal opinion on the issue. The article was later corrected to clarify that the total number of executive committee members is 73, not 78.
The internal struggles within the Tennessee Democratic Party reflect broader divisions and challenges faced by the party in the state.
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