Amendment could reshape DA election

A recent amendment to Tennessee election law could allow the Warren County Republican Party to select a nominee for District Attorney General through a caucus, despite the party’s unanimous vote last July to permanently abandon the caucus system.

The amendment, attached to House Bill 0458 during the current legislative session, applies specifically to judicial district special elections, including races for District Attorney General.

Warren County Republican Party Chair Lynessa Bell said the change could give the local party an option that was previously unavailable.

“Because we had already sent in the letter saying we’re going to hold primaries, but the DA’s office was not part of that letter, therefore we could not hold a primary for DA,” Bell said during an appearance on WBMC 960 AM and 97.7 FM’s “Behind the Mic,” hosted by Chad Graves. “But now with this new rule, we could potentially hold a caucus to select a Republican candidate for DA.”