{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nNicholas Horton is a member of the Benton County Commission for the First District (the Holladay area) and is a candidate for re-election in the August 6, 2026 county general election, appearing on the ballot as the Republican Party nominee in the vote-for-three District 1 contest [1][2].\n\n## Background and education\nHorton was described in January 2026 as a newcomer to the political scene, running for commissioner in District 1, the Holladay area [3].\n\n## Office history\nHorton was appointed to the First District commission seat on February 17, 2026. According to reporting on the meeting, commissioners deadlocked in an initial tie among three nominees; after a recess and the withdrawal of nominee Phil Davis, Horton was appointed and sworn in [4]. He is listed among the county's current First District commissioners [2] and serves on the county Law Enforcement Committee [5].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Official Ballot for Benton County, August 6, 2026 - Benton County Election Commission](https://www.bentoncotnelections.com/) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [County Commission - Benton County, TN](https://bentoncountytn.gov/county_commission.html) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Candidates introduce themselves at the Benton County Republican Party meeting - The Camden Chronicle](https://thecamdenchronicle.com/stories/candidates-introduce-themselves-at-the-benton-county-republican-party-meeting,120044) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[4] [Nicholas Horton appointed to fill Benton County 1st District vacancy after tied vote and withdrawal - Citizen Portal](https://citizenportal.ai/articles/7643542/tennessee/benton-county/nicholas-horton-appointed-to-fill-benton-county-1st-district-vacancy-after-tied-vote-and-withdrawal) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[5] [Law Enforcement Committee - Benton County, TN](https://www.bentoncountytn.gov/law_enforcement_committee.html) - accessed 2026-07-23","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_1","county":"Benton","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Commission District 1"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Nicholas","fullname":"Nicholas Horton","lastname":"Horton","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_1","contest_title":"County Commission District 1","county":"Benton","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_1","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission_district_1","contest_title":"County Commission District 1","county":"Benton","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_1","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"R","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission_district_1","office_title":"County Commission District 1","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Republican Benton County commissioner for the First District (Holladay area), appointed to the seat in February 2026 and running for a full term.","terms":[],"token":"mmO7dguH3V"}