[1] Kurita (born Rosalind Culbertson) grew up in Midland, Texas, the daughter of a former leader in the Republican Party.
[citation needed] Before 2008 Kurita was mentioned as a possible candidate for the Democratic nomination in Tennessee's 7th congressional district in the 2008 election.
[citation needed] Election officials certified her victory, and no Republican candidate opposed her for the District 22 State Senate seat.
However, Barnes contested the results, claiming that Kurita only won because a large number of Republicans crossed over to vote in Tennessee's open Democratic primary.
[7] On September 13, Tennessee Democratic Party officials met in Nashville and voted to strip Kurita of the nomination.
Kurita had been on bad terms with party leadership because of her vote for Republican Ron Ramsey, enabling him to win election as Senate speaker.
[10] Kurita also sued the state Democratic Party in federal court, seeking to have her name restored to the ballot.