Leatherwood seeks election as TNGOP chair

Brent Leatherwood, executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party since 2012, is taking a leave of absence from the position while seeking election as state GOP chairman.

Leatherwood announced his bid to replace Ryan Haynes, who has announced he won’t seek a second term at TNGOP, in a letter sent Monday to members of the GOP State Executive Committee, which will pick the new chair, and becomes the third candidate to announce his candidacy, reports the Times-Free Press. The others are Bill Giannini, a deputy commissioner in the state’s Economic and Community Development Department, and SEC member Scott Golden of Jackson (also an aide to retiring U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher).

In the letter, Leatherwood said the state party is “primed to continue the success we all want and expect in the 2018 election cycle.

“That said, success is not going to happen on its own. As the stewards of our Party, you understand that it takes a strong vision and a commitment to turn it into reality to be victorious in the political realm.”

He noted that since becoming executive director, state Republicans have elected nearly 800 Republicans across the state, including statewide nominees, legislative delegates and “our unprecedented Red to the Roots” campaign directed at county-level offices.

“I believe my record shows that, even in the midst of turbulent moments, I was able to keep our focus on winning the races we engaged in,” Leatherwood said.