Crystal Jessee, a Republican candidate for Circuit Court judge in Tennessee's 3rd Judicial District, says she is seeking the seat to give voters a voice in selecting judges and cites 22 years of legal experience focused primarily on domestic law, the Greenville Sun reports. According to a candidate questionnaire, Jessee said her priorities, if elected, would include ensuring fair and respectful treatment for everyone appearing in court and expanding the district's veterans drug court and felony drug court programs. Jessee said her practice has centered on divorce, child custody, adoption and other family law matters that make up much of the court's caseload, while also handling personal injury, environmental and complex opioid litigation. Opponent Mark Stephen Stapleton did not respond to the questionnaire by the publication's deadline. The 3rd Judicial District covers Greene, Hamblen, Hancock and Hawkins counties.

Early voting is off to a strong start across Tennessee, with voter participation running well ahead of the pace during the state's last gubernatorial primary, WJHL reports. According to election data, more than 122,000 voters cast ballots during the first three days of early voting for the Aug. 6 primary, putting turnout more than 50% ahead of where it stood at the same point in 2022. The election also marks the first statewide primary held under Tennessee's new congressional district boundaries. Early voting continues through Aug. 1 ahead of the Aug. 6 primary.

The Republican nominee for Shelby County sheriff is proposing the construction of a separate jail for misdemeanor offenders, nonviolent defendants, inmates with mental health needs and those requiring medical care, according to the Daily Memphian. Brad Less, a lieutenant with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, said the existing Shelby County Jail should be reserved for individuals charged with violent crimes. He argues that a lower-security facility could improve access to treatment while reducing inmate transportation needs. Less, who faces Democratic nominee Anthony Buckner in the Aug. 6 general election to succeed term-limited Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr., also voiced support for the Memphis Safe Task Force and said he would continue the sheriff's office's cooperation with federal immigration authorities as required under state law.

Three attorneys are seeking to succeed retiring Johnson City Juvenile Court Judge Sharon Green in the Aug. 6 election. Candidates Dustin David Jones, Stephanie A. Sherwood and Lisa A. Witherspoon highlighted their experience in juvenile and family law and outlined priorities for the court during interviews with WJHL. Jones, a longtime family law attorney and current juvenile court magistrate, said he hopes to continue Green’s work by focusing on the individual needs of children and families while maintaining community safety. Sherwood, who has served 17 years as an associate municipal court judge, emphasized protecting children through initiatives such as Safe Baby Court and addressing dependency, neglect and delinquency cases. Witherspoon pointed to her nearly two decades of juvenile law practice and experience as a foster parent, saying she wants to connect children and families with resources. Early voting began July 17 and runs through Aug. 1, with Election Day set for Aug. 6.

A ballot error is impacting 700 absentee voters in Shelby County, but supplemental ballots were sent out this week, WREG reports. According to the Shelby County Election Commission, most of the affected ballots did not include the 30th Judicial District races for circuit, chancery and criminal court positions, while a small portion of ballots omitted a referendum to amend the county charter. The commission blamed a “processing omission” for the mistake according to The Tennessee Journal.

The Memphis Bar Association (MBA) has released the results of its 2026 qualification poll for candidates in contested judicial and court clerk races on the Aug. 6 ballot. The poll asked attorneys to select the one candidate in each race whom they felt was best qualified to serve. If an attorney did not know the candidates’ qualifications or had no opinion, the instructions directed them to mark “no opinion.” The poll was distributed to all licensed attorneys in Shelby County with a publicly listed email regardless of MBA membership. The MBA notes that Shelby County Criminal Court, Division 8 was not included in the poll because the certification of candidates occurred after the poll began. “The Memphis Bar Association is in a unique position to give the public insight into the qualifications of judicial and court clerk candidates, and we believe it is an important service to the community,” MBA President Marlinee Iverson said in releasing the results.

Three candidates are running in the Republican Party primary for this fall’s gubernatorial race, and they have different views on death penalty methods, Tennessee Lookout reports. U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn has said she supports bringing back the electric chair, while U.S. Rep. John Rose of Cookeville supports continued use of lethal injection. State Rep. Monty Fritts of Kingston says the state’s efforts on executions have been a “failure,” noting the length of time it takes to carry out sentences. Read more about the candidates’ responses to a questionnaire on the topic from the news source.

Knox News recently published answers from Knox County General Sessions judicial candidates incumbent Republican Judge Andrea Kline and challenger Democrat Ben Houston II. The two answered questions about what they believe to be the biggest challenge facing the court, the goals they would set for their first term on the bench, and a time when the candidates changed their minds on an important issue, and the cause of that shift. Kline stated that the biggest challenge to the court is efficiently managing large and diverse caseloads while effectively serving the people of Knox County and protecting individual rights. Houston's goals for his first term include expanding access to justice by enacting a pro se indigency motion docket. Read more from the paper.

Metro Nashville Council member Mike Cortese is running the most well-funded congressional challenge to U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais in more than a decade in Tennessee's newly redrawn 4th Congressional District, according to the Tennessean. Lawmakers redrew the district earlier this year. Republican DesJarlais, who has represented the district since 2011, is seeking another term. Democrat Cortese, who shifted his campaign from the 5th District after redistricting, has focused on affordability and representation. DesJarlais has been touting his congressional record and committee work. As of March 31, Cortese had outraised the incumbent, bringing in more than $534,000 compared with DesJarlais' nearly $381,000. Analysts continue to view the race as favoring the Republican incumbent though according to the paper.

A number of deadlines are approaching for Tennessee’s Aug. 6 election. Voters that day will select primary candidates for governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, state Senate (odd-numbered districts), state House, and Republican and Democratic state executive committees. General elections also will be held for vacant state judicial offices and county offices. The deadline to register to vote is July 7. Early voting will begin on July 17 and run through Aug. 1. July 27 is the last day to request an absentee ballot. Learn more about the 2026 election cycle on the secretary of state’s website.