Tennessee GOP candidates to pay fees to participate in primary races

Published 10:22 pm Monday, January 31, 2022

The Tennessee Republican Party has voted to impose fees on candidates seeking to run in GOP primaries in 2022.

These fees are based on a sliding scale depending on the office being sought.

Carter County Administrator of Elections Tracy Tanner-Harris said that the fees have absolutely nothing to do with the Elections Commission and has directed all questions to the State Republican Party.

“We were directed to have the candidates contact the State Republican Party at 615-269-4260 as we have nothing at all to do with this,” said Tanner-Harris. “If candidates want to withdraw from the Republican race they can, but they will have to pick up another petition as Independent or Democrat and get signatures just like they did with the original which means they will be starting all over.”

Tanner-Harris said she was informed that there could possibly be a grace period for Republican candidates to pay the fees by the qualifying deadline.

The process of filing fees is not something new as some states already require filing fees for their state primaries. Texas, for example, has filing fees for both Republicans and Democrats with United States Representative candidates paying $3,125 and those seeking the office of governor paying $3,750. Sheriff and Commissioner candidates must pay $1,250 each.

And while the fees vary somewhat with Governor candidates having to pay $5,000 to enter the primary, sheriff and commissioner candidates only have to pay $125 and $25 respectively.

Tanner-Harris was also asked what the repercussion would be should candidates not pay the fee.

“I asked the question that if they (GOP) were going to try and notify the counties to have the candidates removed,” said Tanner-Harris. “I did inform her that we are sending a list to the state daily and the lady I was speaking with told me that they would cross-reference them to make sure fees have been paid.”