Who We Are
The Maury County Democratic Party is a local chapter of the Tennessee Democratic Party.
Our mission is to promote the ideals and principles of the Democratic Party and to aid in the election of Democrats to public office.
All Democrats registered to vote in Maury County may join our party.
We do not charge dues (although voluntary donations are welcome), nor do we discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, disability, or ethnic origin.
America is an idea—one that has endured and evolved through war and depression, prevailed over fascism and communism, and radiated hope to far-distant corners of the earth. Americans believe that diversity is our greatest strength. That protest is among the highest forms of patriotism. That our fates and fortunes are bound to rise and fall together. That even when we fall short of our highest ideals, we never stop trying to build a more perfect union… Above all, Democrats still believe in the American idea—its principles, its purpose, and its promise.
What We Believe
We believe in:
- Building a stronger, fairer economy.
- Achieving universal, affordable, quality health care.
- Protecting communities and building trust by reforming our criminal justice system.
- Combating the climate crisis and pursuing environmental justice.
- Restoring and strengthening our democracy.
- Creating a 21st Century immigration system.
- Providing a world-class education in every ZIP code.
- Renewing American leadership and healing the soul of America.
officers
Party Officers
Chair James Dallas
1st Vice Chair Amber Cook
2nd Vice Chair Lisa Brooks
3rd Vice Chair Jai Lipscomb
Secretary Roxanne Hamilton
Treasurer Bill Hoffman
State Democratic Executive Committee Members (SD28)
- Vicki Hale
- Seth Campbell
Maury County Election Commission Members
- Jim York
- Guy Derryberry
MCDP Women
The Maury County Democratic Women is the local affiliate of the Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women and the National Federation of Democratic Women.
The Democratic Women help the Maury County Democratic Party, as well as the community. We meet once per month to discuss how we as Democratic women can work for the success of the Democratic Party both locally and nationally. We enjoy our social time together, making friends, and working towards our goals. We encourage you to join us!
Our current officers are:
Jacque Lightfoot Marshall, Chair
Renee Whitehead, Treasurer
Celia Parrott, Past Chair
Roxanne Hamilton, Vice Chair
Lisa Brooks, Secretary
While the Maury County Democratic Party does not and cannot charge dues, the Maury County Democratic Women do have dues. Membership dues for the Democratic Women are $20 per year ($15 goes to the local chapter and $5 goes to the Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women).
For more information please fill out the contact information below or e-mail women-at-maurydems-dot-org
Living Our Values
This is a platform for discussing our party’s involvement in the community, as well as for spotlighting social and political organizations that our members support and participate in.
Organizations mentioned here do not necessarily support the Democratic Party.
Go Vote TN App
Every Democrat is encouraged to download the Go Vote TN App for their device. There are versions that run on iPhone/iPad as well as Android devices.
External Links
These are links to community organizations recommended by our members.
- Maury County Arts Guild The Maury County Arts Guild sponsors art exhibits and community theater projects.
- Maury Alliance The Maury Alliance represents Maury County businesses.
- Center of Hope Domestic violence shelter and other services
- Kiwanis Club of Columbia Organization supporting volunteerism benefitting children
- The Well Outreach Food bank in Spring Hill
- UAW Local 1853 United Auto Workers Local #1853, the primary labor union for GM Spring Hill.
- Tennesseee Holler Multimedia news and opinion outlet.
- ACLU of Tennessee Tennessee branch of the American Civil Liberties Union
- Maury County NAACP (Facebook) Maury County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Heritage Dinner Program Booklet Archive
There were no Heritage Dinners in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Volunteer
2026 Election
Democratic Candidates
Tennessee Governor
Bill Lee, a Republican from Williamson County, was re-elected governor in 2022 and is constitutionally ineligible to serve a third term.
The following candidates have filed with the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance for the Democratic Primary Election to be held on August 6, 2026:
- Carnita Atwater (Website) (Ballotpedia) (Facebook)
- Tim Cyr (Website) (Ballotpedia)
- Jerri Green (Website) (Ballotpedia) (Facebook)
- Adam “Ditch” Kurtz (Website) (Ballotpedia)
- Kevin Lee McCants (Ballotpedia)
U.S. Senate
Bill Hagerty, a Republican, is currently the junior U.S. Senator from Tennessee. He is expected to run for re-election.
The following candidates have filed with the Federal Election Commission to raise money for the Democratic Primary Election to be held on August 6, 2026:
- Marquita Bradshaw (Website) (Ballotpedia) (Facebook)
- Maria Brewer (Ballotpedia) (Facebook) (Linktree)
- Kevin Lee McCants (Ballotpedia)
- Civil Miller-Watkins (Ballotpedia) (Facebook)
- Diana Onyejiaka (Ballotpedia) (Facebook)
U.S. House of Representatives
In May 2026, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a new Congressional map that divides Maury County into the Fifth and Ninth Congressional Districts.
Congressional District 5
Andy Ogles, a Republican from Culleoka, currently holds the U.S. House seat for the Fifth Congressional District. Click here to see a map of the Fifth District.
The following candidates have filed for the Democratic Primary Election to be held on August 6, 2026:
- Hon. Chaz Molder (Website) (Ballotpedia)
- Hon. Yolanda Cooper-Sutton (Ballotpedia)
- Devante R. Hill (Website) (Ballotpedia)
- Rachel Hurley (Website)
- Carrie Ann Iacomini
Mike Cortese and Joyce Neal were drawn into the Fourth District, and are no longer running in the Fifth District. Jim Torino is now running in the Ninth District.
Congressional District 9
Steve Cohen, a Democrat from Memphis, currently holds the U.S. House seat for the Ninth Congressional District. Rep. Cohen is not seeking re-election. Click here to see a map of the Ninth District.
The following candidates have filed for the Democratic Primary Election to be held on August 6, 2026:
- James Torino, Ph.D. (Website) (Ballotpedia)
- State Rep. Justin J. Pearson (Website) (Ballotpedia)
- State Sen. London Lamar (Website) (Ballotpedia)
- M. LaTroy A-Williams (Website) (Ballotpedia)
Tennessee House, District 64
Scott Cepicky, a Republican from Culleoka, currently holds this seat. Click here to see a map of this district, which is entirely in Maury County.
The following candidates are circulating petitions to get on the ballot for the Democratic Primary Election to be held on August 6, 2026:
- Craig D’Apolito, of Columbia (Ballotpedia) (Facebook)
Tennessee House, District 71
Kip Capley, a Republican from Summertown, currently holds this seat. Click here to see a map of this district, which includes parts of Maury, Lawrence, Wayne, and Hardin counties.
The following candidates have filed with the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance for the Democratic Primary Election to be held on August 6, 2026:
- Matt Day, of Columbia (Ballotpedia) (Facebook)
State Democratic Executive Committee, 28th Senate District
By state law, the Tennessee Democratic Party is governed by an executive committee that is made up of two members (one man, and one woman) from each of the state’s 33 state senate districts. The current members are Seth Campbell and Vicki Hale.
The following candidates have pulled petitions:
- Vicki Hale, of Columbia
- Seth James Campbell, of Marshall County
Maury County Commission
All 22 seats on the County Commission are up for election in August 2026. There are two county commissioners per district.
Please see the Commissioners’ page on the Maury County Website if you need to know which members are in your district. Please see our Maps page if you wish to look at the geography of the districts.
The following candidates have expressed interest in running as Democrats:
- Winston B. Harlan (District 3)
- James Dallas (District 4) (Facebook)
Municipal Races
City races (Columbia and Mt. Pleasant) are on the ballot in 2026.
These races are nonpartisan. However, candidates are welcome to speak to Democrats at our monthly meeting to solicit their support.
Have you considered running for municipal office? Find more information here.
Candidates must file by August 20, 2026 at noon.
Key Election Dates
Thursday, August 6, 2026 – Primary and General Election
Primary elections will be held for Governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Tennessee Senate (odd-numbered districts), Tennessee House, and Republican and Democratic State Executive Committees. General elections will be held for vacant state judicial offices and applicable county offices.
Neither the Maury County Democratic Party nor the Maury County Republican Party called a May 5 primary, and both may nominate candidates by caucus for county office (these will likely be held in January or February 2026).
| First Day to Pick Up Petitions | Friday, January 9, 2026 |
| Qualifying Deadline* | Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 12:00 Noon |
| * This qualifying deadline applies to primary and independent candidates for the offices on the August primary ballot | |
| Withdrawal Deadline | Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 12:00 Noon |
| Voter Registration Deadline (Register to Vote) | Tuesday, July 7, 2026 |
| Early Voting | Friday, July 17 – Saturday, August 1, 2026 |
| Absentee Ballot Request Deadline | Monday, July 27, 2026 |
Tuesday, November 3, 2026 – State and Federal General Election
All candidates (including independents) for Governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Tennessee Senate (odd-numbered districts), and Tennessee House must follow the qualifying dates for the August election. For municipal elections (including City of Columbia and Mt. Pleasant) held with the November election, the qualifying dates below apply.
| First Day to Pick Up Petitions | Monday, June 22, 2026 |
| Qualifying Deadline | Thursday, August 20, 2026, 12:00 Noon |
| Withdrawal Deadline | Thursday, August 27, 2026, 12:00 Noon |
| Voter Registration Deadline (Register to Vote) | Monday, October 5, 2026 |
| Early Voting | Wednesday, October 14 – Thursday, October 29, 2026 |
| Absentee Ballot Request Deadline | Saturday, October 24, 2026 |
Run for Office
Running for Federal and State Legislative Races
To run for U.S. Congress or for the Tennessee State House of Representatives, you will need to file for the August 6, 2026, primary, no later than noon on March 10, 2026.
Because this is a very involved process, we strongly encourage aspiring candidates to meet with the officers of the Maury County Democratic Party before announcing or filing any paperwork.
To file, you will need to obtain a petition from the Maury County Election Commission, located at 1207A Tradewinds Drive in Columbia. Once you have obtained at least 25 signatures (and preferably more than that), you will need to return your petition to the Maury County Election Commission.
For races that span more than one district, the Maury County Election Commission will make copies of your petition and then require you to file one copy with each county in the district you are running in. For the 5th Congressional District, that is Wilson, Davidson, Williamson, Marshall, Lewis, and Maury; for the 71st State House District, that is Maury, Lawrence, Wayne, and Hardin.
If you are running for Congress, you will need to file financial paperwork with the Federal Election Commission. You may also need to file a Form 8871 with the IRS.
If you are running for State House, you will need to file financial paperwork with the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance as well as a disclosure with the Tennessee Ethics Commission.
You will also want to meet and discuss these races with officers in other counties, as well as with the Tennessee Democratic Party.
Note that while the Democratic Party is excited to support its nominees for federal and state legislative races, these campaigns can become quite expensive (hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars), and candidates must be prepared to raise the majority of these funds themselves.
Running for County Races
To run for county offices (including County Commissioner and School Board) as a Democrat, you will need to attend the Maury County Democratic Party’s nominating caucus, which will be held on February 28, 2026. For more information, see our press release and rules here.
To declare your candidacy, please fill out this form or e-mail us at info@maurydems.org.
You do not need to pull a petition if you are seeking the Democratic Party nomination (for county offices, only those candidates running as Independents must pull a petition). Maury County Democratic Party officers will submit a letter to the County Election Commission before March 10, 2026 listing our Party’s official nominees, based on the caucus results.
Note that you can only seek the nomination of one party (Republican or Democratic), and that if the caucus rejects your candidacy, you cannot pull a petition as an Independent.
You will still need to file financial paperwork with the Maury County Election Commission, however, if you are nominated by caucus.
Note that while the Maury County Democratic Party is excited to support its nominees for county races, these campaigns can become somewhat expensive (a few thousand dollars) and candidates must be prepared to either spend their own money or ask their friends and family for campaign contributions.
Running for City Races
To run for nonpartisan municipal offices (including Mayor of Columbia and Mt. Pleasant City Commission), you will need to file no later than noon on August 20, 2026.
To file, you will need to obtain a petition from the Maury County Election Commission, located at 1207A Tradewinds Drive in Columbia. Once you have received at least 25 signatures (and preferably more than that), you will need to return your petition to the Maury County Election Commission.
You will also need to file financial paperwork with the Maury County Election Commission.
Know Your Rights!
Campaign Signs
On Private Property
The First Amendment protects the right of property owners to place campaign signs on their own property, subject to reasonable restrictions. Moreover, lessees (tenants) are permitted to place signs on property they are lawfully renting unless prohibited from doing so by their landlord (lessor).
It is always illegal to place a campaign sign within 100 feet of a polling place. Tenn. Code § 2-7-111.
State and local governments may make content-neutral regulations relating to the display of signs; for example, a city may prohibit large signs that might create a hazard for motorists.
However, starting 60 days before the first ballot is cast in an election, until the day after the election (“Election Season”), the Tennessee Freedom of Speech Act specifically prohibits the state and local governments from:
- Limiting the shape of political signs in someone’s yard (outside of the 100 ft no-campaigning boundary). Tenn. Code § 2-7-143(b)(1)(A).
- Banning signs that are equal to or smaller than 32 square feet (commercial property) or 16 square feet (residential property) in size. Tenn. Code § 2-7-143(b)(1)(B).
Moreover, while the state or local government may enact “reasonable” ordinances limiting the number of signs that a person can put on their property, the Tennessee Freedom of Speech Act (TFOSA) guarantees that property owners have the right to put up at least one campaign sign per candidate or issue during Election Season. Tenn. Code. § 2-7-143(b)(1)(C).
So, for example, during the period before an election, the City of Mt. Pleasant cannot prohibit a homeowner from putting up 10 rectangular 3 ft x 4 ft signs, so long as each sign is for a different candidate or issue (“Biden 2024”, “Smith for U.S. Senate”, “Jones for Congress”, “No on 1”, “Garcia for School Board”, etc.). In 2024 this right extends from 60 days before the first day of early voting; early voting starts on October 16th, so the TFOSA window starts on August 17, 2024, and runs until the day after Election Day (November 6, 2024).
Note that TFOSA primarily applies to signs and posters; three-dimensional objects such as inflatable cartoon characters are not protected.
Homeowners in HOA (Homeowners’ Association) Neighborhoods
The First Amendment protects the right of property owners to place campaign signs on their own property, subject to reasonable restrictions. Moreover, lessees (tenants) are permitted to place signs on property they are lawfully renting unless prohibited from doing so by their landlord (lessor).
It is always illegal to place a campaign sign within 100 feet of a polling place. Tenn. Code § 2-7-111.
State and local governments may make content-neutral regulations relating to the display of signs; for example, a city may prohibit large signs that might create a hazard for motorists.
However, starting 60 days before the first ballot is cast in an election, until the day after the election (“Election Season”), the Tennessee Freedom of Speech Act specifically prohibits the state and local governments from:
- Limiting the shape of political signs in someone’s yard (outside of the 100 ft no-campaigning boundary). Tenn. Code § 2-7-143(b)(1)(A).
- Banning signs that are equal to or smaller than 32 square feet (commercial property) or 16 square feet (residential property) in size. Tenn. Code § 2-7-143(b)(1)(B).
Moreover, while the state or local government may enact “reasonable” ordinances limiting the number of signs that a person can put on their property, the Tennessee Freedom of Speech Act (TFOSA) guarantees that property owners have the right to put up at least one campaign sign per candidate or issue during Election Season. Tenn. Code. § 2-7-143(b)(1)(C).
So, for example, during the period before an election, the City of Mt. Pleasant cannot prohibit a homeowner from putting up 10 rectangular 3 ft x 4 ft signs, so long as each sign is for a different candidate or issue (“Biden 2024”, “Smith for U.S. Senate”, “Jones for Congress”, “No on 1”, “Garcia for School Board”, etc.). In 2024 this right extends from 60 days before the first day of early voting; early voting starts on October 16th, so the TFOSA window starts on August 17, 2024, and runs until the day after Election Day (November 6, 2024).
Note that TFOSA primarily applies to signs and posters; three-dimensional objects such as inflatable cartoon characters are not protected.
Renters/Landlords
During “Election Season”, renters may place signs on the property they are renting without first obtaining permission from their landlord unless the lease agreement expressly requires the renter to obtain such permission. Tenn. Code § 2-1-143(c).
Public Rights-Of-Way and Property
Tennessee state law permits campaign signs to be placed in public rights-of-way so long as they are not otherwise prohibited by a local ordinance or rule. Tenn. Code § 2-1-116. However, signs may not be put in a state highway right-of-way, and are subject to removal. Tenn. Code § 54-21-109.
Candidates and campaigns are responsible for removing them no later than three weeks after the election’s conclusion. Tenn. Code § 2-1-116.
Signs placed in public rights-of-way are not subject to the Tennessee Freedom of Speech Act. For this reason, local governments may enact ordinances prohibiting signs in public rights-of-way.
Some counties (such as Williamson County) and have chosen to ban political signs in public rights-of-way.
If you live within city limits, we suggest checking with your city’s code enforcement team.
Government employees may not display campaign signs on government property (with one exception: government employees are allowed to display bumper stickers on their personal vehicles, even if those vehicles are parked on government property). Tenn. Code § 2-19-206.
Utility Poles
Signs and other campaign materials may not be placed on utility poles or towers. Tenn. Code § 2-19-144.
Mailboxes
Signs and other campaign materials may not be placed on mailboxes, according to U.S. Postal Service regulations.
Sign Theft / Vandalism
Sign theft and sign vandalism are crimes. They represent a significant investment by our members and are an important way for us to exercise our freedom of speech. For these reasons, the Maury County Democratic Party does not condone and discourages such acts.
Generally speaking, the theft or vandalism of a campaign sign is a Class A Misdemeanor under the State of Tennessee’s general theft and vandalism statutes. Tenn. Code §§ 39-14-103, 39-14-105, 39-14-408.
Sign theft /vandalism may also involve a criminal trespass, a Class C Misdemeanor. Tenn. Code § 39-14-405.
In some cases, sign theft/vandalism may constitute civil rights intimidation, a Class D Felony. Tenn. Code § 39-17-309.
We recommend that Democrats install surveillance camera devices (such as Ring doorbells) and report evidence of sign theft/vandalism to the Maury County Sheriff’s Department, Columbia Police Department, Mt. Pleasant Police Department, or Spring Hill Police Department. Please do NOT dial “911” unless there is an imminent danger to yourself or others.
Maury County Sheriff’s Office — (931) 388-5151
Columbia Police Department — (931) 388-2727
Mt. Pleasant Police Department — (931) 379-3201
Spring Hill Police Department — (931) 486-2252
Contact Us
Thank you contacting the Maury County Democrats. Reach out using the form below or our P.O. Box:
Mailing Address
Maury County Democratic Party
P.O. Box 8135
Columbia, TN 38402-8135
©2026 Maury County Democratic Party
