{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nLauren Breeze is the incumbent Wilson County Commissioner for District 18, first elected in 2018 [1]. She ran unopposed in the May 5, 2026 Republican primary and faces Democrat Rick Howard Jr. in the August 6, 2026 Wilson County general election [2].\n\n## Background and education\n\nBreeze relocated to Wilson County from Texas in 2012 [3]. She holds a degree in Marine Transportation and an MBA with a focus in global business and marketing [3]. She began her career as a Third Mate in the Merchant Marine working on oil tankers, later served as a Port Captain for the Mediterranean Shipping Company managing route and cargo planning for nine container ships, and co-founded the regional family-tourism site Nashvillefunforfamilies.com [3].\n\n## Career\n\nBreeze became a Certified Public Administrator in 2020 and says she is the only elected official in Wilson County to hold the Certified County Finance Officer designation, awarded through the Tennessee State Comptroller's Office [1][3].\n\n## Office history\n\nBreeze won a second term in the August 2022 general election, running as an Independent and defeating Terri Nicholson - then a Tennessee GOP State Executive Committee member and former Wilson County Republican Party chair - 461-435 [1][4]. She is running for a third term in 2026 as the Republican nominee [2].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [Lauren Breeze holds off Terri Nicholson in Wilson County Commission District 18 race, Main Street Media of Tennessee](https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/thewilsonpost/lauren-breeze-holds-off-terri-nicholson-in-wilson-county-commission-district-18-race/) - accessed 2026-07-06\n[2] [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[3] [About Lauren - Lauren Breeze District 18 Commissioner](https://laurenbreeze.com/about/) - accessed 2026-07-06\n[4] [GOP leader Terri Nicholson opposes Lauren Breeze for county commission seat, Main Street Media of Tennessee](https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/thewilsonpost/gop-leader-terri-nicholson-opposes-lauren-breeze-for-county-commission-seat/) - accessed 2026-07-06","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_18","county":"Wilson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Commission District 18"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"LAUREN","fullname":"LAUREN BREEZE","lastname":"BREEZE","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_18","contest_title":"County Commission District 18","county":"Wilson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_18","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission_district_18","contest_title":"County Commission District 18","county":"Wilson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_18","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"R","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission_district_18","office_title":"County Commission District 18","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Incumbent Wilson County Commissioner, District 18, first elected 2018; ran as an Independent in 2022, now the 2026 Republican nominee against Democrat Rick Howard Jr.","terms":[],"token":"n4YK8kPFgl"}