NASHVILLE (AP) — State Rep. Ryan Haynes has resigned his seat in the House following his election as chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party.

Haynes represented Knoxville in the Legislature for seven years after first being elected when he was 23 and a recent graduate of the University of Tennessee.

Haynes was elected by the state GOP's executive committee last month to replace Chris Devaney, who stepped down just months into his fourth term to become executive director of the Chattanooga-based Children's Nutrition Program of Haiti.

Haynes, of Knoxville, won a majority of votes on the first ballot, defeating fellow Rep. Mary Littleton of Dickson and Vanderbilt professor Carol Swain.

Haynes had considered timing his resignation to avoid a special election to replace him but instead stepped down effective immediately on Wednesday.