U.S. District Judge Kevin Sharp threw out a suit filed by 2012 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Mark Clayton. Clayton alleged the Tennessee Democratic Party violated state law by keeping him off the ballot for governor this August. Clayton was disavowed by the party for his association with an anti-gay hate group and for an uneven record of voting in Democratic primaries. The party blocked his application for governor, telling state elections offices that he is not a “bona fide” Democrat. The Tennessean has more.

Nashville was one of 15 cities that received a request for proposal from the Democratic Party to officially bid on hosting its 2016 convention. Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp., said the city could probably meet the room and suite requirements to host, but estimates its price tag to be anywhere from $75 million to $100 million. Complicating the matter is that no exact dates have been set for the convention. The Nashville Business Journal has more.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will headline the Tennessee Republican Party Statesmen’s Dinner in May, the Nashville Business Journal reports. Christie, a possible Republican presidential candidate in 2016, will give the keynote address at the annual event, the largest yearly gathering of Tennessee Republicans and a major fundraising event for the party.

The Shelby County Democratic Party censured four of its members yesterday, including two members of the General Assembly. State Sen. Reginald Tate, Rep. Joe Towns and state executive committee member Hazel Moore were censured for attending a fundraiser for Circuit Court Clerk Jimmy Moore, a Republican who is running for re-election. County Commissioner Sidney Chism was censured on claims he tried to talk Democratic sheriff candidate Bennie Cobb out of running, the Commercial Appeal reports. Chism denies the allegations.

U.S. Sen. Bob Corker may leave Capitol Hill for a possible run for Tennessee governor in 2018 if the Republican Party doesn't gain control of the Senate in the upcoming midterm elections and beyond, according to Roll Call. GOP insiders say that if he does run, he would "likely clear the gubernatorial field." The Memphis Business Journal has more.

Nashville officials will apply to host the Democratic National Convention in 2016, the Nashville Business Journal reports. The city was one of 30 cities that have been invited to apply. Due to a conflict of dates, Nashville declined an invitation to bid for the 2016 Republican National Convention

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has been named policy chairman of the Republican Governors Public Policy Committee, WDEF News 12 reports. The group is the policy arm of the Republican Governors Association. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who chairs the 29-member national association, said in a release that Haslam is "a true pioneer in the public policy sphere." The governor stressed his own accomplishments in overhauling civil service rules in Tennessee and reducing what he called the government footprint in the state as ideas for others to pursue.

Nashville declined an invitation to bid on hosting the 2016 Republican National Convention, the Tennessean reports. In an emailed statement, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. President Butch Spyridon told the newspaper that the dates under consideration were already booked.

Thinking about running for office? Why not? There are a lot of opportunities out there and columnist Joe Lance goes over some of the things you should consider in making a decision. His column on Nooga.com is the second of a seven-part series about running for public office.

Former Tennessee House Republican Caucus chair Debra Maggart has been named senior vice president of CivicPoint, the public affairs and lobbying wing of Nashville-based Frost Brown Todd law firm, the Tennessean political blog reports. “I am excited for this new opportunity with Frost Brown Todd, and the opportunity to help clients achieve their goals,” Maggart said in a statement.