‘Trump 2020’ store occupying early voting spot sparks backlash in Tennessee town
“Trump 2020” paraphernalia decorates the front entryway of an old bank in eastern Tennessee where merchandise supporting the president is sold. The store is slated to become an early voting location next month, according to the local Democratic Party.
The party wants it changed.
The store, advertised as the “Trump Shop” in photos shared on Facebook, occupies the building at 2375 McGrady Drive Southeast in Cleveland, Tennessee — about 40 minutes northeast of Chattanooga and 30 miles west of the North Carolina border. The same address is listed as an early voting location for the 2020 election cycle on the Bradley County Election Commission’s website.
Christopher J. Hale, a Democrat running for the 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, has threatened legal action if the commission refuses to change it.
“In a few weeks, a building that is currently operated by the Trump Shop in Cleveland will be an early voting location in our congressional district,” Hale said in a statement on Twitter. “The storefront is currently peppered with partisan signs, banners and flags made in China. This is textbook voter intimidation and suppression.”
The Bradley County Election Commission did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment Wednesday.
I'm not bullshitting you. This is a voting location in my congressional district.
After we win the election, I'll be sure to drape the place with HALE YES flags. pic.twitter.com/Y1w5DxIJnW— Christopher J. Hale (@chrisjollyhale) September 15, 2020
Concern over the early voting location surfaced Tuesday after the Bradley County Democrats shared a picture of the Trump Shop on its Facebook page and urged people to complain to the election commission.
“If you have driven down McGrady Dr recently, you probably noticed that the early voting location is currently a Trump store. Even though the store will be moved out during early voting do you feel this location will be a neutral voting location?” the post states. “I am afraid they will move their signs and banners out to the street and this might intimidate some and they will not vote.”
According to local coverage of the commission’s Aug. 12 meeting by the Cleveland Daily Banner, the person who owns the old bank rented it to the election commission for early voting. But because early voting doesn’t start until mid-October, he opted to rent it “short-term” to “a political merchandise vendor.”
Early voting runs from Oct. 14 to 29, according to the election commission’s website.
“The election commission has been assured the vendor and all merchandise will be removed before the early voting polling place moves in,” the Cleveland Daily Banner reported.
Chip Ricketts, who owns the Trump Shop in Cleveland, told WTVC he “had no idea that this would turn into an early voting location when his lease is up.”
Ricketts’ lease ends on Oct. 14 when early voting begins, WTVC reported.
