KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

The 2026 local elections are off to a running start as 20 potential candidates picked up their qualifying papers on the first day.

The ballot for the May 5 primaries will determine the Republican and Democratic candidates for the following Coffee County offices (all 4-year terms): Coffee County Mayor, County Commissioners–all districts, County Trustee, Sheriff, Circuit Court Clerk, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Road Superintendent, Road Commissioners–all seats, and Constable–all seats. The May 5 primaries will also determine party candidates for the following seats in the Coffee County School Board (all 4-year terms): two of three school board members who serve Seat 1-Districts 1, 3 and 4; one of three school board members who serve Seat 2-Districts 2, 6 and 7; and one of three school board members who serve Seat 3-Districts 5, 8 and 9. For the city levels, the May primaries will determine candidates for four seats on the Tullahoma School Board and three seats on the Manchester School Board.

As for who has picked up their papers, for the seat of Coffee County Mayor sees incumbent Dennis Hunt and Cheryl Renee Swan picked up their papers for the Republican primary, while Khamai Marion’Day Rozier picked up papers for the Democratic primary.

As for the Coffee County Commission, incumbents Dowe Jones and Jeff Perry have picked up their papers for their seats for District 1 and 2, respectively. Meanwhile, Mark T. Brothers picked up papers for the one of the seats in District 4. For the seat of County Trustee incumbent John Marchesoni is the only candidate to have picked up papers. James R. Kennedy is also the only candidate to pick up papers for the seat of Road Commissioner, Seat 3 – District 5.

For the office of Circuit Court Clerk, incumbent Jenny Anthony and Kelsie M. Adams have picked up papers for the Republican primary. As for Coffee County Clerk, Donna Low Spaulding picked up her papers for the Republican primary, while Chasity Dawn Harris picked up her papers as an independent candidate. For the race for Coffee County Sheriff, Danny Ray Ferrell and Kelly Wayne Smith have picked up their papers for the Republican primary. As for the Register of Deeds office, incumbent Donna Toney and Kara Wimberley picked up their papers for the Republican primary.

As for the city races, the city for the Tullahoma City Board of Education races saw incumbents Teresa Lawson, Gigi Robison, and Rosie Graham picked up their papers for the Republican primary. Graham also picked up papers for her seat as an independent. The other potential candidate to pick up papers for Tullahoma school board was Sherrie McGuire Cleveland for the Republican primary.

The deadline to file petitions for the May 5 primary is Thursday, Feb. 19, at noon and the deadline to withdraw will be the following week on Thursday, Feb. 26, at noon. Qualifying deadlines apply to all party and independent candidates.

Anyone who is wanting to pick up papers for the seats up in the August election will have to wait until Friday, Jan. 9. The Aug. 6 election will see the winners of the May 5 primaries, plus independent candidates, as well as the municipal election for three Tullahoma City and Manchester aldermanic seats. The August primaries will have the following offices on the ballot: Governor, U.S. House of Representatives (4^th Congressional District), U.S. Senate, Tennessee House of Representatives (47^th House District), State Executive Committeeman, State Executive Committeewoman and any applicable judicial, state and/or federal office.

Early voting locations and dates

The early voting locations for Coffee County residents are the C.D. Stamps Community Center at 810 South Jackson St. in Tullahoma and the Coffee County Administrative Plaza at 1329 McArthur St., Suite 6, in Manchester. The hours for early voting for C.D. Stamps Community Center will be from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. The hours for early voting for Coffee County Administrative Plaza will be from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday. The following are the dates are for early voting: For the May 5 primaries, early voting will be April 15, 2026 through April 30, 2026; for the August Primary, General and Municipal Election, early voting will be July 17, 2026 through Aug. 1, 2026; and for the November General Election, early voting will be from Oct. 14, 2026 through Oct. 29, 2026. As for election day in Coffee County, all poll locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information, contact the Coffee County Election Commission at 931-723-5103, email the Election Commission at votecoffee@coffeecountytn.org or stop by the Election Commission at 1329 McArthur St., Suite 6, in Manchester. Residents can also visit the