Chancellor rules against Democratic challenge to candidate Robin Smith

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Hamilton County Chancellor Jeffrey Atherton has dismissed a democratic challenge to remove Robin Smith from the upcoming November ballot.

The state party has challenged her late addition to the Tennessee House race, saying incumbent Gerald McCormick withdrew too late.

They want his name to remain on the ballot or for Republicans to leave it blank.

But for the second time, a judge has dismissed their complaint.

Smith won the Republican nomination in August.

Today, she issued a statement on her latest win in court.

“Since the first day the Tennessee Democratic Party launched this frivolous effort to disenfranchise thousands of District 26 voters, I have kept the faith that our courts and their wisdom would see this lawsuit for what it really was – a political gimmick by a desperate party attempting to secure a seat in the legislature for an admitted socialist who even lives outside the district and would never win the support of the people at the ballot box.

I am saddened by this effort. Tennessee Democrats have cost Hamilton County taxpayers thousands and thousands of dollars, placed the voting rights of our citizens at risk, and attempted to damage the reputations of several people without regard for the truth or facts in this case. For this, the Tennessee Democratic Party should shoulder the responsibility for reimbursing the taxpayers of Hamilton County. They have proven that their efforts and energy are directed literally towards frivolous nonsense and delegitimizing our elections instead of promoting real policy ideas on the issues that matter most to District 26 voters.

However, our campaign team has never allowed this lawsuit to distract from the important work of communicating with Hamilton Countians about the successes in Tennessee and the challenges that remain. I am grateful that Chancellor Atherton has issued this ruling  so we can turn our full attention to discussing our economy, educational system, the best way to address health care delivery, and the other important issues that need our full effort and attention.

I look forward to contrasting my agenda of maintaining a job-producing economy and conservative policies with those of socialism and the commitment to open America’s borders without restraint, abolish ICE, and kill jobs with high taxes. Those are the positions of the Bredesen/Dean Democrat who is running, but not living, in District 26.”