Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Loudon Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5 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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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to vote Check your registration

Last day to request an absentee ballot (Oct 24): the election office's notice

These 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 seat

City Council

Vote for up to 2

Voters choose one of two mayoral candidates, and up to two of the four City Council candidates; the two council candidates with the most votes win.

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.

Governor
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
Official candidate list, in its order
U.S. Senate
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
Official candidate list, in its order
Statewide measures3 on the ballot: the state's official explanations

Official voter lookup State voter guide Vote411 (League of Women Voters)

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.

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

What the next council decides

01Property tax rate3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn June 2026 the council set the 2026 property tax rate at the certified rate of $0.7902 on a 3-2 vote.

What's on the tableThe next council will set the property tax rate each year with the budget.

A motion to set the 2026 rate at $0.83 failed 2-3 in May 2026. City of Loudon · May 26, 2026
The council then accepted the certified tax rate of $0.7902 on a 3-2 vote. City of Loudon · May 26, 2026
The 2025 tax rate was set at $1.19. City of Loudon · Jun 23, 2025

02Budget deficit and reserves3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council adopted the 2026-2027 budget 4-1 in June 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council will adopt annual budgets and decide how to use the city's reserve fund.

Mayor Jeff Harris said reserves stand at about $10 million. News-Herald · Jul 29, 2026
Councilman John Cardwell said the last two budgets put the city in a deficit, spending more than it takes in. News-Herald · Jul 22, 2026
Mayor Jeff Harris said the 2027 budget includes $5.5 million for police and fire protection and $1.2 million for sanitation. News-Herald · Jul 29, 2026

03Data center moratorium3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn August 2026 the council paused data center approvals for 12 months, with an option to extend for 12 more.

What's on the tableThe next council will vote on data center rules drawn up during the pause, and on any extension.

The resolution was originally expected to last 18 months before the council changed it to 12 months with an optional 12-month extension. WVLT · Aug 25, 2026
State-run data centers and those used by utility providers are excluded. WVLT · Aug 25, 2026
The amended moratorium resolution passed 3-2. City of Loudon · Aug 24, 2026

04Downtown and waterfront3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council adopted the Downtown Loudon Master Plan in April 2026 and approved agreements to implement it in August 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide on downtown projects and a developer for the waterfront site.

The council unanimously adopted the Downtown Loudon Master Plan as official guidance for the downtown area. City of Loudon · Apr 27, 2026
The council unanimously approved professional services agreements for Downtown Master Plan implementation. City of Loudon · Aug 24, 2026
The mixed-use waterfront project was announced almost a decade ago but stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic. News-Herald · Jul 29, 2026

05Growth and Highway 722 sourced facts

Where it standsIn August 2026 the council approved an agreement with WSP for a Highway 72 corridor study.

What's on the tableThe next council will act on zoning and road changes that follow the corridor study and land use plan.

The resolution authorizing the Highway 72 corridor study was unanimously approved. City of Loudon · Aug 24, 2026
Mayor Jeff Harris said the city has updated its comprehensive land use plan and Downtown Master Plan. News-Herald · Jul 29, 2026

2 notes on these statements

John Cardwell is running for mayor instead of re-election to the council; if he loses the mayor's race, he will be off the council. Van Shaver · Jul 8, 2026

Mitch Miller was issued petitions for both mayor and City Council; the election commission list shows only his council petition as returned. Loudon County Election Commission · Aug 20, 2026

No sign-in · answers stay on your phone

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. How should Loudon set its property tax rate?
2. How should the city use its reserve fund?
3. How long should Loudon pause new data centers?
4. How should the city restart the downtown waterfront project?
5. How should Loudon manage new growth?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted5 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

Voter registration deadlineLoudon County Election CommissionOct 5, 2026
Early voting beginsLoudon County Election CommissionOct 14, 2026
Last day to request an absentee ballotLoudon County Election CommissionOct 24, 2026
Early voting endsLoudon County Election CommissionOct 29, 2026
Election dayNews-Herald · Sep 23, 2026Nov 3, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Eric Newman, Kenny Ridings3 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

The City of Loudon is governed by a mayor and four council members. City of Loudon
A nonpartisan, at-large municipal election is held every two years in November, and the mayor and council members serve four-year staggered terms. City of Loudon
The mayor votes on council items; Mayor Jeff Harris is recorded in roll-call votes alongside the four council members. City of Loudon · Jun 22, 2026

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