NASHVILLE (AP) - State Rep. Mary Littleton is joining the race to become the next chair of the Tennessee Republican Party.

Littleton, of Dickson, joins fellow Rep. Ryan Haynes of Knoxville in seeking the office being vacated by Chairman Chris Devaney.

Littleton is a longtime GOP activist and is in her second term in the state House. She is a member of the GOP's executive committee and was the party's vice chairwoman under Devaney from 2010 to 2014.

Devaney is leaving just months into his fourth term as GOP chairman to become executive director of the Chattanooga-based Children's Nutrition Program of Haiti.

The party is scheduled to elect a new chair on April 11.

Former state Rep. Joe Carr, who ran against Devaney last year, said he won't run this time.