Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Covington Mayor & Board of Mayor and Aldermen Election 2026
3 of 6 council seats are on the ballot, with 6 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
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How to vote · 11 days left
Absentee ballot request deadline (Oct 24): the election office's noticeThese links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.
Mayor
1 seatAlderman District 1
1 seatAlderman District 2
UnopposedCity voters choose the mayor, and voters in each of the three districts choose one alderman, each for a four-year term. District 2 and District 3 have one candidate each.
Also on your Nov 3 ballot
We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.
- GovernorOfficial candidate list, in its order
15 candidates on the ballot
- Marsha Blackburn · Republican
- Jerri Green · Democratic
- Misam Abidi · Independent
- Dean Brewer · Independent
- Ray Brown · Independent
- David Hatley · Independent
- Wendell Jackson · Independent
- Charles Van Morgan · Independent
- Eddie Lee Murphy · Independent
- Lauren Pinkston · Independent
- Victor L. Scoggin · Independent
- Dave Seeman · Independent
- Karl Knox Smithson · Independent
- L. Webb Taylor · Independent
- Robert C. Vick · Independent
- U.S. SenateOfficial candidate list, in its order
10 candidates on the ballot
- Bill Hagerty · Republican
- Marquita Bradshaw · Democratic
- Tharon Chandler · Independent
- Andrew Gerena · Independent
- Jeremy Dean Hearn · Independent
- Robert Jones · Independent
- James William Macon III · Independent
- Yoshi D. Matthews · Independent
- David Sutman, Jr. · Independent
- Catherine Barcel "Barcy" Whitson · Independent
- Statewide measures3 on the ballot: the state's official explanations
Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.
Already on the council, not on the ballot
Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.
What the next council decides
01City budget and property tax3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe board adopted the 2026-27 budget and the tax rate ordinance in June 2026, each 6-0.
What's on the tableThe next board will adopt the 2027-28 budget and set the property tax rate.
- Ordinance 1801 (tax rate) and Ordinance 1802 (2026-27 budget) each passed on third and final reading with 6 ayes on June 23, 2026. Covington Board of Mayor and Aldermen agenda packet with minutes of June 23, 2026 (July 14, 2026 agenda) · Jun 23, 2026
- The city's property tax page lists the current rate as $1.0128 per $100 of assessed value. City of Covington
- The Recorder-Treasurer reported fiscal year 2026 year-to-date sales tax collections of $4,984,952, an increase of 0.4%. Covington Board of Mayor and Aldermen agenda packet with minutes of August 25, 2026 (September 8, 2026 agenda) · Aug 25, 2026
02Sale of city cemeteries3 sourced facts
Where it standsBroylman Memorial presented a proposal to acquire the Munford and Townsend cemeteries, and the Public Works Committee moved the matter to the Finance and Administration Committee.
What's on the tableThe board will decide whether to sell the two cemeteries or keep maintaining them with city crews.
- The Public Works Director reported that cutting both cemeteries averaged 140 labor hours, with average annual salary and benefits of $87,392.66. Covington Board of Mayor and Aldermen agenda packet with Public Works Committee minutes of August 4, 2026 (August 11, 2026 agenda) · Aug 4, 2026
- Micah Brown of Broylman Memorial presented a proposal to acquire the cemeteries from the city. Covington Board of Mayor and Aldermen agenda packet with Public Works Committee minutes of August 4, 2026 (August 11, 2026 agenda) · Aug 4, 2026
- The committee voted for Brown to return with an offer and for the matter to move to the Finance and Administration Committee. Covington Board of Mayor and Aldermen agenda packet with Public Works Committee minutes of August 4, 2026 (August 11, 2026 agenda) · Aug 4, 2026
03Sewer, water and streets3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe city is replacing wastewater plant equipment and paving streets, with engineers seeking grants for a five-year improvement plan.
What's on the tableThe next board will approve contracts, grant applications and spending for the wastewater plant, water plant and streets.
- The Finance and Administration Committee approved replacing the wastewater plant's influent grit chamber and influent screen and allowed A2H to apply for grants for the five-year capital plan. Covington Board of Mayor and Aldermen agenda packet with Finance and Administration Committee minutes of February 17, 2026 (February 24, 2026 agenda) · Feb 17, 2026
- The Public Works Committee approved a $122,152 proposal to replace the wastewater plant's emergency pump. Covington Board of Mayor and Aldermen agenda packet with Public Works Committee minutes of August 4, 2026 (August 11, 2026 agenda) · Aug 4, 2026
- The Public Works Committee approved a $309,343.75 paving proposal from Climer Paving. Covington Board of Mayor and Aldermen agenda packet with Public Works Committee minutes of August 4, 2026 (August 11, 2026 agenda) · Aug 4, 2026
04Zoning and new development2 sourced facts
Where it standsThe board rezoned land south of Burnett Lane for moderate density homes in February 2026, and a committee backed a Burgess Lane closure tied to commercial development.
What's on the tableThe next board will vote on rezonings, annexations and road closures tied to new development.
- Ordinance 1797 rezoned property south of Burnett Lane from R-1 (low density residential) to R-1A (moderate density residential), with all six aldermen voting aye. Covington Board of Mayor and Aldermen agenda packet with minutes of February 24, 2026 (March 10, 2026 agenda) · Feb 24, 2026
- The Finance and Administration Committee accepted a request to close part of Burgess Lane, contingent on a developer moving forward with commercial development. Covington Board of Mayor and Aldermen agenda packet with Finance and Administration Committee minutes of January 20, 2026 (February 10, 2026 agenda) · Jan 20, 2026
05Honorary street names2 sourced facts
Where it standsIn May 2026 the board approved a privately funded Isaac Hayes plaque with no other renaming until a policy is put in place.
What's on the tableThe board may adopt a policy on honorary street names and renamings.
- A motion by the mayor to table the Isaac Hayes plaque motion failed. Covington Board of Mayor and Aldermen agenda packet with minutes of May 12, 2026 (May 26, 2026 agenda) · May 12, 2026
- The board approved Ordinance #1798, renaming Delfield Drive to Hackney Drive, on first reading. Covington Board of Mayor and Aldermen agenda packet with minutes of May 12, 2026 (May 26, 2026 agenda) · May 12, 2026
4 notes on these statements
The county's officials list shows the seats held by Jeff Morris (District 2) and Danny Wallace (District 3) as up in 2026. Tipton County
The official ballot lists Harold D. Harden as the only District 2 candidate and Joseph "Jay" Black as the only District 3 candidate. Tipton County Election Commission
John Edwards holds a District 1 alderman seat that is next on the ballot in 2028. Tipton County
When an alderman seat becomes vacant, the board appoints a qualified applicant to fill the unexpired term by majority vote of its remaining members. City of Covington charter (Private Acts 2006, ch. 132), via MTAS
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Who matches you?
Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.
1. What should the city do about the offer to buy the Munford and Townsend cemeteries?
Key dates
- Voter registration deadlineTipton County Election CommissionOct 5, 2026
- Early voting beginsTipton County Election CommissionOct 14, 2026
- Absentee ballot request deadlineTipton County Election CommissionOct 24, 2026
- Early voting endsTipton County Election CommissionOct 29, 2026
- Election DayTipton County Election CommissionNov 3, 2026
The seat math
2 stay (not up this year): Margaret Fleming, C.H. Sullivan3 on this ballot
6 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.
- The mayor is elected at large, and two of the six aldermen are elected from each of three districts. City of Covington charter (Private Acts 2006, ch. 132), via MTAS
- The mayor and aldermen serve four-year terms. City of Covington charter (Private Acts 2006, ch. 132), via MTAS
- The mayor presides at board meetings and votes only to break a tie, but may not break a tie on ordinances and resolutions. City of Covington charter (Private Acts 2006, ch. 132), via MTAS
- No ordinance or resolution is adopted unless at least four aldermen vote for it. City of Covington charter (Private Acts 2006, ch. 132), via MTAS
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