CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Montgomery County Republican Party hosted its annual Lincoln Reagan Dinner Thursday night, with over 300 members and their guests attending, including Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn.

County mayoral candidate Wes Golden and District Attorney candidate Neil Stauffer were also present, welcoming guests to the event as they walked in. Among other elected leaders attending were state Sen. Bill Powers and Congressman Mark Green.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee at the Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
Sen. Marsha Blackburn at the Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
State Sen. Bill Powers at the Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
John Dawson at the Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
The Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
The Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
Gov. Bill Lee and state Sen. Bill Powers at the Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
Gov. Bill Lee Chats with attendees at the Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
The Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
The Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
The Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
The Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
The Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
The Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
The Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
The Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
The Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee at the Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee at the Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee at the Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
Sen. Marsha Blackburn at the Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
Sen. Marsha Blackburn at the Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
Sen. Marsha Blackburn at the Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)
The Montgomery County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on May 20, 2021. (Jariel Jimenez)

Blackburn spoke first, saying the Republican Party should “focus on a small central government, talk about the Constitution, talk about opportunity, and talk about freedom.” She then welcomed Lee to the stage for his keynote address.

Lee spoke about various issues within the state, including human trafficking, illegal immigration and the difficulties that Tennesseans have faced since the start of the pandemic.

“It’s been an incredibly challenging year … tornadoes, pandemic, economic collapse, civil unrest, riots, the National Guard, continued pandemic, bombings in Nashville … we have had an incredibly challenging year, but you have all responded … and we have decided that we should continue to move forward,” Lee said.

Lee thanked the party members for their hard work, stressing his message that the Republican Party will move the state forward.