For IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 1, 2009

– 31ST REPUBLICAN TO WIN SPECIAL ELECTION SINCE NOV. ‘08 –

ALEXANDRIA, VA –

Tennessee Republican Brian Kelsey is heading over to the State Senate with his special election victory tonight for the open 31st District seat.  Kelsey’s special election victory tonight is the 31st win for Republicans in state legislative special elections across the country since November 2008.  The Republican State Leadership Committee, the nation’s largest caucus of Republican state leaders, congratulated Kelsey for his win – adding another strong voice for commonsense, conservative principles in the Tennessee Senate.

“The people of Tennessee know that Brian Kelsey will fight for them in the Tennessee Senate and continue to provide commonsense, conservative leadership just as he did in the House of Representatives,” said Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) President Scott Ward. “It is encouraging that we have so many outstanding individuals, like Brian, who are ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work to make sure that government is limited in its size and scope to unleash the free enterprise system.”

The RSLC implemented a new media strategy focusing on the special elections in state legislatures across the country – including Tennessee – to heighten the awareness of the importance of winning these seats.  In addition to Kelsey’s success tonight, Republicans have won 30 other special elections for the state legislature since November 2008 from New Hampshire to Washington State, including: Tom Kovach from the 6th District of the Delaware House, which includes Vice President Joe Biden’s hometown; Joan Huffman came from behind to win in a run-off election for the Texas Senate; Marilinda Garcia in the 4th House District of New Hampshire; Rosa Rebimbas from the 70th House District of Connecticut; and Barry Knight from the 81st House District of Virginia in the backyard of DNC Chairman Governor Tim Kaine.

The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) is the only national organization whose mission is electing Republicans to the office of Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State and State Legislator. The RSLC is the largest caucus of Republican state leaders in the country – making a national impact one state at a time.  During the 2008 elections, the RSLC helped maintain the number of Republican Attorneys General and Lieutenant Governors across the U.S. In addition, the RSLC was able to deliver new Republican majorities in the Montana, Oklahoma and Tennessee state senates, as well as an unprecedented majority in the Tennessee House of Representatives.

The RSLC has over 80,000 donors from all 50 states supporting the RSLC’s goals to pursue a pro-growth agenda, including reforming the tax code, healthcare and legal systems; promoting a better educational system; encouraging sound energy initiatives; and advocating public safety through tough, crime-fighting policies.