Thursday, June 12th, Nashville, TN – Republican candidate for Governor of Tennessee, Congressman John Rose, has named veteran GOP strategist Chris Devaney as Campaign Chair.

Devaney brings decades of experience in Tennessee politics, including serving as Campaign Manager for now-Governor Bill Lee’s successful 2018 race and as former Chair of the Tennessee Republican Party. Under his leadership, Republicans secured a working majority in the State House and later achieved supermajorities in both chambers of the General Assembly. He also led the Tennessee GOP’s Red to the Roots program, which helped elect a record number of Republican local officeholders across the state.

Devaney’s leadership will guide strategic decisions and ensure the campaign is positioned for success from day one.

The Rose campaign has built critical early momentum in the 2026 race for Governor as the only Republican candidate currently in the field. Since announcing his candidacy more than three months ago, Rose has boxed out potential opponents by steadily assembling a strong grassroots coalition of party leaders, farmers, business owners, and local officials.

“The landscape of this race is very favorable for John Rose to fulfill his goal of serving the people of Tennessee,” said Chairman Devaney. “The significance of being the only Republican in the race at this point cannot be overstated. It takes an early start to truly connect with voters in all 95 counties — and they like the man they’re meeting: a humble Tennessee farmer and proven conservative.”

In both the 2010 and 2018 Republican primaries for Governor, the first- and second-place finishers were already formally announced and actively campaigning at this point in the race. With this team in place, the Rose for Governor campaign is poised to run an aggressive, grassroots-driven effort across all 95 counties — and deliver on Rose’s promise to defend Tennessee values from outside influence.

Rose, an eighth-generation Tennessee farmer, announced his candidacy for Governor on March 20, 2025, at the site of the Tennessee State Fair in Wilson County. His conservative record in Congress, mutual support with President Trump, and deep roots in Tennessee agriculture have helped him gain strong early support from voters across the state.

To learn more about the campaign, visit JohnRose.com.

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