The Tennessee Democratic Party has named longtime pollster and strategist Alan Secrest as its new executive director, the Nashville Business Journal reports. Secrest will replace Kevin Teets, who left earlier this year.

State Rep. Mike Turner says he plans to step down as House Democratic Caucus chairman after five years due to sharp differences with the direction of Tennessee Democratic Party leaders, the Tennessean reports. Turner, who made his intentions known at a state party executive committee meeting Saturday, called the party’s chairman, Roy Herron, “a friend for a long time” but suggested the two have vastly different visions. “This is not anything personal against him, but my approach to what the party needs and where it needs to go is way different than his,” Turner said today. “I want a more progressive and aggressive party that more reflects probably the national trend and where Democrats are having some success in other areas.”

The seven candidates in the Democratic primary for state House District 91 spoke during a forum at Magnolia First Baptist Church in South Memphis Monday night, the Memphis Daily News reports. The forum was the first time during the shortened campaign season that all the candidates shared the same stage. Early voting ends tomorrow.

The Tennessee Ethics Commission voted Wednesday to dismiss a complaint against Gov. Bill Haslam that said he failed to disclose how much he had paid his former chief campaign strategist Ted Ingram for political advice in the years following the 2010 election, the Memphis Daily News reports. Earlier this week, the commission declined to fine Ingram and his partner, Marcille Durham, for failing to disclose a lobbying relationship. Former state Democratic Chairman Chip Forrester brought the complaint against the governor and filed a similar one with the Registry of Election Finance. That complaint is still pending.

Special elections will be held in Memphis on Oct. 8 and Nov. 21 to fill the seat in the House of Representatives left open with the death of state Rep. Lois DeBerry. The Tennessean reports that Gov. Bill Haslam set the dates on Tuesday for the primary and general elections for the 91st House District, which stretches south of midtown Memphis as far as the Whitehaven neighborhood.

Nashville Metro Councilman Jason Holleman launched a 70-mile walking tour of Senate District 21, exactly one year from the democratic primary election. Holleman says he plans to spend the next seven days meeting with voters and visiting local businesses, the Tennessean reports. Holleman faces attorney Jeff Yarbro in the race to replace longtime state Sen. Doug Henry.

While area Democrats planned a traditional welcome for President Barack Obama’s visit to Chattanooga yesterday, Republicans and the Chattanooga Tea Party were not so welcoming according to Knoxnews. The Tennessee Republican Party began airing a television ad Monday declaring that Tennessee is a success “not because of [Obama’s] liberal policies, but in spite of them.” In a statement, state Republican Chairman Chris Devaney insisted the ad “isn’t about President Obama or his feckless leadership on jobs and the economy — everyone is well aware of that dismal record. Instead, this ad is about the great things happening here in Tennessee because of Republican leadership.” The president was in town to tour the Amazon fulfillment center and discuss job creation.

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett told WATE News 6 that state conservatives approached him to challenge Sen. Lamar Alexander in his 2014 reelection bid. Burchett says the possibility is flattering and a run in 2014 is something to look at. But he adds that he has no immediate plans to challenge Alexander in next year's election.

The head of a Knoxville political consulting firm has admitted responsibility for an automated telephone survey asking voters their opinion of state Sen. Stacey Campfield. But Ben Farmer, owner of Cyragon LLC, maintains that he had no intention of harassing voters or attacking Campfield, Knoxnews reports. In an interview with the TBI, Farmer explained that the survey was an internal test and a computer glitch caused 2,000 targeted voters to receive multiple calls. The TBI has been investigating the “robo poll” at the request of District Attorney General Randy Nichols. Campfield said the explanation for the calls was “ridiculous” since Farmer is a supporter of Richard Briggs, a Knox County commissioner and physician who has declared himself an opponent to Campfield in the 2014 Republican primary.

The lone Democrat to voice interest in running against Gov. Bill Haslam for governor said he will not mount a gubernatorial challenge but stick to running for re-election to his West Tennessee House district instead. “I’m committed to continuing as leader and trying to run for my representative position again,” House Democratic Leader Craig Fitzhugh told The City Paper. Fitzhugh also said he wanted to focus more of his energy on getting Democrats elected to the state House of Representatives.