Tennessee holds a presidential primary on March 1, 2016. Presidential candidates’ names appear automatically if the Secretary of State determines that they are discussed in the news media. But candidates for Delegate get on the ballot with a different procedure. For the Republican convention, anyone can appear on the ballot as a candidate for Delegate if he or she submits a petition signed by 25 voters. Any registered voter may sign; Tennessee does not have registration by party.
Candidates for delegate must say whom they are pledged to support at the convention. They certify that, if elected, they will vote for that presidential candidate on the first two rounds of voting.
Candidates for delegate to the Democratic national convention do not use this procedure; instead interested persons file with the Democratic Party, which has its own process for choosing who can run for Delegate. But Democratic candidates for Delegate also appear on the presidential primary ballot of the Democratic Party. See this story. So far, over 400 persons have filed to run for Delegate to the Republican convention. There will be 58 Republican delegates. Most of the slots are filled on a congressional district basis. The deadline for filing is December 10.
Is it possible to file a petition for delegate in Tennessee as unpledged?
Here are the rules, from the Sec. of State web page.
http://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/qualifying-procedures-2016-presidential-delegates
As of 11/25/2015, There are 496 delegate candidates who have taken out petitions. 107 have had their signatures counted, and 66 are pending.
The presidential candidates may choose among the prospective candidates, but they must make a minimal contest (choosing between N+1 and 2N candidates, where N is the number of delegate position for the district or at large).