County Office Elections to Take On New Dynamic

The Wayne County Election Commission has announced that a Republican County Primary has been called by the Wayne County Republican Party. A Primary Election for county offices, which narrows down the candidates before the General Election, is something not very common in Wayne County’s modern history.

A primary may be called for by either the Republican or Democrat party, with the most recent Wayne County Primary being called for by the Wayne County Democrat Party in 2024. That primary happened to coincide with the U.S. Presidential Primary. Many Wayne County voters were unaware that the Wayne County Democrat Primary was even on the ballot that year; the only county seats on the ballot were Wayne County Property Assessor and some seats on the school board, and all candidates ran as Independents (no party affiliation). Without a Primary Election, all candidates are listed on the ballot for the General Election, as they have not declared a party affiliation and are automatically listed as Independent.

The Republican Party’s Primary Election, which will be held on May 5, 2026, will only affect candidates who declare themselves as Republicans. The Wayne County Democrat Party chose not to call for a primary this year; therefore, only a Republican Primary will be held in May. That means the ballot for the General Election will only have one Republican listed - the one who receives the most votes in the Primary Election. Candidates who do not declare a Republican Party affiliation will ALL be on the General Election ballot, listed as Independents. Choosing to run as an Independent does ensure that a candidate’s name will be on the final ballot; however, in doing so, those candidates are separating themselves from any affiliation to the two major parties. Primary Elections for Republican and Democrat candidates for county offices are very common in several other Tennessee counties.

Voting for the Republican Primary will be held on Tuesday, May 5, 2006, for the purpose of nominating individuals for county offices on the General Election ballot. Petitions can be picked up beginning December 22, 2025, in the Election Commission Office, through the qualifying deadline. Candidates must qualify by February 19, 2026, to have their name placed on the ballot for the Republican Primary as well as the General Election. Again, all candidates qualifying as Republican will be on the primary ballot. All other candidates will be designated as Independent on the ballot for the August 2026 General Election.

The county offices on the ballot in the May 5, 2026 Primary Election are:

• County Executive, 4-year term

• County Commissioner Districts 1-7, 4-year term

• Trustee, 4-year term

• Sheriff, 4-year term, must file documentation with the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (P.O.S.T), by the February 5, 2026, deadline

• Circuit Court Clerk, 4-year term

• County Clerk Clerk, 4-year term

• Register of Deeds, 4-year term

• Road Superintendent, 4-year term, must file documentation with the Tennessee Highway Officials Certification Board by the February 5, 2026, deadline

• School Board Members Districts 2 and 5, 4-year term, shall bring proof of graduation or equivalent

The qualifying deadline for candidates in next year’s County Election is February 19, 2026 at 12:00 noon. Petitions may be picked up in the Election Commission Office during regular business hours beginning December 22, 2025, through the qualifying deadline.

Candidates must meet certain requirements to have their name placed on the ballot. Qualifying petitions for Independent candidates for county offices to be filled in the August 2026 General Election must also be filed by the deadline.

Watch upcoming editions of The Wayne County News for more information on the 2026 elections in Wayne County.