Stephanie Williams yesterday won the Democratic primary for the Davidson County Circuit Court Division IV judge seat, which is responsible for divorces and adoptions. With no Republicans in the race, Williams effectively won the August general election as well, the Nashville Post reports. She defeated Tusca Alexis, Audrey Anderson and Stan Kweller, who had been appointed to the position in January 2023 by Gov. Bill Lee following the death of Judge Philip Smith. Kweller finished in fourth place with 9% of the vote. He will remain in the seat until the general election. In Robertson County, Ashleigh L. Travis won the Republican primary for Circuit Court judge Part VI. She was unopposed, the Tennessean reports.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee today announced that Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Mac Heavener will lead the efforts of the office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for Tuesday's primary election. AUSA Heavener has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO), and in that capacity, will be responsible for overseeing the office’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Election Day is tomorrow and across the state, voters will see signs at their polling place reminding them they must be a "bona fide" member of a political party in order to vote in that party's primary election, reports the Knoxville News Sentinel. Former Knoxville Mayor Victor Ashe, a Republican, sued the state along with Democrat Phil Lawson and the League of Women Voters of Tennessee, alleging that the signs are meant to intimidate and confuse voters. The suit claims that there is no legal mechanism to determine whether a voter has "bona fide" party credentials or not. Tennessee has open primary elections, which allow any voter to  select any ballot at the polls, including selecting different party ballots in different election years. Judge Eli Richardson dismissed the suit, writing that the plaintiffs' argument cannot be applied because they are unable to prove that the law actually confuses and suppresses voters.

U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Clarksville, announced he will seek reelection despite his “strong desire” to leave Congress this year, reports the Tennessean. Green’s announcement is a reversal from his retirement plans which he announced two weeks ago. Green's retirement would have left the Republican primary in the 7th Congressional District wide open. Green had never faced primary challenger for the seat, which now includes parts of Nashville and Davidson County after a controversial redistricting. Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, a Democrat, announced in December she would seek the Democratic nomination in the 7th Congressional District and challenge Green for the seat.

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Chattanooga Chapter, will host a live public forum on Facebook this Thursday at 7 p.m. EST to hear from local candidates for Criminal Court judge, Circuit Court judge, and School Board Districts 1, 2,4,7, 10 and 11. Questions welcome.

A number of potential candidates are expressing interest in running for the U.S. District 7 seat being vacated by Mark Green. Former state representative Brandon Ogles, a Republican from Williamson County, has announced his bid for the position, the Nashville Post reports. Ogles, a cousin of U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, who represents District 5, served in the state House from 2018 to 2022. In addition, Clarksville Republican and state Sen. Bill Powers has confirmed he is interested in the seat, Tennessee Lookout reports. On the Democratic side, former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry had already announced she was running for the Democratic nomination for the district.

Shaundelle Brooks has officially announced her bid for the Tennessee House of Representatives. Brooks will run in the Aug. 1 primary to seek to represent District 60 in Old Hickory, where Democrat Darren Jernigan is not seeking reelection. In 2018, Brooks’ son Akilah DaSilva was killed during a shooting at a Waffle House, which left four people dead. Later, Brooks’ eldest son was shot in the head and seriously injured while leaving a music venue. Since then, she has become a passionate advocate for gun reform. “For five, six years I’ve been going up to the capitol, begging and pleading and trying to bring change,” she said, “And, it hasn’t happened. So I just decided that I have to be the change that I need to see.” WPLN has more on her campaign as well as two other first-time candidates who are running for the General Assembly.

Knoxville City Councilwoman Seema Singh has suspended her campaign in the Democratic primary for the Tennessee House seat currently held by Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville. Singh, who represents the city’s Third District and is in her second term, explained her decision saying, “… when Gloria announced her candidacy for U.S. Senate, I decided to run for House District 90 to protect this seat, in the name of the same principles for which Gloria stands. Now that Gloria has decided to run for both U.S. Senate and the District 90 seat, I know it is in everyone’s best interest for me to suspend my campaign.” Singh said she would seek the seat again if Johnson is elected to the U.S. Senate, Knox Focus reports.

U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett will not face a primary opponent this year, Tennessee Journal reports. Lenoir City tire dealer Jimmy Matlock, a former state House member who lost to Burchett in the Republican primary for the 2nd Congressional District in 2018, announced last week he would not challenge him again.

The Nashville Bar Association has released the results of a member poll of applicants being considered to serve as Davidson County Fourth Circuit Court judge. Members were given the names of applicants who are being considered for the position as of Jan. 19, through an online survey ballot. The NBA reports that 292 responses were received by the deadline of Feb. 7. All results are reported as raw data with no attempt to extrapolate results. NBA President Bahar Azhdari explained why the poll is conducted saying, "Releasing our membership’s assessment of the candidates offers valuable insight to those casting their ballots and helps to ensure voters have the information necessary to make an informed choice.”