Cookeville hosted the 6th Congressional District delegate selection convention Saturday at the Putnam Courthouse to choose who will represent the area at the Democratic National Convention this year.
Area Democratic Party members gathered to select four delegates — two men and two women — to represent the 19 counties of the district (15 complete counties and portions of four others). The candidates — from both ends of the district, stretching to Davidson and Sumner counties in the west to Cumberland County in the east — gave two-minute speeches to a gathering of 72 "electors" who then voted on their choices.
Those elected include John Deane of Jackson County, Maverick Flowers of Sumner County, Anne Quillen of Cumberland County and Megan Lange of Sumner County.
The Democratic National Convention will be held in Chicago Aug. 19-22 where delegates are expected to nominate incumbent Joe Biden for a second term.
"Folks, this is an important part of the process. If you don't believe this is a very, extraordinarily important election, then you probably shouldn't be in this room today," said Len Assante, chairman of the Tennessee Democratic County Chairs Association. "We have a duty, not just as Democrats, but as Americans to maintain and protect our democracy. I think it's clear that our democracy is under attack from the presumptive Republican nominee."
Assante said the delegates chosen are going to "work hard to nominate Vice President Harris and President Biden for a second term."
"And then when we come back from Chicago, we're going to have to get to work on the ground, on the phones, via the internet and every other way possible to turn out Democratic votes," he said. "Because, literally, the future of our country is at stake."
According to Credentials Chairman Geeta McMillan, the Tennessee Democratic Party is allotted 77 delegates and each Congressional District is allotted a certain number of delegates. The 6th district is allotted four delegate positions. She said the process of the selection begins after the Democratic Presidential primary with each county in the state holding county conventions.
"Each county is allotted a specific number of selectors which is based on population of the county who will then attend a congressional district convention where the actual delegates are elected," McMillan said. "The four delegates who were elected were part of a group of individuals who made their wishes know to the state Democratic Party through an application which was available to registered voters who voted in the Democratic Primary on March 5."
