Tennessee Democratic Party chairwoman draws second challenger

Joey Garrison
The Tennessean
Christopher Hale, who this year lost in the Democratic primary for Tennessee's 4th Congressional District, announced via video Thursday that he's running for Tennessee Democratic Party chair.

It's now a three-person race to lead beleaguered Tennessee Democrats. 

Christopher Hale, who this year lost in the Democratic primary for Tennessee's 4th Congressional District, announced via video Thursday that he's running for Tennessee Democratic Party chair. 

He joins Holly McCall, chairwoman of the Williamson Democratic Party, as challengers to current state party Chairwoman Mary Mancini, who is seeking a third term in the leadership role.

Hale, a 29-year-old political consultant from Rutherford County, said he hopes to meet with all 72 members of the Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Committee before Jan. 12, when the committee meets to vote on the next chair. 

"To start winning elections again," Hale said in a statement, "we need a new generation of leaders that will effectively communicate our party’s highest values to a skeptical electorate, raise a tremendous amount of resources to invest in our candidates, and passionately and zealously defend our values and compete in all 95 counties."

Campaign for party leadership:Holly McCall to challenge Mary Mancini for Tennessee Democratic Party chair

He added: "The only metric that matters going forward is whether or not this party can start winning elections again, and for Democrats, the choice is simple: yesterday or tomorrow."

Fitzhugh no longer considering party chair run

As McCall and Hale enter, former Tennessee Democratic House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh said he's no longer considering running for the chairmanship.

"I hope to have some input in what goes on going forward in the party, but I'm not a candidate," said Fitzhugh, who lost his bid for the Democratic nomination for governor this year.

Hale said he has a "strategic game plan" for the party that includes raising $7 million over the next two cycles, registering more than 350,000 new voters, fighting "voter suppression" in court and deploying new resources and staff across the state.

Hale previously ran a faith-based advocacy nonprofit, the Francis Project, and worked in the White House and campaign of President Barack Obama overseeing Catholic outreach. He's appeared on Fox News and contributed to Time magazine.

State of the Democratic Party:Tennessee Democrats soul-search again after high hopes spoiled by another disappointing election

Tennessee Democrats lost statewide races for governor and U.S. Senate despite fielding their most seasoned candidates in years in former Mayor Karl Dean and former Gov. Phil Bredesen. Democrats netted a one-seat gain in the Tennessee state House, but Republicans still hold supermajorities in both chambers.

Reach Joey Garrison jgarrison@tennessean.com or 615-259-8236 and on Twitter @joeygarrison.