{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nJack L. Stockton, the Roane County Sheriff since 2006, is running in the 2026 Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 32, which covers parts of Roane and Loudon counties [1]. His term as sheriff ends August 31, 2026; the House seat is open because incumbent Monty Fritts is running for governor [1]. Stockton picked up his petition on January 20, 2026, saying he and his wife had been \"praying about it\" before he decided to run [1]. He faces Paul Suarez and Melissa Caldwell Browder in the August 6, 2026 primary [2].\n\n## Career\n\nStockton was first elected Roane County Sheriff in 2006, defeating then-incumbent David Haggard, and was reelected in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 \u2014 unopposed in the last two races [1][3]. He has described having about 40 years in law enforcement [1].\n\n## Family\n\nStockton's wife, Tara Stockton, is a former Kingston City Council member who served roughly six years on the council before resigning in 2023, and who is managing his state house campaign [1][4].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Stockton planning to run for state representative \u2013 The Mountain Press](https://www.themountainpress.com/roane/news/stockton-planning-to-run-for-state-representative/article_24cb1e8a-e1a7-5bc8-af95-224e690c6c05.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20\n[2] [Early voting for Aug. 6 election starts Friday \u2013 The Mountain Press](https://www.themountainpress.com/roane/news/early-voting-for-aug-6-election-starts-friday/article_866d9073-15fc-525e-9872-5805deb6eb05.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20\n[3] [Stockton not coasting \u2013 The Mountain Press](https://www.themountainpress.com/roane/archives/stockton-not-coasting/article_14ae4d35-cd5c-55d0-8fe3-e313d3ddbc62.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20\n[4] [Stockton discusses stepping down \u2013 The Mountain Press](https://www.themountainpress.com/roane/news/stockton-discusses-stepping-down/article_d177df7b-661c-54a3-91c3-04e95677653c.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_032","county":"Loudon","county_count":2,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"TN House District 32"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Jack L.","fullname":"Jack L. Stockton","lastname":"Stockton","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_032","contest_title":"TN House District 32","county":"Loudon","county_count":2,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house_032","office_title":"State Representative District 32","party":"R","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"R","primary":{"contest":"state_house_032","contest_title":"TN House District 32","county":"Loudon","county_count":2,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house_032","office_title":"State Representative District 32","party":"R","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"state_house_032","office_title":"State Representative District 32","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"terms":[],"token":"92m7enqChK"}