The Knoxville Minority Pachyderm Club is carving out a growing role in East Tennessee’s conservative political landscape.

Founded by Troy Whiteside, the club was established to provide a platform for minority voices within the conservative movement while strengthening grassroots engagement across Knoxville and the surrounding region. The term “pachyderm” — long associated with the Republican Party — signals the group’s alignment with conservative principles and its focus on supporting Republican candidates and causes.

Since its founding, the club has built what organizers describe as a strong and active team dedicated to fundraising, voter outreach, and coalition building. Members regularly assist campaigns with connecting to voters, organizing events, and expanding grassroots networks. Their work has included mobilizing volunteers, supporting candidate forums, and helping amplify conservative messaging at the local and state levels.

Today, the club is taking another potential step forward.

Leaders met with a group that could become a strategic partner in conducting local and state election polling. If finalized, the collaboration would allow the organization to gather and analyze voter data more directly — potentially providing candidates and conservative organizations with real-time insights into issues driving voters in Knox County and across Tennessee.

Polling has increasingly become a vital tool in modern campaigns, helping shape messaging, identify key voter blocs, and measure the impact of outreach efforts. For a grassroots organization like the Knoxville Minority Pachyderm Club, entering the polling space would represent an expansion from traditional activism into data-driven strategy.

Organizers say their mission remains focused on strengthening conservative engagement while building broader community participation. With an established fundraising and outreach infrastructure already in place, the addition of polling capabilities could position the club as an influential player in upcoming local and state election cycles.

As the 2026 political season continues to take shape across Tennessee, the Knoxville Minority Pachyderm Club appears intent on expanding both its footprint and its impact.