MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) - Election officials in Rutherford County have finalized the unofficial vote totals for the August 6th county and Murfreesboro City general election and state primary contests.
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Voter participation reached 18.69% across the county, with 40,880 of Rutherford County's 218,768 registered voters turning out. Early voting drew 23,436 voters to local polling sites before election day. On election day itself, 17,074 citizens cast ballots at local polling locations, while election workers processed 370 paper absentee ballots.
In countywide contests, Republican Randy Allen secured the Rutherford County Mayor seat with 29,330 votes (96.04%) and was unopposed.
Republican Kenneth Barrett won the race for Rutherford County Sheriff, gathering 22,980 votes (62.53%). Barrett defeated Kevin D. Dodds, who received 10,369 votes (28.21%), and Rhett Rankin, who received 3,233 votes (8.80%).
Four countywide administrative officeholders ran unchallenged on the Republican ballot to win re-election:
Republican Teb Batey won the County Trustee office with 28,208 votes (96.76%).
Republican Jeff McKinney earned 28,252 votes (96.96%) for Circuit Court Clerk.
Republican Lisa Duke Crowell won the County Clerk seat with 28,750 votes (97.26%).
Republican Heather Dawbarn won the Register of Deeds office with 28,297 votes (97.37%).
The Rutherford County Commission will see a major overhaul as 38% of the seats changed following several key political upsets and open seats left vacant by retiring commissioners. Results across all 21 districts include (* denotes changes):
In District 1, Democrat Hope Oliver won with 641 votes (62.17%) over Republican David Gammon, who received 389 votes (37.73%).
In District 2, Republican Stephen Pearcy secured 1,967 votes (97.47%).
In District 3, Republican Rick Hall won with 1,271 votes (96.88%).
In District 4, Republican Robert Peay Jr. won with 1,168 votes (56.56%) over Democrat Will Lehew, who received 887 votes (42.95%).
*In District 5, Democrat Jeff Crum won with 514 votes (54.11%) over incumbent Laura Davidson, who received 432 votes (45.47%).
In District 6, Republican Jonathan R. Beverly earned 1,533 votes (68.04%) to defeat Democrat Danielle Nadeau, who received 717 votes (31.82%).
In District 7, Republican Michael Kusch won with 1,190 votes (53.80%) over Democrat Catie Beth Thomas, who received 1,018 votes (46.02%).
*In District 8, Republican Bill Tollett received 1,949 votes (70.11%) to defeat Democrat Jennifer Burke, who received 823 votes (29.60%), filling a vacant seat as Pettus Read did not seek re-election.
In District 9, Republican Joshua James won with 1,443 votes (55.89%) against Democrat Jake Malmstrom, who received 975 votes (37.76%), and Carson Stem, who earned 161 votes (6.24%).
In District 10, Republican Phil Wilson won with 1,182 votes (94.94%).
*In District 11, Democrat Wayne Sharpe won with 704 votes (52.58%) over incumbent Republican Anthony Johnson, who received 631 votes (47.12%).
In District 12, Republican Carl Boyd won with 704 votes (58.13%) over Democrat Celest Davis, who received 503 votes (41.54%).
*In District 13, Democrat Brendan Doughtie won with 890 votes (55.94%) over Republican Brian Stoll, who received 698 votes (43.87%), filling a vacant seat as Paul Johnson did not seek re-election.
In District 14, Republican Wayne Irvin secured 1,847 votes (96.80%).
*In District 15, Republican Shawn McGowan won with 1,692 votes (58.59%) over Democrat Chay Woods, who received 1,194 votes (41.34%), filling a vacant seat as Craig Harris didn't seek re-election and ran for county mayor.
*In District 16, Democrat Cathy Watts won with 816 votes (55.59%) over incumbent Republican Phil Dodd, who received 647 votes (44.07%).
*In District 17, Democrat Sean Tyler Gilliland won with 475 votes (54.72%) over Republican Terry Hodge, who earned 390 votes (44.93%), filling a vacant seat as Jeff Phillips did not seek re-election.
In District 18, Republican Allen McAdoo won with 689 votes (47.22%) over Democrat Diana Carter, who received 537 votes (36.81%), and Eddie Sanders, who received 230 votes (15.76%).
In District 19, Romel McMurry won with 1,304 votes (54.68%) over Democrat Pat Clements, who earned 1,065 votes (44.65%).
In District 20, Republican Trey Gooch won with 813 votes (52.76%) over Democrat Josh Walker, who received 726 votes (47.11%).
*In District 21, Democrat Laura Blackwell Clark won with 954 votes (55.92%) over Republican Jeff Lloyd, who earned 748 votes (43.85%), filling a vacant seat as Chantho Sourinho did not seek re-election.
Rutherford County School Board contests yielded three zone victories:
In Zone 1, Democrat Jeanice McCord won with 1,556 votes (44.37%), defeating Republican Chuck Isbell, who earned 1,450 votes (41.35%), and Sumatra Drayton, who received 492 votes (14.03%).
In Zone 4, Incumbent Republican Katie Darby won with 3,480 votes (48.41%), defeating Democrat Brian Hall, who received 2,404 votes (33.44%), and Dayna Nichols, who earned 1,297 votes (18.04%).
In Zone 7, Republican Julie Wishing won with 3,704 votes (56.01%) over Democrat Jonathan Yancey, who received 2,902 votes (43.88%).
In Murfreesboro municipal governance, incumbent Shane McFarland won re-election as Mayor of Murfreesboro with 10,421 votes (62.98%). McFarland defeated challenger Nathan Bennett, who earned 6,027 votes (36.42%).
Incumbent councilmembers were all returned to their seats on the Murfreesboro City Council:
Madelyn Scales Harris secured a seat with 8,721 votes (27.11%).
Jami K. Averwater won a seat with 8,126 votes (25.26%).
Austin Maxwell retained a seat with 7,381 votes (22.95%).
Jeffrey Wooden received 4,577 votes (14.23%) and Jacob Morphis earned 3,217 votes (10.00%).
Voters returned all incumbents to the Murfreesboro City School Board:
Barbara Hutchins Long led the field with 9,395 votes (35.44%).
Amanda Moore secured a seat with 8,585 votes (32.38%).
Karen L. Dodd won a seat with 8,255 votes (31.14%).
Party primary victories established who faces who in the November 3rd, 2026 state and federal general election:
In Tennessee Senate District 13, Republican Dawn White (14,801 Rutherford votes, 99.30%) faces Democrat Angela Evans Wynn (9,005 Rutherford votes, 99.63%).
In Tennessee House District 13, Republican Robert Stevens (4,082 votes, 99.29%) faces Democrat Brett Windrow (2,725 votes, 99.27%).
In Tennessee House District 34, Republican Tim Rudd (4,476 votes, 98.72%) faces Democrat Owen Farnsworth (2,997 votes, 99.60%).
In Tennessee House District 37, Republican Charlie Baum (4,498 votes, 99.51%) faces Democrat Mary Ann Young, who won her primary with 1,521 Rutherford votes (59.41%) over Marlayna Trego (1,029 votes, 40.20%).
In Tennessee House District 48, Republican Bryan Terry (5,873 votes, 99.49%) faces Democrat Matt Ferry (2,781 votes, 99.32%).
In Tennessee House District 49, Republican Mike Sparks (3,152 votes, 99.12%) faces Democrat Connie Casha (2,817 votes, 99.72%).
In U.S. House District 4, Republican incumbent Scott DesJarlais won his primary districtwide with 39,491 total votes (65.90%), including 13,692 Rutherford votes (64.57%). He finished ahead of Thomas E. Davis (9,777 districtwide votes, 16.31%; 3,057 Rutherford votes, 14.42%), Harold "Rocky" Jones (6,064 districtwide votes, 10.12%; 1,950 Rutherford votes, 9.20%), and Joshua James (4,596 districtwide votes, 7.67%; 2,428 Rutherford votes, 11.45%). DesJarlais faces Democrat Victoria Broderick on November 3rd, 2026. Broderick captured her primary districtwide with 12,422 total votes (37.88%), including 5,783 Rutherford votes (45.64%), placing ahead of Mike Cortese (9,216 districtwide votes, 28.10%; 2,911 Rutherford votes, 22.97%), Joyce E. Neal (7,224 districtwide votes, 22.03%; 2,449 Rutherford votes, 19.33%), Tim Lanier (2,455 districtwide votes, 7.48%; 1,007 Rutherford votes, 7.95%), and Cliff Huffman (1,478 districtwide votes, 4.51%; 501 Rutherford votes, 3.95%).
In U.S. House District 9, Republican Brent Taylor captured his primary districtwide with 30,992 total votes (46.01%), including 1,104 local Rutherford votes (50.25%). Taylor defeated Todd Warner (17,767 districtwide votes, 26.37%; 488 Rutherford votes, 22.21%), Jeremy Thompson (13,472 districtwide votes, 20.00%; 319 Rutherford votes, 14.52%), and Charlotte Bergmann (5,133 districtwide votes, 7.62%; 279 Rutherford votes, 12.70%). Taylor faces Democrat Justin J. Pearson on November 3rd, 2026. Pearson won his primary districtwide with 30,561 total votes (65.77%), including 1,395 local Rutherford votes (64.97%), finishing ahead of London Lamar (11,227 districtwide votes, 24.16%; 414 Rutherford votes, 19.28%), M. LaTroy A-Williams (3,191 districtwide votes, 6.87%; 242 Rutherford votes, 11.27%), and Jim Torino (1,486 districtwide votes, 3.20%; 94 Rutherford votes, 4.38%).
Election Results:
RUTHERFORD CO. ELECTION COMMISSION ELECTION SUMMARY
RUTHERFORD CO. ELECTION COMMISSION CURRENT RESULTS
STATEWIDE ELECTION RESULTS FROM SECRETARY OF STATE
PREVIOUSLY REPORTED
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) - Voters across Rutherford County head to the polls this Thursday (August 6th, 2026), for the state and federal primary, the Rutherford County General Election, and the Murfreesboro City Municipal Election. Early voting is over, but voters who have not cast a ballot yet have a full day on Thursday to vote. Rutherford County uses convenient vote centers, which means you can vote at any official location in the county. If you live in Eagleville but work in Smyrna, you can simply stop by the nearest vote center when you are ready to cast your vote. For complete Rutherford County election information, sample ballots, and vote center locations, visit RuCo.Vote.
Voters will see a detailed six-page ballot packed with several contested races. On the state and federal primary side, voters will select nominees for Tennessee Governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress 4th and 9th Districts, Tennessee Senate 13th District, and Tennessee House of Representatives 13th, 34th, 37th, 48th, and 49th District Nominees. Voters will also choose Party Committeemen and Committeewomen. Primary winners advance to the general election on November 3rd.
Local choices will directly shape community leadership for years to come. In the Rutherford County General Election, voters will decide County Mayor, Trustee, Sheriff, County Clerk, Circuit Court Clerk, Register of Deeds, and County Commissioners for Districts 1 through 21. Voters will also select the Smyrna Town Court Clerk, along with School Board Zones 1, 4, and 7, and Road Board Zones 1, 4, and 7.
In the Murfreesboro City Municipal Elections, voters will select the Mayor of Murfreesboro, three Council Member Seats, and three School Board Seats. With several contested races across the local level, every vote makes a difference in how the community is led for the next several years.
When the polls close, WGNS and Big G TV are your primary sources in Rutherford County for immediate election results and candidate reactions. Anchor Bryan Barrett leads live coverage starting at 7:00 PM alongside co-host and Rutherford County Commissioner Rick Hall. They will broadcast live from the Hop Springs watch party, where an estimated 600 people will gather, including many local candidates. Candidates will join Bryan and Rick live on air as results come in directly from the Rutherford County Election Commission offices on the square.
Election coverage on WGNS and Big G TV is brought to you by Toot's Good Food and Fun, Wilson Bank & Trust, McCabe Vision Center and Jennings & Ayers Funeral Home.
How to Listen and Watch:
You can listen to live election coverage on WGNS Radio at FM 101.9 and AM 1450 in Murfreesboro, FM 100.5 in Smyrna, or stream anywhere in the world at WGNSRadio.com. You can also watch the live broadcast on Big G TV by subscribing on YouTube, following on Facebook, or watching right here on WGNSRadio.com.
