Jane Hampton Bown drops out of Tennessee Democratic chairman race

Friday, January 18, 2013

The race to become the Tennessee Democratic Party's next chairman is down to just two people after Jane Hampton Bowen of Chattanooga announced this afternoon she is dropping out of the contest.

"The race is now one between two strong Democrats," Bowen said in a statement. "My job now becomes one of support and input toward the reinvigoration of the Democratic Party in Tennessee."

The organized labor official said she's looking forward to "continuing my quest for a more inclusive party, especially for working men and women, a party that stands for the rights and ideals of both urban and rural Tennesseans."

She did not endorse either of the two remaining candidates, Nashville lawyer Dave Garrison, currently party treasurer, and former state Sen. Roy Herron, D-Dresden.

Earlier this week Wade Munday, the party's former communications chair, dropped out and threw his support to Garrison. The party's executive committee meets a week from Saturday to elect a replacement for Chip Forrester, the current chairman.