The Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Committee rejected state Rep. John DeBerry’s challenge Wednesday, April 15, and kept him off the House District 90 Democratic ballot in the August primary.

The executive committee voted 40-24 with one abstention to deny his appeal despite the veteran legislator’s complaints that the panel would overturn the votes of his constituents who sent him to Capitol Hill for 26 years.

Democrats oust state Rep. John DeBerry

Several committee members took exception to DeBerry’s refusal to participate in a question-and-answer session with the committee, for instance, to explain why he served on an education committee of the Koch Brothers’ American Legislative Exchange Council or voted for former Republican House Speaker Glen Casada.

Hendrell Remus, vice chairman of the Young Democrats, argued the party needs someone who will embody Democrats’ values instead of siding with Republicans on every major issue.

“John DeBerry should be removed so we can send a real Democrat to Nashville,” Remus said.

Committee member Will Cheek of Nashville said: “I’m not going to insist on ideological purity, but I’d like some ideological resemblance.”

DeBerry’s main defenders were his legislative colleagues.

“We cannot usurp the values of a district,” said Sen. Raumesh Akbari, a Memphis Democrat and voting member of the executive committee.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Stewart of Nashville also called on the board not to overstep the votes of House District 90.

“I think in a democracy we should always err on the side of the people making the decision,” he said.

Said Ernest Brooks, “Don’t disenfranchise voters.”

The decision upheld the executive committee’s 41-18 vote last week to remove DeBerry’s name from the August ticket for a multitude of reasons, ranging from his vote for the governor’s educations savings account program in 2019 to anti-abortion stances, pro-gun votes and failure to support Medicaid expansion.

DeBerry defended himself, saying he is a “lifelong Democrat” and served for 12 years as chairman of the House Children and Family Affairs Committee under a Democratic House Speaker.

He noted he even stuck with Democrats and former Speaker Jimmy Naifeh in support of the income tax in the early 2000s.

“I know who I am and what I have been and the example I have been in my district,” DeBerry said. “People in my district know who I am. …”

DeBerry, a 69-year-old Church of Christ minister, pointed out his views against abortion and in favor of school choice are “long-held beliefs.”

With Republicans holding a 73-26 supermajority in the House, DeBerry contended he brings experience needed “to get things done,” which can be “very valuable” to the Democratic Party.

It wasn’t enough, though.

DeBerry faces property tax bill, Democratic ouster at same time

Information put together by Memphis resident Jan Lentz, co-chairman of the local chapter of Democratic Socialists of America, who filed the challenge of DeBerry’s bona fide status as a Democrat, also showed he made a donation to former Republican House Speaker Beth Harwell. Her information also showed that DeBerry has received tens of thousands of dollars over the years from individuals and groups that usually give to Republican candidates. Lentz retracted a claim that DeBerry gave money to former Republican state Rep. Bill Sanderson.