Rep. David Byrd, the Republican state lawmaker accused by three former students of sexually assaulting them when they were teenagers, has filed to seek reelection after previously saying he would not do so, this time potentially facing one of his alleged victims on the ballot.

It remains to be seen, however, whether he will receive campaign help from the House Republican Caucus.

Byrd, of Waynesboro, told members of his caucus in August that he would not seek another term, citing media scrutiny surrounding allegations of sexual assault made by three women in 2018. The allegations date back to the 1980s, when Byrd was their teacher and basketball coach at Wayne County High School.

The Republican legislator doubled down in January on his intention not to run, though Byrd added that he might change his mind if he continued to be "harassed and bullied" by a group of women, some of them sexual assault victims themselves, who continually showed up to the legislature in protest.

But this week, Byrd changed course, filing petitions just before the final deadline in the four counties in state House District 71 to seek reelection. He faces two other Republicans in the primary, Garry Welch and Austin Carroll.

Woman who accused Byrd of sexual assault filed to run against him

One of Byrd's accusers, Christi Rice — with whom Gov. Bill Lee met last year and later said he believed — also filed at the last minute to run as the sole Democrat in the race after learning that Byrd would seek reelection.

But Rice said on Thursday that due to tending to her son who was in a life-altering car wreck in the fall, she doesn't believe she'll be able to devote time to running for office and plans to withdraw.

"What was going through my mind was if these legislators are not going to do anything, maybe I'm going to take this into my own hands and make him at least have to come face to face with the lies he's told me, the community and the state," said Rice, who was 15 when she said Byrd sexually assaulted her multiple times.

Byrd, who Rice recorded on a 2018 phone call apologizing for unspecific misdeeds, has not publicly denied the allegations against him. Rather, he has tried to avoid reporters' questions and released a statement two years ago saying he had done nothing wrong while in office.

After being urged at the last minute to run by a group of acquaintances in the Wayne County area, friends of Rice stood in the Piggly Wiggly parking lot in Waynesboro on Wednesday to help her collect the necessary 25 signatures of registered voters in order to file.

She said she was stunned that Byrd, after being privately asked by the governor last year not to run, defied Lee's request.

Byrd has caused problems for House GOP caucus

Throughout the 2019 legislative session, Byrd's presence frequently created chaos at the Capitol, generating concern among some members about recurring protests and media stories about Byrd.

The protests were led by a group of women affiliated with Enough is Enough Tennessee, a small political action committee seeking Byrd's ouster.

In addition to Lee signaling to Byrd that he should not run again, House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, said in January that he would not assist Byrd in his reelection efforts.

As Byrd announced his plans this week, Faison said Byrd contacted him and asked that the caucus merely allow his voters to decide his fate.

"I don't see the caucus being involved," Faison said of whether House Republicans would offer monetary and other campaign and marketing support to Byrd, as it does for many incumbents during election season. "I feel like we should steer clear of the race.

"When he spoke to me he said he had overwhelming support from people, and they’ve forgiven him."

But Faison said that question of monetary support from House Republicans will ultimately be decided by the caucus's campaign committee, of which he is not a voting member.

House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, did not say explicitly whether he supported Byrd's decision to run again. He also declined to say whether he is opposed to conducting a House judiciary hearing on the allegations against Byrd, an effort that Sexton halted last year as he requested an attorney general opinion on whether a member could be expelled for conduct before holding office.

Sexton's political action committee in October 2018 donated $600 to Byrd's campaign.

"Rep. Byrd has indicated he is very strong in his district in previous conversations dating back to last year," Sexton said in a statement this week. "Therefore, I do not anticipate that he would need any help from me."

Former House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin, was a vocal supporter of Byrd and used his political action committee to fund ads in favor of Byrd's reelection in 2018.

Reach Natalie Allison at nallison@tennessean.com. Follow her on Twitter at @natalie_allison.

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