On January 15, the Tennessee legislature, in joint session, elected a new Secretary of State. He is Tre Hargett, the first Republican Secretary of State since at least 1870, if not ever. The Tennessee Constitution since 1870 has required that the legislature elect the Secretary of State. Republicans gained a legislative majority in the November 2008 election (the two houses sit together as one big group, when the Secretary of State is chosen). The vote was 70 for Hargett, and 61 for incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Riley Darnell. The term is for 4 years.

The attitude of the new Secretary of State toward minor parties is not known. Tennessee has not had any parties on the ballot, other than the Democratic and Republican Parties, since 1972, when the American Party last appeared. A lawsuit is pending in federal court against the Tennessee procedures for ballot access for political parties. There may also be bills introduced to ease the procedure. The legislature, having organized itself, is about to adjourn again, and will reconvene on February 9. Bills will be introduced starting on that date.

Hargett, age 39, represented a Memphis district in the State House for ten years, and most recently has been the Director of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority.