CARROLL COUNTY, Tenn. — The filing window has closed, the names are on the record, and Carroll County voters now know exactly who will be asking for their support this year. The 2026 election cycle brings one of the fuller candidate fields the county has seen in recent memory, with competitive primaries, contested commission seats, and three competitive county office races.
The May 5 primary is the first major checkpoint. Republican candidates in several races will face each other to determine who advances to the August 6 general election. Most notably, the Sheriff’s race features a three-way Republican primary between Joel Pate, Timothy W. Pratt, and Eric W. Sawyers. Two independent candidates, Michael A. Smith and Ryan White, will be on the August ballot regardless of the primary outcome. Whoever emerges from May will face a competitive field in August. With current Sheriff Andy Dickson not seeking reelection, the Sheriff’s race is one of the most closely watched on the entire ballot.
Carroll County’s Road Supervisor race carries more historical weight than its ballot placement might suggest. For generations, Carroll County operated with multiple road commissioners. In fact, Carroll was the last county to maintain that model. That changed when the county transitioned to a centralized finance system and consolidated the position down to a single Road Supervisor, bringing Carroll in line with every other county in the state. Ronnie Wade, who currently holds one of the Road Commissioner positions, is seeking reelection, but he faces some competition. Jerry Wayne Autry, Tommy Davis, and approved write-in Jason Longmire are all vying for the same seat. The transition from a multi-commissioner system to one person overseeing all county road operations will be a major change for Carroll County.
Among county administrative offices, the Register of Deeds race is the only one that is contested. Chad Barnhart is challenging incumbent Natalie McCullough Porter, who has held the office for more than 20 years. It is one of the few county races this cycle that pits a challenger directly against an entrenched incumbent with a long established record in the role.
County Commission races will be decided in August and span all nine districts, with candidates ranging from Republicans to a number of independents running across the county. School board seats will be decided in August, as well.
Municipal elections follow a separate schedule. Clarksburg’s Mayor and Alderman races appear on the August 6 ballot. All other municipal elections — in Atwood, Bruceton, Hollow Rock, Huntingdon, McKenzie, McLemoresville, and Trezevant — will be held November 3, 2026, with qualifying deadlines for those races still to come.
Voters with questions about their precinct, polling location, or registration status can contact the Carroll County Election Commission at 731-986-1968 or click here to visit the Election Commission’s website.
The complete list of qualified candidates, organized by office, is below.
County Offices
Circuit Court Clerk (Vote for One): Sarah Bradberry (R)
County Mayor (Vote for One): Joseph G. Butler (R)
Assessor of Property (Vote for One): John Austin (R)
County Clerk (Vote for One): Darlene Kirk (I)
Trustee (Vote for One): Paula Bolen (I)
Register of Deeds (Vote for One): Chad Barnhart (R) and Natalie McCullough Porter (D)
Sheriff (Vote for One): Joel Pate (R), Timothy W. Pratt (R), Eric W. Sawyers (R), Michael A. Smith (I) and Ryan White (I)
Road Supervisor (Vote for One): Jerry Wayne Autry (I), Tommy Davis (I), Ronnie Wade (I) and Jason Longmire (approved write-in)
County Commission
All nine commission districts are on the 2026 ballot. Commission races will be decided in the August 6 general election. Voters should confirm their district assignment with the Carroll County Election Commission.
District 1 (Vote for Three) | Precincts 1-1, 1-2, 1-3: Darrell Ridgely (R), Jimmy Halford Jr. (I) and Randy Long (I)
District 2 (Vote for Two) | Precincts 2-1, 2-2: Daniel Lee Willman (R) and Lana Suite (I)
District 3 (Vote for Two) | Precinct 3-1: Brandy Boyd (R), Will McMackin (I), Amon Miller (I) and Dwayne Torsden (I)
District 4 (Vote for Two) | Precincts 4-1, 4-2: Morris L. Rogers (R) and Daniel J. Thomas (R)
District 5 (Vote for Three) | Precinct 5-1: Jimmy Crossett (R), Cyril Ostiguy (R), Paul D. Hugueley (I), Rakaya Humphreys (I), Barry Mac Murphy (I), Anna Wheet (I) and Curt Taylor (I)
District 6 (Vote for Two) | Precincts 6-1, 6-2: Madison Boyd Endres (R), Kurt Hunley (I), Jimmy D. McClure (I) and Philip E. Moore (I)
District 7 (Vote for Two) | Precinct 7-1: Lori Dillahunty (R), Jimmie Sue Staten (D), Lynn Grice (I) and Walter Smothers (I)
District 8 (Vote for Two) | Precinct 8-1: Jerry R. (Jay) Phipps (R) and Willie Huffman (I)
District 9 (Vote for Three) | Precincts 9-1, 9-2: Jason R. Martin (I), Spirodon L. Roditis (I) and Ricky Price (I)
Carroll County Board of Education
Carroll County school board races will be decided August 6.
District 1 (Vote for One): Mike Foster (I)
District 2 (Vote for One): Deborah Broadbent (I)
District 3 (Vote for One): Charlotte Tucker (I)
Special School Districts
Special School District Board of Education races will be decided August 6.
Hollow Rock-Bruceton Special School District
16th District, Bruceton (Vote for One): Brandy Boyd (R)
16th District, Hollow Rock — 2-Year Unexpired (Vote for One): Johnathan Tedford (I)
16th District, At Large (Vote for One): Eric Daniel Gonzalez (R) and April Hampton (I)
15th District, Buena Vista (Vote for One): Michael Graves (I)
Huntingdon Special School District
At Large (Vote for Two) : Morgan Butler (I) and Shawna Smith (I)
McKenzie Special School District
At Large (Vote for Four): Renee Hobson (I), Matthew Lane (I), Spiridon L. Roditis (I), Brian Keith Stafford (I) and Brian Winston (I)
South Carroll Special School District
At Large (Vote for Two): Keith E. Hollowell (R), Sam Melton (I) and Brian Crum (I)
West Carroll Special School District
Old County District (Vote for One): Patrick E. Lindsey (R) and Linda Black (I)
Old Trezevant District (Vote for One): Paul Mueller (I) — 2-year unexpired and Kelly M. Weaver (I) — 4-year
Municipal: Clarksburg — August 6 Ballot
Clarksburg is the only Carroll County municipality on the August 6 ballot. All other municipal elections are scheduled for November 3, 2026. Candidates seeking a position in Clarksburg have until March 10 at noon to qualify.
Mayor (Vote for One): Howell Todd
Alderman (Vote for Two) : Barbara A. McClure and Judy Grant Smith
Key Dates
May 5, 2026 — County Primary (Republican primaries for Sheriff and other contested party races)
August 6, 2026 — State Primary, County General, and Clarksburg Municipal Election
November 3, 2026 — All other Carroll County municipal elections
