{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nCourtney Nyange is the Democratic candidate for Wilson County Commission District 11 on the August 6, 2026 general-election ballot [1][3]. She is unopposed in the Democratic primary and will face the winner of the Republican primary between Ardis Ferguson and former commissioner Dan Walker - Ferguson won that primary 419-200 on May 5, 2026 [3][4]. Nyange announced her candidacy in April 2026, saying \"we all love Wilson County, but we know it can be better. Unmanaged growth has led to gridlock on our streets and overcrowded schools,\" and campaigned on smart, sustainable development; traffic and alternative-transportation improvements; and fully resourced schools with manageable class sizes and competitive teacher salaries [1].\n\n## Background and education\nNyange holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Fisk University, a Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Minnesota School of Nursing [2]. Her candidate announcement describes her as a wife and mother with a passion for history and reading [1].\n\n## Career\nNyange is a registered nurse and nurse educator; her campaign biography credits her with prior service as a Peace Corps volunteer [1]. She is Executive Director and a Professor in the School of Nursing and Respiratory Care at Tennessee State University, and served as Director of Practice for the Tennessee Nurses Association (2023-2025) [2]. She was a U.S. Fulbright Scholar who lectured in Tanzania (2020-2021) and is a Peace Corps/Global Health Service Partnership alumna of Tanzania (2014-2015) [2]. In 2023 the Tennessee Nurses Association named her a \"Rising Star\" nurse leader among Tennessee's 40 under 40, and in 2025 the association gave her its Nursing Excellence Award for Clinical Practice [2]. She is a member of the Wilson County Branch of the NAACP, the Association of Black Nursing Faculty, and DNPs of Color, and sits on the board of the Nashville Freedom School [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Candidate announcement: Courtney Nyange for county commission - Main Street Media of Tennessee](https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/chronicleofmtjuliet/candidate-announcement-courtney-nyange-for-county-commission/) - accessed 2026-07-06\n[2] [Dr. Courtney Nyange - Tennessee State University School of Nursing](https://www.tnstate.edu/nursing/cnyange.aspx) - accessed 2026-07-06\n[3] [Wilson County May 5 primary candidates - Lebanon Democrat](https://www.lebanondemocrat.com/lebanon/wilson-county-may-5-primary-candidates/article_1c729583-8efa-5bb9-bf6d-b169c75f0c2f.html) - accessed 2026-07-06\n[4] [Nelson, Hayes beat incumbents in Wilson County Commission Republican primary - Main Street Media of Tennessee](https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/chronicleofmtjuliet/nelson-hayes-beat-incumbents-in-wilson-county-commission-republican-primary/) - accessed 2026-07-06","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_11","county":"Wilson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Commission District 11"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"COURTNEY","fullname":"COURTNEY NYANGE","lastname":"NYANGE","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_11","contest_title":"County Commission District 11","county":"Wilson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_11","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission_district_11","contest_title":"County Commission District 11","county":"Wilson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_11","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"D","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission_district_11","office_title":"County Commission District 11","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Registered nurse, TSU nursing school executive director; Democratic candidate for Wilson County Commission District 11 in the Aug. 6, 2026 general election.","terms":[],"token":"J8AgfJCGU1"}