Elea Anita Wright

Elea Anita Wright is a Democratic candidate for Hamilton County Commission District 4 in Tennessee, challenging incumbent Warren Mackey in the primary election scheduled for May 5, 2026 [5]. A 34-year-old lifelong resident of Chattanooga, Wright currently serves as the chief of operations at Elea Blake Cosmetics, a family business founded by her mother [5]. She holds a bachelor's degree in graphic design from the University of Tennessee and resides in the Ridgedale neighborhood, where she has lived for nine years [5].

Wright entered the race to oppose Mackey, who has held the District 4 seat for two decades and is seeking a sixth term [5]. She stated that she decided to run because "nobody else would do it" against an incumbent with such extensive experience [6]. Wright explicitly announced that her campaign will not accept monetary donations, urging supporters instead to contribute directly to local nonprofits [10].

In response to a questionnaire from the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Wright identified poverty as the largest challenge facing District 4, noting its impact on housing, education, and health [5]. Her stated priorities include ensuring that Orchard Knob Middle School is a place where students feel proud, fostering collaboration between government and the community, and addressing the cost of living for longtime residents to create "cyclical communities" [5]. She advocates for viewing all agenda items through the lens of whether they help break cycles of poverty or exacerbate them [5].

District 4 encompasses Chattanooga's downtown area and dense neighborhoods including Fort Wood, Orchard Knob, Highland Park, Ridgedale, and Avondale [5]. Wright describes her platform as prioritizing existing communities, ensuring community-minded growth, and supporting equitable education [10].

Sources

• [1] Tennessee elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia
• [2] United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, 2026 - Ballotpedia
• [3] Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State
• [4] 2026 Election United States House - Tennessee - District 05 - FEC.gov
• [5] Hamilton County Commission: Challenger Elea Wright says poverty is Chattanooga’s biggest problem | Chattanooga Times Free Press
• [6] Businesswoman Elea Wright to run against five-term incumbent Warren Mackey in Democratic primary | Chattanooga Times Free Press
• [8] Businesswoman Elea Wright is challenging incumbent ...
• [9] Hamilton County Commission: Incumbent Warren Mackey says district is experiencing ‘real and meaningful growth’ | Chattanooga Times Free Press
• [10] Elea Wright for District 4 County Commissioner
• [12] Times Free Press en X: "Businesswoman Elea Wright is challenging incumbent Hamilton County Commissioner Warren Mackey, D-Bluff View, in the upcoming Democratic primary Check out a Q&A with the candidate in the story below. https://t.co/mmfP609ubC" / X