Crowe picks up re-election papers as 17 now filed in Johnson County

Since Dec. 22, 2025, 49 people have obtained a petition for a county-level seat in Johnson County. To officially become a candidate for a county election, a prospective candidate must return their petition to the Johnson County Elections Commission with 25 signatures. As of Jan. 15, 17 people had done so and been filed. Anyone running as a Democrat or Republican in a Johnson County race (minus school board, which is nonpartisan) will first have to run in a May 5 primary, as both parties elected to hold local election primaries for the first time in decades. The petition deadline is Noon on Thursday, Feb. 19. Unaffiliated candidates or those from another party will be put on the Aug. 6 General Election ballot, along with the Republican and Democratic primary winners. State Sen. Rusty Crowe, a Republican, picked up his petition to run for Senate District 3 again. He will be on the ballot for the August primary if another Republican files for the same seat. The Tennessee General Assembly filing period started Jan. 9 and runs through March 10. "It has been my great honor to serve the people of Carter, Johnson and Washington Counties. Thank you so much for giving me this amazing privilege to serve you. I'm very proud that so many of you in my senate district have asked me to run once again," Crowd stated. "With President Trump sending the power and dollars back to us at the local level; All the work still to be done in helping our citizens, counties and communities recover and rebuild from the flood; and the important conservative agenda that I am fighting for to keep Tennessee at the forefront as the state we know and love, I look forward to using my seniority on the floor of the senate to make sure Northeast Tennessee is at the forefront of every discussion. I am proud proud to have the opportunity to once again earn your vote and I look forward to seeing you out there on the campaign trail." Below is the list of those who had picked up a petition or had one filed as of Jan, 15, according to the Johnson County Elections Commission. This is not an exhaustive list of every county seat up for election in 2026 and does not include Tennessee General Assembly, statewide office or Congressional seats, which have different petition and filing requirements. Circuit Court Clerk Melissa Hollaway (R) (incumbent) — filed 12/23/25 Constable, District 1 Michael W. Essick (R) (incumbent) — filed 01/16/26 Constable, District 2 John Dullies Bays (R) — filed 1/15/26 Norman Eugene Miller (R) (incumbent) — filed 01/07/26 Robert Ray Wilson (R) — yet to file Constable, District 3 Freddie G. Ainsworth (R) — yet to file Clinton R Lunceford (incumbent) — yet to file David A. Quave (R) (incumbent) — yet to file County Clerk Tammie C. Fenner (R) (incumbent) — filed 01/05/26 County Legislative Body, District 1 James E. Brown (R) — yet to file David E. Campbell (R) (incumbent) — yet to file Brian S. Taylor (R) (incumbent) — yet to file Richard Steven Wallace (R) — filed 1/12/26 Travis D. Wilson (R) — yet to file County Legislative Body, District 2 Lester R. Dunn (R) (incumbent) — filed 12/29/25 Gregory S. Mast (I) — yet to file County Legislative Body, District 3 Stephen Shawn Greer (R) — yet to file James Lee Greever (R) — filed 1/13/26 Robert Gerald Grindstaff (R) (incumbent) — yet to file Cody Isaac Osborne (R) (incumbent) — yet to file Danny L. Pardue (R) — filed 01/09/26 Fred H. Phipps (R) (incumbent) — yet to file Jody S. Putnam (R) — yet to file County Legislative Body, District 4 Billy Joe Hart (R) — yet to file Lawrence E. McGlamery (R) — yet to file Tommy R. Poore (R) (incumbent) — yet to file Emilee Ann Stonecipher (R) — yet to file County Legislative Body, District 5 Eric Mason Garland (R) — yet to file Jerry W. Gentry (R) (incumbent) — filed 01/09/26 James H. Lowe (R) (incumbent) — yet to file Ryan Alexander Miller (R) — yet to file County Legislative Body, District 6 Gary L. Matheson (R) — filed 1/9/26 County Legislative Body, District 7 Gina Y Meade (R) (incumbent) — yet to file Kenneth Dakota Norris (R) (incumbent) — yet to file County Mayor Dayton T. Payne (R) — filed 01/08/26 Larry Potter (R) (incumbent) — filed 12/23/25 Register Of Deeds Pamela S. Brown (I) — yet to file Glenda C. Gentry (I) — yet to file Freida May (R) (incumbent) — filed 12/23/25 Road Superintendent Tracy J. Atwood (R) — filed 12/29/25 Jeffery Wayne Nelson (D) — yet to file School Board, District 1 Russell G. Robinson (I) (incumbent) — yet to file Donna H. Crotts (R) — yet to file School Board, District 3 Holly G. Brown (R) (incumbent) — filed 01/05/26 Kevin V. Long (R) (incumbent)— yet to file Sheriff Shawn "Bit" Brown (R) — filed 12/22/25 Billy Joe Woodard (R) — filed 01/06/26 Clifton Glenn Worley (R) (incumbent) — filed 01/06/26 Trustee Lisa Kay Crowder (R) (incumbent) — filed 12/31/25