Early voting for the August 6 primary is underway, and Maury County is showing up.

More than 75,000 Tennesseans cast their ballots in the first two days of early voting statewide, according to the Tennessee Secretary of State. Maury County is outpacing that momentum. According to reporting by Tom Price at Southern Middle TN Today, Maury County reported a 32 percent increase in overall early voting turnout in the first two days compared to August 2022. Driving much of that increase is a 94 percent surge in Democratic primary turnout alongside a 14 percent increase in Republican primary turnout.

That is a significant number for a mid-term primary in a county that votes as heavily Republican as Maury does, and it signals that voters across the political spectrum are paying attention to what is on this ballot.

They should be. This is one of the most consequential local ballots in recent memory.

Early voting runs through Saturday, August 1. Election Day is Thursday, August 6, 2026. Voters can cast ballots at any designated early voting location in Maury County. For locations, hours, and your specific sample ballot, use the free GoVoteTN app or visit maurycounty-tn.gov. You must bring valid photo ID to vote. A Tennessee driver's license or state-issued photo ID is acceptable even if expired. College student IDs are not accepted.

The County Mayor's Race

This is the race with the most direct day-to-day impact on Maury County residents. The next mayor will oversee decisions on water infrastructure, growth management, school funding, data center policy, and EMS service, all of which are live issues with real consequences for every family in the county.

Two candidates are on the ballot:

Sheila Butt has served as Maury County Mayor since August 2022, when she succeeded Andy Ogles after he ran for Congress. Before serving as mayor, she served in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Her tenure has included the Crosswaters Reserve denial, the recent state water loan deferral she helped lead, and management of one of the fastest-growing counties in Tennessee.

Gabe Howard is a Maury County Commissioner, Marine Corps veteran, and small business owner running as an independent. He has been active on the commission on water infrastructure, fiscal accountability, and rural character issues. He is running as an independent because he believes county mayor candidates should face voters in an open general election rather than through a party caucus.

The Maury Alliance has published a full candidate guide with responses from both candidates at mauryalliance.com.

The Congressional Race

Maury County is now split between the 5th and 9th Congressional Districts following May's redistricting. If you are not sure which district you are in, check at sos.tn.gov before you vote.

5th Congressional District

The Republican primary is effectively the race that will determine who represents most of Maury County in Washington, given that forecasters rate the general election Solid Republican.

Republican primary: Andy Ogles, incumbent congressman and former Maury County Mayor. Charlie Hatcher, former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner and fifth-generation dairy farmer.

Democratic primary: Chaz Molder, Columbia Mayor. Yolanda Cooper-Sutton, Memphis City Council member. Rachel Hurley. Carrie Ann Iacomini. DeVante Hill.

Andy Ogles is a familiar name in Maury County for reasons that go beyond Congress. As county mayor from 2018 to 2022, he made national headlines by refusing to close Maury County during the COVID pandemic, actively campaigning against state and federal mandates through his Freedom Matters tour, which drew crowds of 500 to 800 people at town halls across the region. He issued a proclamation calling on the Tennessee General Assembly to limit the governor's emergency powers, protect children from mask mandates, and protect Tennesseans from vaccine requirements. For many Maury County residents who opposed government overreach during that period, Ogles was a visible and consistent voice when others were not. He won his congressional seat in 2022 and is seeking a third term.

His primary challenger Charlie Hatcher has positioned the race as a contrast on effectiveness rather than ideology, saying he is a work horse where his opponent is a show horse. On the Democratic side, Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder enters the primary as the frontrunner, having raised nearly $1.6 million for the race, dwarfing both Republican candidates combined.

The Governor's Race

The Republican primary for Tennessee governor is the marquee statewide contest, with Governor Bill Lee term-limited.

Major Republican candidates include U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Rep. John Rose, and state Rep. Monty Fritts. Six Democrats are also running. A Democrat has not won a statewide office in Tennessee since 2006.

Key Dates

Early voting runs through Saturday, August 1. Election Day is Thursday, August 6. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

Tennessee has an open primary, meaning any registered voter can participate in either party's primary without declaring party affiliation in advance.

For early voting locations, hours, your sample ballot, and polling place information, use the GoVoteTN app or visit maurycounty-tn.gov. The Muletown Journal will cover the August 6 results as they come in.

Sources: Tennessee Secretary of State. Tennessee Lookout, Cassandra Stephenson. Southern Middle TN Today, Tom Price, July 22, 2026. Ballotpedia. WPLN News. WKMS. Maury Alliance 2026 Candidate Guide. Maury County Election Commission. NewsChannel 5. Tennessee Tribune.