FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tennessee's Republican primary for U.S. Senate was called "the nastiest in the nation." But now with Ambassador Bill Hagerty's win, Volunteer State Republicans are hoping to put all that behind them.
Saturday morning, the party held their annual GOP Unity Event at Puckett's Grocery in Franklin.
"As family discussions sometimes go, they get a little spirited sometimes," said State Senator Jack Johnson, who kicked off the event.
After such a bare-knuckled primary, consider this event an attempt at a socially distant hug.
"I’m looking forward to bringing our party together, getting all of our oars rowing in the right direction because November 3rd [is] not far away," said Hagerty, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate.
Hagerty was flanked by the elder statesmen of his party, including Gov. Bill Lee and the retiring senator he hopes to replace, Lamar Alexander.
"I hope we all get together and support him in November," said Sen. Alexander.
For being billed as a Republican unity event, Hagerty's fiercest opponent Dr. Manny Sethi was absent.
NewsChannel 5 asked Gov. Lee if Sethi should have shown up in order to unify the party. "I think Dr. Sethi and his team are supportive of Bill Hagerty going forward, I’m certain of that," Lee told us.
Sen. Alexander suggested voters not read too much into Sethi's absence. "I can understand how he felt, it’s hard to lose," he said.
Alexander believes Hagerty's next step is to start mending those broken fences. "The Republican Primary is over and Bill Hagerty needs to represent the people who didn’t vote for him in the Republican primary and who are independents and who voted in the Democratic party. He needs to be the senator of everybody," said Alexander.
"I can’t tell you how honored I am to be your nominee, and I look forward to having all of your support to become your next United States Senator," Hagerty told the crowd.
