Upper Cumberland GOP 2026 Kickoff Meetings

LK Clark

2 months ago

In this issue:

2026 – Time to file for local races
Candidate Resources
TN General Assembly – Session Begins January 13th
January Meetings and Upcoming Events

2026 – Time to File for Local Races

It’s HERE! 2026 is going to be a very busy year with primary election for most local offices on May 5th. Seem far away? Not really. Check the key dates in the schedule below.

How to decide which candidates to support? Here’s a few suggestions:

Make plans to find out about local candidates through Republican Party Meetings and Women’s Clubs.
Attend Candidate Meet-N-Greet events.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK! The best voters are the INFORMED voters!

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 – State and County Primary Election
County Elected Offices

First Day to Pick Up Petitions	Monday, December 22, 2025
Qualifying Deadline*	Thursday, February 19, 2026, 12:00 Noon
* This qualifying deadline applies to primary candidates, candidates nominated by caucus, and independent candidates for the offices on the May primary ballot.
Withdrawal Deadline	Thursday, February 26, 2026, 12:00 Noon
Voter Registration Deadline	Monday, April 6, 2026
Early Voting Period	Wednesday, April 15 – Thursday, April 30, 2026
Absentee Ballot Request Deadline	Saturday, April 25, 2026
ELECTION DAY	Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Candidate Resources

Need a little help to sort through ‘how’ to run? Here’s a few resources offered last month in the December Candidate Education Forum. These are offered courtesy of your SEC Committeewoman, Linda Clark. Reviewing these documents might give new (or incumbent) candidates helpful information.

Exploring a Run? Basic Info

Campaign Finance Reporting Basics

BOE Candidate Book (TSBA)

TN General Assembly – Convenes Jan 13th

Tennessee’s General Assembly will kickoff January 13th. For those interested in following legislation, the website includes calendars for both full session and committee meetings, some handy tracking tools and live and recorded videos of all meetings. If you haven’t checked it out, give it a try. Tennessee is blessed with a tremendous degree of transparency in state legislation activities.

January Meetings and Upcoming Events

CAUTION! Winter weather in the Upper Cumberland can vary significantly in a very few miles! Be sure to check for weather cancellations prior to setting out for the gatherings.

Putnam County GOP
Tuesday, January 6th @ 5:30 pm FB link

Potluck at 5:30 pm
please bring sides or desserts)

90 E Spring St, Cookeville, TN 38501

Van Buren County GOP
Thursday, January 8th @ 6 pm FB link
Potluck Dinner
Program: Representative Ron Travis

Burritt College
445 College St, Spencer, TN 38585

Cumberland Co Republican Women
Saturday, January 10th @ 9:30 am FB link

Program: Congressman John Rose, candidate for TN Governor

Come join us for coffee at 9:30 am, program begins at 10:00 am

TCAT Building 1, 910 Miller Ave
Crossville, TN 38555

Rep. Women of the Upper Cumberland
Tuesday, Jan. 13th @ 12 pm (noon) FB link

RSVP and details: tnrwuc.org

J&S Construction Building Conference Rm. (Behind Holiday Inn)
1844 Foreman Dr., Cookeville

Overton County GOP
Tuesday, January 13th @ 6:30 pm FB link
Program: Representative Johnny Garrett, candidate for 6th District Congress
Livingston-Overton Chamber of Commerce
222 East Main St
Livingston, TN