{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nWilliam Michael \"Mike\" Fraley is the incumbent sheriff of Carter County and is seeking re-election in 2026 [1][2]. He won the May 5, 2026 Republican primary with more than 69% of the vote, defeating former deputy Thomas Smith [1][2]. After the primary, Fraley said he wanted to \"build on what we started four years ago\" and to \"finish what I started\" [1].\n\n## Office history\nFraley has served as Carter County sheriff since 2022 [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Mike Fraley wins Republican primary for Carter County sheriff \u2014 Elizabethton Star](https://elizabethton.com/2026/05/05/mike-fraley-wins-republican-primary-for-carter-county-sheriff/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [This year is shaping up to be busy political year \u2014 Elizabethton Star](https://elizabethton.com/2026/03/10/this-year-is-shaping-up-to-be-busy-political-year/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23","campaigns":[{"contest":"register","county":"Carter","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"Register Of Deeds"},{"contest":"sheriff","county":"Carter","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"Sheriff"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"WILLIAM","fullname":"WILLIAM MICHAEL FRALEY","lastname":"FRALEY","middlename":"MICHAEL","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"register","contest_title":"Register Of Deeds","county":"Carter","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"register","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"register","contest_title":"Register Of Deeds","county":"Carter","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"register","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"R","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"register","office_title":"Register Of Deeds","state":"TN","terms":[]},{"campaigns":[{"contest":"sheriff","contest_title":"Sheriff","county":"Carter","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"sheriff","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"sheriff","contest_title":"Sheriff","county":"Carter","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"sheriff","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"R","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"sheriff","office_title":"Sheriff","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Incumbent Carter County sheriff since 2022; won the 2026 Republican primary with about 69% over challenger Thomas Smith.","terms":[],"token":"v9YmElJtpO"}