Chris Devaney was re-elected to a third full term as the chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party on Saturday.
The election was held during the TNGOP State Executive Committee’s December meeting at the State Capitol.
He received 47 votes to 17 for former state Rep. Joe Carr.
Mr.
Devaney was first elected in May of 2009 to serve the remainder of former Chairman Robin Smith
’s term after she resigned to run for Congress.
In addition to the chairman’s race, the TNGOP State Executive Committee elected Betty Cannon of Nashville as vice chairman, Frank Colvett of Memphis as treasurer, Christi Cross of Paris as secretary, and Beth Scott Clayton Amos of Nashville as vice treasurer. All won without opposition.
Mr. Devaney said, “It is an honor to be given this vote of confidence for what we have done at the Tennessee Republican Party and for what we plan to do. The historic gains and growth we have seen in Tennessee have been a result of the hard work from everyone in our party, from the State Executive Committee to our grassroots volunteers, and I want to thank them for giving me the chance to continue leading our Party.”
“While we have seen tremendous success in the last few years, our work is far from over. 2016 is shaping up to be a historic opportunity to take back the White House. With the enthusiasm that will generate, we will use that to strengthen this incredible foundation we have built here in Tennessee."
Officials said, "With Devaney serving as chairman of the TNGOP, Republicans have seen their party win the Governor’s race, re-election in both U.S. Senate races, gain supermajority status in both the House and Senate, as well as gain and hold a 7-2 majority in Tennessee’s congressional delegation.
"In 2014, Tennessee was one of only two states where Republicans added to their legislative supermajority in both chambers. Governor Bill Haslam won in a historic re-election landslide, and Senator Lamar Alexander easily defeated his self-funding Democratic opponent. And, with the Party’s Red to the Roots program, over 600 Republicans were elected at the county and judicial level in Tennessee—the most in state history."
Mr. Devaney and his wife, Heather, live in Chattanooga with their four children and attend Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church.