{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJ.W. McPhail is a Republican candidate for the McMinn County Commission, District 2, on the August 6, 2026 county general-election ballot. District 2 elects two commissioners, and it is an uncontested race with two candidates for the two seats.[1][2]\n\n## Office history\nMcPhail currently serves as one of District 2's two members of the McMinn County Commission, representing part of the Athens area. He advanced from the McMinn County Republican primary in May 2022, receiving 450 votes.[2][3]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [County, city races contested in upcoming McMinn August election - Daily Post-Athenian](https://www.dailypostathenian.com/news/article_8eb5ecf6-6106-4d93-812f-b6bfe135e11b.html) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [McMinn County Commissioners - McMinn County, TN (official)](https://www.mcminncountytn.gov/county_commission_main.html) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [McMinn Co 2022 Primary Election - McMinn County Election Commission](https://mcminnco.net/election/2022/may2022.htm) - accessed 2026-07-23","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_2","county":"Mcminn","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"County Commission District 2"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"J.","fullname":"J. W. McPhail","lastname":"McPhail","middlename":"W.","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_2","contest_title":"County Commission District 2","county":"Mcminn","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_2","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"R","primary":{"contest":"county_commission_district_2","contest_title":"County Commission District 2","county":"Mcminn","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_2","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission_district_2","office_title":"County Commission District 2","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Sitting McMinn County commissioner from District 2 (Athens area), seeking re-election on the Aug. 6, 2026 ballot in an uncontested two-seat race.","terms":[],"token":"iJORCHekI7"}