NASHVILLE, TN — In a stunning act of bipartisan generosity, Tennessee Republicans have once again delivered for their friends across the aisle.
Thanks to the bold leadership of Senator Jack Johnson and Representative Lee Reeves, Democrats statewide are celebrating the anticipated passage of HB799/HB855—a bill that guarantees continued Democrat access to Republican primaries under the friendly disguise of “election reform.”
“We were worried there for a moment,” said longtime Democrat activist Shelby Blue. “Grassroots conservatives were getting a little too organized. There was talk of vetting Republican primary voters and, God forbid, holding conventions with actual Republicans. Thankfully, Jack and Lee stepped in to save us.”
The bill, which would mandate government-run primaries in every county, effectively removes the option for local Republican parties to hold conventions or caucuses—those pesky grassroots-driven events where known Republicans choose their own nominees.
“We’ve had a lot of success in counties like Williamson, since they don’t use caucuses or conventions…” continued Blue. “But if the Democrat party is to grow deeper into the fabric of Tennessee, we need to have access to ALL counties. With this bill, Democrats will be free to show up in key primaries all over the state to help Republicans select the right candidates.” She concluded, “Thanks to my friend Lee, we may have dodged a bullet in Williamson County in 2026.”
HB799/HB855 has been hailed as a landmark in Democrat-Republican cooperation—mostly by Democrats.
Critics claim the bill silences local Republican voices and undermines party autonomy, but supporters insist it protects an important Tennessee tradition: Democrats shaping the Republican ticket from within.
Sources say the bill also conveniently exempts over 20 counties, mostly those where local leadership isn’t quite so rebellious. “That’s just good governance,” said one anonymous source. “You can’t have consistency interfering with political strategy.”
Rumors suggest the next phase of bipartisan reform may involve appointing a Democrat to co-chair the GOP nominating committee—though officials say that may be “a few years away.”
Meanwhile, Democrat operatives across the state are being encouraged to thank Jack and Lee personally for their tireless efforts to keep the primaries open, unmonitored, and wide, wide open.
“This is a huge win for us,” said Blue. “I haven’t felt this empowered since we picked the last moderate Republican.”