TNGOP exec will lead Hagerty’s campaign – Nashville Post

Tennessee Republican Party Executive Director Michael Sullivan is stepping down from his position in order to take over as campaign manager for Bill Hagerty’s U.S. Senate campaign.

Sullivan worked for the state party from 2011 to 2015 before joining the Republican National Committee. He rejoined the Tennessee Republican Party in 2017 as executive director.

“He is proven operative and will be a strong leader for our team as we lay the groundwork for a substantive campaign and share our conservative vision with Tennesseans across the state,” Hagerty said in a statement.

Hagerty, a former commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development and ambassador to Japan, faces Republican primary competition from Nashville surgeon Manny Sethi, whose campaign is led by Chris Devaney, another former state GOP executive director (and chairman).

Hagerty out-raised Sethi and Democrat James Mackler in the third quarter, though much of his reported haul is earmarked for the general election.

TNGOP Chairman Scott Golden said Sullivan “will be greatly missed and we wish him the best of luck on his future endeavors.”