Carthage, TN — August 26, 2025 — The Smith County Republican Party Executive Committee has officially called for a Republican primary in the 2026 local elections and has submitted its letter of intent to the Smith County Election Administrator.
Previously, concerns were raised about the cost of a local primary, which at that time was funded by the county. However, since then, the Tennessee General Assembly has allocated state funds to cover the expenses of conducting local primaries—just as it already does for the presidential preference primary. The Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office has confirmed that sufficient funds are available to cover the entire cost of administering the 2026 Republican primary in Smith County, ensuring that no taxpayer dollars from Smith County will be required.
“Our committee believes that Smith County voters should have the opportunity to elect candidates who represent the values of the Republican Party,” said Jon Henry, Chairman of the Smith County Republican Party. “With the state covering the cost, this primary gives elected officials and voters a real choice while protecting the county from unnecessary expenses.”
The Republican primary will be held Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Early voting will run from April 15, 2026 through April 30, 2026. Candidate qualifying deadlines and additional voting information will be announced by the Smith County Election Commission.
For more information and updates, please visit www.fb.com/SmithCoRepParty.
