Eleven local candidates change from Republican to independent in one day

In the hours before the winter storm hit, the Johnson County Elections office was hot with activity. As of the end of Friday, 11 candidates for countywide positions who had previously petitioned as Republicans switched to independent. Out of those 11, six had filed their petitions and now have to start the process again. According to Johnson County Administrator of Elections Cheri Lipford, this is because independents aren't in the May primary and their name will be on the August local election ballot, so the paperwork is different. Those candidates, along with all who seek countywide seats, must file their petition by Noon on Feb. 19. The 11 who switched to independent on Friday, Jan. 30, are, in no particular order: James E. Brown (County Legislative Body, District 1), Rick Wallace, (County Legislative Body, District 1), Travis D. Wilson (County Legislative Body, District 1), James Lee Greever (County Legislative Body, District 3), Cody Isaac Osborne (County Legislative Body, District 3), Emilee Ann Stonecipher (County Legislative Body, District 4), Jerry W. Gentry (County Legislative Body, District 5), James H. Lowe (County Legislative Body, District 5), Ryan Alexander Miller (County Legislative Body, District 5), Ralph Edward Walker (School board, District 2) and Holly G. Brown (County Legislative Body, District 3). In total, 52 candidates have filed for countywide seats, with 19 filed petitions. 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. 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. Independent candidates or those from another party will be included on the Aug. 6 General Election ballot, alongside the Republican and Democratic primary winners. 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. The county commissioners, Constable District 2 and school board are the only races where multiple seats are up for election, which are noted below. 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 (two seats) 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 (R) — yet to file David A. Quave (R) (incumbent) — filed 01/20/26 County Clerk Tammie C. Fenner (R) (incumbent) — filed 01/05/26 County Legislative Body, District 1 (three seats) James E. Brown (I) — yet to file David E. Campbell (R) (incumbent) — yet to file Brian S. Taylor (R) (incumbent) — yet to file Richard Steven Wallace (I) (appointed) — yet to file Travis D. Wilson (I) — yet to file Samuel Blake Robinson (I) — yet to file County Legislative Body, District 2 (one seat) Lester R. Dunn (I) (incumbent) — filed 12/29/25 Gregory S. Mast (I) — yet to file County Legislative Body, District 3 (three seats) Stephen Shawn Greer (R) — yet to file James Lee Greever (I) — yet to file Robert Gerald Grindstaff (R) (incumbent) — yet to file Cody Isaac Osborne (I) (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 (two seats) Billy Joe Hart (R) — yet to file Lawrence E. McGlamery (R) — filed 01/20/26 Tommy R. Poore (R) (incumbent) — yet to file Emilee Ann Stonecipher (I) — yet to file Wesley L. Ward (I) — yet to file County Legislative Body, District 5 (three seats) Eric Mason Garland (R) — yet to file Jerry W. Gentry (I) (incumbent) — yet to file James H. Lowe (I) (incumbent) — yet to file Ryan Alexander Miller (I) — yet to file County Legislative Body, District 6 (one seat) Gary L. Matheson (R) — filed 1/12/26 County Legislative Body, District 7 (two seats) 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 (one seat) Russell G. Robinson (I) (incumbent) — filed 01/14/26 Donna H. Crotts (R) — yet to file School Board, District 2 (one seat) Ralph Edward Walker (I) (incumbent) — yet to file School Board, District 3 (two seats) Holly G. Brown (I) (incumbent) — yet to file Kevin V. Long (R) (incumbent)— filed 01/23/26 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