Election Commission defends late candidate swap in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – State Representative Gerald McCormick’s late decision to not run for re-election, is causing some complications.

Since he made up his mind June 18th, Hamilton County Election Commissioners voted to replace him on the Republican primary ballot with Robin Smith.

Then State Democrats brought a lawsuit to keep Smith’s name off the ballot for the District 26 seat.

The Election Commission voted this morning to hire an attorney to argue the case, which is set to be heard Friday in Davidson County.

Smith told us “The only thing nefarious that’s happening is that the Democrat party in Tennessee is trying to disenfranchise the Republican voters in Hamilton County’s District 26, and kick a qualified Republican woman off the ballot.”

Smith believes the law is clear, and her name will remain on the ballot.