From Hearing to Harassment: Senate Hearing Turns into Personal Attack on GOP Chair in Viral SB0799 Exchange

By TruthWire News – April 2, 2025

What should have been a civil policy hearing on Tennessee’s controversial SB0799 turned into a public spectacle Tuesday, when Senator Todd Gardenhire (R-Hamilton County) launched into a heated, sarcastic, and at times aggressive exchange with Steve Hickey, the newly elected Williamson County GOP Chair and U.S. military veteran, during a Senate committee hearing.

Hickey appeared to testify against SB0799, which would force political parties to use state-run primaries to nominate candidates for partisan county offices—removing the option of local conventions. Hickey argued that the bill violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments, infringing on the right of private political associations to define their own nomination processes as protected by Supreme Court precedent.

Rather than address the constitutional argument, Gardenhire steered the discussion into a confrontational and frankly unprovoked personal interrogation. He demanded that Hickey define what it means to be a Republican—“two or three terms,” he said, insisting that Hickey was “going to be on the record.”

When Hickey responded that a Republican is someone who holds conservative values, honors the Constitution, and follows the party platform, Gardenhire snapped:

“I’ll interrupt you in a minute if you’ll keep your mouth shut until I’m finished asking a question. You got that?”

The exchange only grew more tense from there. When Hickey clarified that the Tennessee GOP defines a bona fide Republican as someone who voted in three of the last four primaries, Gardenhire disregarded the point and demanded that Hickey “pick one and stick with it.”

Then, in what struck many as a strange and condescending tangent, Gardenhire asked whether Hickey had ever heard of the Sharon Statement, a 1960 declaration of conservative principles authored at the home of William F. Buckley in Connecticut. When Hickey said no, Gardenhire responded:

“I didn’t think you had.”

He went on to minimize the relevance of so-called “red meat issues,” implying that Hickey’s understanding of conservatism was shallow and opportunistic.

To many observers, the reference to the Sharon Statement—a foundational, though perhaps arcane document from a small meeting of conservatives 65 years ago—was not only ironic given the nature of the bill being debated (one that reduces party autonomy), but also oddly out of place, particularly as a rhetorical cudgel against a grassroots party leader.

The tone and delivery of Gardenhire’s remarks drew instant backlash—not only from grassroots conservatives, but from many within his own constituency. The clip of the exchange quickly began circulating online, where it was shared widely by Republicans across ideological lines. Sources indicate that rumors of a potential censure are being discussed privately, with even some Republicans expressing concern over what they viewed as an unprofessional, personal attack on a fellow Republican testifying in good faith.

What stood out to many, beyond the sarcasm and condescension, was the visceral aggression of the moment. The sudden escalation, the lack of provocation, and the disproportionate intensity felt to some observers eerily reminiscent of the well-documented outbursts from President Joe Biden, particularly when frustrated or challenged in unscripted settings. In Biden’s case, such behavior has been widely linked to cognitive decline, with outbursts and angry overreactions cited as hallmark symptoms. Whether or not Gardenhire’s behavior stemmed from frustration, ideological disdain, or deeper issues, the optics were jarring—and difficult to ignore.

The exchange—which was caught on video and widely circulated online—has sparked a wave of backlash from conservatives across the state, and even from Gardenhire’s own district. The Hamilton County Republican Party, which just recently flipped to full grassroots control with a newly elected board, issued a statement Tuesday evening condemning both SB0799 and Gardenhire’s behavior.

“In the course of the hearing, Senator Gardenhire also responded sharply to the Williamson County Republican Party Chairman, mischaracterizing his remarks and telling him to ‘keep his mouth shut,’” the statement reads.

“We believe respectful dialogue and the free exchange of ideas are essential to a healthy political process—especially within our own party… The Hamilton County Republican Party opposes SB 799. Political parties are private associations protected by the First Amendment. They should retain the freedom to choose their own methods of nomination without interference from the state.”

They concluded with a direct appeal to Gardenhire and other local officials:

“We urge our local elected officials to vote NO on SB 799 and to stand in defense of local autonomy, free association, and the integrity of the Republican grassroots.”

But the official party statement was only part of the story. The comments under local social media posts from Gardenhire’s own constituents were blistering. One wrote,

“Steve Hickey was calm and respectful. Gardenhire has a very bad reputation and a long history of being disrespectful to his constituents. He called a group of citizens SOBs during session last week.”

Another added:

“Todd Gardenhire is out of touch with the conservative base. The only reason he wins is because no one runs against him… No wonder he supports open primaries!”

Several comments took the concern even further, raising questions about the senator’s state of mind:

• “Mr. Gardenhire does not represent me. He is hateful and disrespectful to not only the Williamson County Republican Party Chairman, but to me and many others.”
• “Vote him out!!”
• “I think his mental health is going down. Nobody acts this way unless there’s something wrong with him mentally… I wish him well, but his actions here lately speak of a mental decline.”
• “I think Senator Todd Gardenhire is not well.”

Adding fuel to the fire, Gardenhire’s own daughter, Kimberly Gardenhire Scarborough, chimed in to publicly defend the idea of Democrats voting in Republican primaries, stating:

“Really? That’s funny because he is the OG of Republicans and closing primaries restricts the right to vote for the most qualified candidate which news flash.....isn’t always the same party (gasp).”

For many, her comment only reinforced what the exchange already made clear: that the hostility toward party independence and grassroots organizing is not only political—it’s personal. And now, with SB0799 advancing to the Calendar and Rules Committee, its last stop before reaching the full Senate floor, those concerns have become urgent.

Meanwhile, the committee—despite the tension—proceeded to advance SB0799 to the Calendar and Rules Committee, the final stop before it heads to the Senate floor. The bill, which has raised serious constitutional concerns, continues to move forward in spite of widespread grassroots opposition.

The companion bill in the House, HB0855, was quietly rolled to April 9, giving the grassroots one more week to organize opposition. But if the tone and tactics on display Tuesday are any indication, the battle is no longer just about party rules—it’s about whether local voices are still allowed in the room at all.

TruthWire will continue following developments around SB0799 and HB0855, and report on the April 9 House hearing, as well as any movement toward censure or formal reprimand of Senator Gardenhire.

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