[{"bio_snippet":"Montrell Besley is a Democrat and Chattanooga native running for Hamilton County Commission District 11, previously serving on the Board of Education and as a teacher.","biography":"Montrell Besley is a Democrat running for Hamilton County Commission District 11 in Tennessee [3]. He is a Chattanooga native and resident of the Alton Park community [10]. Besley holds a Bachelor\u2019s degree in Health and Human Performance and a Master\u2019s degree in Public and Community Health from Austin Peay State University [4]. His professional background includes serving as a health and physical education teacher at Woodmore Elementary School since August 2015 [1]. He has also worked as the director of Community Engagement at Chattanooga Preparatory School, a position he held as of 2020 [9]. Additionally, Besley is a small business owner who launched Chattanooga Rolling Video Games, a mobile video gaming theater service [11].\n\nBesley\u2019s political career began with a run for the Hamilton County Board of Education District 4 seat in 2016. He lost that general election to Tiffanie Robinson, receiving 23.89% of the vote [1]. In 2022, Besley launched a campaign for the newly created Hamilton County Commission District 11 seat following redistricting [3]. The district includes areas such as Lookout Mountain and Alton Park [3]. He finished third in the Democratic primary for that seat [8].\n\nIn the current cycle, Besley is seeking re-election to Hamilton County Commission District 11. He previously faced Republican incumbent Joe Graham in a general election rematch four years ago, losing by 20 votes [5]. Besley is now challenging Graham again in the upcoming election [5].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Montrell Besley - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Montrell_Besley)\n- [2] [Hamilton County School District elections (2016) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Hamilton_County_School_District_elections_(2016))\n- [3] [Montrell Besley Seeks New County Commission District 11 Seat - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2021/12/10/439836/Montrell-Besley-Seeks-New-County.aspx)\n- [4] [Montrell Besley running in new District 11 Hamilton County Commission seat | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2022/jan/13/montrell-besley/561400/)\n- [5] [Besley set to challenge Graham in rematch for Hamilton County Commission seat | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/feb/15/besley-set-to-challenge-graham-in-rematch-for/)\n- [7] [Chattanooga Times announces Hamilton County Board of Education endorsements | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2016/jul/10/sohn-school-board-needs-newer-younger-faces/)\n- [8] [Four Hamilton County Commission races decided in primary election | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2022/may/04/four-hamiltcounty-commissiraces-decided-prima/)\n- [9] [Boys & Girls Clubs Of Chattanooga Names Montrell Besley And Jay Morgan To Board Of Directors - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2020/3/5/405199/Boys--Girls-Clubs-Of-Chattanooga-Names.aspx)\n- [10] [Montrell Besley Kicks Off Campaign For School Board - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2016/4/29/323199/Montrell-Besley-Kicks-Off-Campaign-For.aspx)\n- [11] [Entrepreneur Spotlight: Montrell Besley](https://launchchattanooga.org/examples/entrepreneur/34)\n- [12] [Opinion: Voter turnout will be key in District 11 Hamilton County Commission, school board races | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/opinion/freepress/story/2022/jun/16/opinion-voter-turnout-will-be-key-district-11/571023/)","birthdate":"Sun, 12 Apr 1981 00:00:00 GMT","firstname":"Montrell","fullname":"Montrell Besley","lastname":"Besley","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":"Montrell Besley is a Democrat and Chattanooga native running for Hamilton County Commission District 11, previously serving on the Board of Education and as a teacher.","token":"IZz3Lz4U32"},{"bio_snippet":"Per the NC voter file: DEM voter in Forsyth County since 1993.","biography":"According to the North Carolina voter file, Daniel Vaughn Besse is a registered voter in Forsyth County, North Carolina, registered since 1993 (33 years), with party affiliation listed as Democratic [1].\n\nThe voter file shows Daniel Vaughn Besse's year of birth as 1954; NC publishes only the year of birth in its bulk voter export, so day and month are not part of the public record [1].\n\nThe voter history file shows 11 elections voted in since 2016, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [2].\n\nThis summary draws only from the public North Carolina voter registration and history records. No additional published biographical information was located. Voters with personal knowledge of Daniel Vaughn Besse can reach ballotproject.org with corrections or additions.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n\n[2] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Daniel","fullname":"Daniel Vaughn Besse","lastname":"Besse","middlename":"Vaughn","suffix":null,"summary":"Per the NC voter file: DEM voter in Forsyth County since 1993.","token":"a6222371586513eb"},{"bio_snippet":"","biography":null,"birthdate":null,"firstname":"Braxton","fullname":"Braxton Best","lastname":"Best","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"HWveuvOXNM"},{"bio_snippet":"Kimberly Y.\u202fBest is a former North Carolina Superior Court judge and Democratic candidate in the 2026 NC elections.","biography":"Kimberly Yvette\u202fBest is a Democratic candidate in the 2026 North Carolina elections, though the specific office she is seeking is not detailed in the available sources. Most recently, she served as a judge for Judicial District\u202f26B of the North Carolina 5th Superior Court Division, a position she held from her appointment on November\u202f23,\u202f2021 until the end of 2022, when she was defeated in the November\u202f8,\u202f2022 general election by Republican Matt Osman [1].\n\nBest earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications and Spanish from the University of Michigan in 1990 and a Juris Doctor from Indiana University School of Law\u2011Bloomington in 1994 [1]. She began her legal career in the North Carolina Magistrates Office (1998\u20112003) before entering private practice as an attorney at The Best Law Firm, PLLC (2005\u20112008) [1].\n\nIn 2009, Best was elected to the Mecklenburg County District Court, where she served for twelve years until her elevation to the Superior Court in 2021 [1]. During her tenure on the district bench, she presided over a broad docket of civil and criminal matters, gaining a reputation for thoroughness and community engagement.\n\nBest\u2019s 2022 campaign for a full term on the Superior Court was closely contested; she secured 49.9\u202f% of the vote (25,915 votes) against Osman\u2019s 50.1\u202f% (25,992 votes) in a race that drew over 51,000 voters [1]. Earlier, in the 2020 election, she won re\u2011election to the District Court with 66.2\u202f% of the vote (362,979 votes) over Republican Pat Finn [1]. She also ran unopposed for the same district seat in 2016, receiving 100\u202f% of the vote [1].\n\nBeyond the bench, Best\u2019s professional background includes experience in both public service and private practice, and she has been active in the Mecklenburg County legal community for more than two decades. While her current campaign details are limited, her record reflects extensive judicial experience and a long\u2011standing commitment to the North Carolina legal system.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Kimberly Best - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Kimberly_Best)\n- [2] [North Carolina elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_elections,_2026)\n- [3] [United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_North_Carolina,_2026)\n- [4] [Candidate Lists | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/results-data/candidate-lists)\n- [6] [2026 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_North_Carolina)\n- [7] [Candidate Profiles \u2013 NC Voter Guide](https://ncvoterguide.org/profiles/)\n- [8] [Democrats Work For America - Kimberly Hardy](https://democratsworkforamerica.org/candidates/2026/NC/Hardy.html)\n- [10] [2026 Primary \u2013 Democratic Voter Guide (List View) - Wake County Democratic Party](https://www.wakedems.org/election-central-2026/democratic-voter-guide-2026-primary-listview/)\n- [11] [North Carolina 2026 Elections: Candidates for Governor, Senate & House | Politics1](https://politics1.com/nc.htm)","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Kimberly","fullname":"Kimberly Yvette Best","lastname":"Best","middlename":"Yvette","suffix":null,"summary":"Kimberly Y.\u202fBest is a former North Carolina Superior Court judge and Democratic candidate in the 2026 NC elections.","token":"301203d7477f6c90"},{"bio_snippet":"","biography":null,"birthdate":null,"firstname":"SCOTTIE","fullname":"SCOTTIE BETTS","lastname":"BETTS","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"waQQluBktn"},{"bio_snippet":"Current office and 2026 campaign David Beverly is the Republican nominee for Greene County Sheriff. He won the May 5, 2026 Republican primary over David Love by a vote of 5,045 to 3,381; no Democrat filed for the office, so Beverly is unopposed in the August general election 2 . ","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDavid Beverly is the Republican nominee for Greene County Sheriff. He won the May 5, 2026 Republican primary over David Love by a vote of 5,045 to 3,381; no Democrat filed for the office, so Beverly is unopposed in the August general election [2]. He is set to take office as sheriff on September 1, 2026, succeeding Sheriff Wesley Holt, who is himself running for a Greene County Commission seat [1][3].\n\n## Background and education\nBeverly is a lifelong resident of Greene County. He is a 1990 graduate of Greeneville High School and attended Tusculum College for two years before working at Greene Valley Developmental Center [1].\n\n## Career\nBeverly began his career with the Greene County Sheriff's Office in 1997 as a corrections officer, moved to a dispatcher position in 1999, and later became a commissioned patrol officer. He tried out for the department's Special Operations (S.W.A.T.) team in 2004, serving as an operator until 2012, when he was promoted to Assistant Commander. He has held the command positions of Patrol Sergeant and Patrol Lieutenant, and was appointed Chief Deputy in 2018 when Wesley Holt was elected sheriff, a post in which he has overseen the department's Patrol, Corrections, School Resource, Court Security, Civil Process, Records and Criminal Investigations divisions, among others. He is a graduate of the Walters State Tennessee Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy (Class 48), graduating in the top five of his class and receiving the class's defensive tactics award and the Tennessee Sheriff's Association award. He was named the Optimist Club's Officer of the Year in 2005, completed the FBI-led Tennessee Law Enforcement Executive Leadership Development School in 2021, and completed the South Eastern Leadership Academy in 2024 [1].\n\n## Office history\nAs sheriff-elect, Beverly announced in June 2026 that Jeff Davis, a Detective Captain with more than 32 years of law enforcement experience, would serve as his Chief Deputy [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] \"Greene County Chief Deputy David Beverly Running For Sheriff In 2026,\" WGRV.com, Jan. 14, 2026. https://wgrv.com/greene-county-chief-deputy-david-beverly-running-for-sheriff-in-2026/\n[2] Spencer Morrell, \"David Beverly Wins Race For Greene County Sheriff,\" WGRV.com, May 6, 2026. https://wgrv.com/david-beverly-wins-race-for-greene-countys-sheriff/\n[3] \"Jeff Davis Named Greene County Chief Deputy For Sheriff-Elect David Beverly,\" WGRV.com, Jun. 16, 2026. https://wgrv.com/jeff-davis-named-greene-county-chief-deputy-for-sheriff-elect-david-beverly/","birthdate":null,"firstname":"David","fullname":"David D. Beverly","lastname":"Beverly","middlename":"D.","suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"eosW9kPM2p"},{"bio_snippet":"Republican District 6 commissioner, Smyrna police officer, and real estate agent seeking re-election to the Rutherford County Commission.","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJonathan Beverly is the Republican candidate for Rutherford County Commission District 6 in the August 6, 2026 general election, and is running for re-election [4].\n\n## Office history\nBeverly has served as the District 6 commissioner since September 2022 [1]. He sits on the commission's Public Safety Committee and Steering, Legislative & Government Committee [1].\n\n## Career\nBeverly is a police officer with the Town of Smyrna, where he began his law enforcement career in 2013 and serves as a field training officer [2]. He is also a real estate agent with Benchmark Realty and owns Beverly Properties, LLC, a property-management business he established in 2017; in 2021 he launched the J. Beverly Team at Benchmark Realty [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [District 6 Commissioner - Jonathan Beverly (Rutherford County, TN)](https://rutherfordcountytn.gov/?SEC=%7B67074990-698D-4199-9041-49F128C67738%7D&Type=B_LIST) -- accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Smyrna Police Officer, Local Realtor Jonathan Beverly Announces Campaign For Rutherford County Commission (WGNS Radio)](https://www.wgnsradio.com/article/70283/smyrna-police-officer-local-realtor-jonathan-beverly-announces-campaign-for-rutherford-county-commission) -- accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [Rutherford County August 6 General Election Candidate List](https://rutherfordcountytn.gov/uploads/dm/79794/August_6_General_Election_Candidate_list.pdf) -- accessed 2026-07-22","birthdate":null,"firstname":"JONATHAN","fullname":"JONATHAN R BEVERLY","lastname":"BEVERLY","middlename":"R","suffix":null,"summary":"Republican District 6 commissioner, Smyrna police officer, and real estate agent seeking re-election to the Rutherford County Commission.","token":"QLWJzKKb3D"},{"bio_snippet":"Miska Clay Bibbs is currently serving as the Chair Pro Tempore of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, representing District 11. She was previously a member of the Shelby County Board of Education from 2014 to 2022. Clay Bibbs has a diverse work history, including roles as the chief of staff at Teach For America, executive director of Teach Plus, and director of community engagement at Green Dot Public Schools. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Marketing from Hampton University and is pursuing a graduate degree at the University of Memphis. Clay Bibbs has been actively involved in the Memphis community, serving on various boards and receiving awards for her contributions. As of the current date, she is a current elected official, with her term ending in 2026.","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nChair Pro Tempore Miska Clay Bibbs won the August 4, 2022 election to the Shelby County Board of Commissioners to represent District 11 in Shelby County. She was a member of the Shelby County Board of Education since 2014 until 2022.\n\nClay Bibbs was hired as the chief of staff at Teach For America in Memphis in 2019. She previously worked as the executive director of Teach Plus and the director of community engagement at Green Dot Public Schools. Every day she works towards leaving a legacy of service and servant leadership behind. She is a native Memphian that has had the opportunity to live in Washington, D.C., and Virginia. She is a proud graduate of White Station High School. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Marketing from Hampton University and working on a graduate degree at the University of Memphis. She began her career interning as a college student at NASA, K-97/WDIA, Archer Malmo, and AutoZone. Upon graduation, she decided to follow her passion and come home to help manage a congressional campaign for Harold Ford, Jr. She worked for the congressional office for several years, where she learned the importance of education advocacy, and community development and that we all deserve to have our voice heard. After leaving the congressional office, she served in different roles at American Heart Association and Shelby County Schools using her experience in fundraising, community relations, marketing, media relations, and community development in an effort to advance Memphis and its education system forward. \n\nShe is very proud to have made strides in her professional career but is most proud of the experiences that have helped her earn awards such as the New Memphis Institute Fellow of the Year Award (2009), Top 40 under 40 Award by the Memphis Business Journal (2011), Black Woman of Excellence Award \u2013 Tri-State Defender (2015) and being selected as Mentor of the Year for Nexus Memphis (2015). She is very active in the Memphis community and has served on the boards of Dress for Success Memphis, People First Partnership Board, The New Memphis Institute Fellows Advisory Board, The Commercial Appeal Young Advisory Council and the Strengthening Nonprofits Committee for the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis. She is a graduate of the Leadership Memphis Executive Program Class of 2013. She is a member of the River City (TN) Chapter of The Links, Inco. where she serves as Vice-President and Chair of Membership. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated \u2013 Beta Epsilon Omega Chapter. She is the proud mother of Langston, who is a recent graduate of Middle College High School.\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n- **2025** \u2014 [County Commission (SS-8005)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8005.htm?name=CLAY BIBBS&id=61853&f=189566&v=1) \u2014 filed as a Shelby County official/candidate\n- **2024** \u2014 [County Commission (SS-8005)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8005.htm?name=CLAY BIBBS&id=61853&f=179118&v=1) \u2014 filed as a Shelby County official/candidate\n\n*Source: [Tennessee Ethics Commission Statement of Interest Search](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/search.htm). Scraped 2026-04-25.*\n","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Miska","fullname":"Miska Clay Bibbs","lastname":"Bibbs","middlename":"Clay","suffix":null,"summary":"Miska Clay Bibbs is currently serving as the Chair Pro Tempore of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, representing District 11. She was previously a member of the Shelby County Board of Education from 2014 to 2022. Clay Bibbs has a diverse work history, including roles as the chief of staff at Teach For America, executive director of Teach Plus, and director of community engagement at Green Dot Public Schools. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Marketing from Hampton University and is pursuing a graduate degree at the University of Memphis. Clay Bibbs has been actively involved in the Memphis community, serving on various boards and receiving awards for her contributions. As of the current date, she is a current elected official, with her term ending in 2026.","token":"L9Zgel6L5P"},{"bio_snippet":"Current office and 2026 campaign Larry Bible is the incumbent member of the Greene County Board of Education for District 3, which covers the Tusculum View and Doak voting districts. He first won the seat in 2022 and is seeking another four year term in 2026; his qualifying petit","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nLarry Bible is the incumbent member of the Greene County Board of Education for District 3, which covers the Tusculum View and Doak voting districts. He first won the seat in 2022 and is seeking another four-year term in 2026; his qualifying petition was approved by the Greene County Election Commission in January 2026 [1].\n\n## Background and education\nBible grew up in the Orebank community, attended Glenwood Elementary, and graduated from South Greene High School in 1971. He graduated from Tusculum College in 1975 with a B.S. in Physical Education and American History, and earned a Master's in Education from East Tennessee State University in 1987 [1].\n\n## Career\nBible spent 37 years working in Greene County Schools before retiring in June 2011. He taught at Glenwood and Mosheim elementary schools and at West Greene High School, served as Assistant Principal at Chuckey Doak during the 1997-98 school year, was Principal at Ottway Elementary in 1998-99, and was Principal at West Greene High School from 1999 to 2011. After retiring, he began serving as the Greene County Field Associate for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) in October 2011, a role he still holds. He has also served on the Board of Directors for Greene County Skills for 27 years [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] Bobby Rader, \"Long Time Educator, Administrator & Coach Larry Bible Seeks Another Term On Greene County School Board,\" WGRV.com, Jan. 15, 2026. https://wgrv.com/long-time-educator-administrator-coach-larry-bible-seeks-another-term-on-greene-county-school-board/","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Larry","fullname":"Larry Bible","lastname":"Bible","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"m0wmxuVvZj"},{"bio_snippet":"Per the NC voter file: DEM voter in Wake County since 2024.","biography":"**Status update: Bibler lost the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary for U.S. House, North Carolina's 9th Congressional District, finishing fourth of four candidates with 6,960 votes (15.7%); Richard N. Ojeda II won the primary with 18,469 votes (41.8%). Bibler will not appear on the November 2026 general-election ballot [3].**\n\nAccording to the North Carolina voter file, Loren David Bibler is a registered voter in Wake County, North Carolina, registered since 2024 (2 years), with party affiliation listed as Democratic [1].\n\nThe voter file shows Loren David Bibler's year of birth as 1995; NC publishes only the year of birth in its bulk voter export, so day and month are not part of the public record [1].\n\nThe voter history file shows 6 elections voted in since 2016, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [2].\n\nThis summary draws only from the public North Carolina voter registration and history records. No additional published biographical information was located. Voters with personal knowledge of Loren David Bibler can reach ballotproject.org with corrections or additions.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n\n[2] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)\n\n[3] North Carolina State Board of Elections, 2026 primary election results (`results_pct_20260303`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-24","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Loren","fullname":"Loren David Bibler","lastname":"Bibler","middlename":"David","suffix":null,"summary":"Per the NC voter file: DEM voter in Wake County since 2024.","token":"60aabc252df2c95a"},{"bio_snippet":"Jessica Bichler is the Democratic candidate for North Carolina State Senate District\u202f7 in the 2026 election, a small\u2011business owner and yoga studio operator from Wilmington.","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nJessica Bichler is the Democratic candidate for North Carolina Senate District 7 in the November 3, 2026 general election [1]. State Board of Elections candidate-filing records list her candidacy filing date as December 12, 2025, give Wilmington in New Hanover County as her city, and show no primary scheduled in the District 7 contest [1]. Her opponent is the Republican incumbent, Michael Lee, who is also the state Senate's majority leader [1][5].\n\nWECT reported that District 7 \"encompasses most of New Hanover County and represents one of the Democrats' best chances to pick up a Senate seat in the next election cycle,\" describing the seat as one Democrats view as a key opportunity to break the Republican supermajority in 2026 [2].\n\nIn the most recent election for the seat, certified precinct-level returns show Lee with 63,217 votes, Democrat David Hill with 52,953 and Libertarian John Evans with 4,903 [4]. In the 2022 general election for District 7, Lee received 44,908 votes to Democrat Marcia Morgan's 43,198 [6].\n\nAnnouncing her candidacy, Bichler said: \"I'm not a career politician, I'm a working mother. I'm stepping forward because our community deserves leadership focused on real solutions. I'm ready to fight for an affordable, safe, and healthy New Hanover for all, and I'm excited to get to work\" [2]. Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch endorsed her, saying Bichler \"will bring with her energy, integrity, and fresh ideas we need to get Raleigh working again\" [2]. WECT, attributing the account to the NC Senate Democratic Caucus, reported that her decision to run was influenced by her grandmother's experiences in Nazi-controlled Austria during World War II and her concerns about democratic institutions, and that she also cited environmental issues she has witnessed in multiple states as motivation to preserve New Hanover County for future generations [2].\n\nHer campaign site states her vision for New Hanover County as \"a community that works for all of us, where everyone can afford to live, work, and thrive\" [3].\n\n## Career\n\nBichler's campaign biography describes her as \"a working mom and a small business owner who has called Wilmington home for almost 15 years\" who \"has spent over a decade supporting the health and well-being of families across New Hanover County as a yoga teacher and studio owner\" [3]. WECT reported that she \"has operated Wilmington Yoga in New Hanover County for over a decade\" [2].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [Candidate Listing 2026 (Candidate_Listing_2026.csv)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/Elections/2026/Candidate%20Filing/Candidate_Listing_2026.csv) - North Carolina State Board of Elections, accessed 2026-07-31\n[2] [Wilmington small business owner announces NC Senate District 7 candidacy](https://www.wect.com/2025/12/13/wilmington-small-business-owner-files-seat-nc-democrats-hope-flip-2026/) - WECT, accessed 2026-07-31\n[3] [Jessica Bichler for NC Senate 7](https://www.jessicabichler.com/) - Jessica Bichler campaign website, accessed 2026-07-31\n[4] [2024 general election precinct-level results (results_pct_20241105.zip)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2024_11_05/results_pct_20241105.zip) - North Carolina State Board of Elections, accessed 2026-07-31\n[5] [A look at who filed in the 2026 tri-county elections](https://portcitydaily.com/local-news/2025/12/19/look-at-who-filed-in-2026-elections/) - Port City Daily, accessed 2026-07-31\n[6] [2022 general election precinct-level results (results_pct_20221108.zip)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2022_11_08/results_pct_20221108.zip) - North Carolina State Board of Elections, accessed 2026-07-31","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Jessica","fullname":"Jessica Hewitt Bichler","lastname":"Bichler","middlename":"Hewitt","suffix":null,"summary":"Jessica Bichler is the Democratic candidate for North Carolina State Senate District\u202f7 in the 2026 election, a small\u2011business owner and yoga studio operator from Wilmington.","token":"9156f545050ad4f1"},{"bio_snippet":"","biography":null,"birthdate":null,"firstname":"Leslie","fullname":"Leslie Elkins Bickford","lastname":"Bickford","middlename":"Elkins","suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"LSZmbTH3ex"},{"bio_snippet":"Per the NC voter file: REP voter in Cleveland County since 2010.","biography":"According to the North Carolina voter file, Joshua Leon Biddix is a registered voter in Cleveland County, North Carolina, registered since 2010 (16 years), with party affiliation listed as Republican [1].\n\nThe voter file shows Joshua Leon Biddix's year of birth as 1978; NC publishes only the year of birth in its bulk voter export, so day and month are not part of the public record [1].\n\nThe voter history file shows 10 elections voted in since 2016, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [2].\n\nThis summary draws only from the public North Carolina voter registration and history records. No additional published biographical information was located. Voters with personal knowledge of Joshua Leon Biddix can reach ballotproject.org with corrections or additions.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n\n[2] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Joshua","fullname":"Joshua Leon Biddix","lastname":"Biddix","middlename":"Leon","suffix":null,"summary":"Per the NC voter file: REP voter in Cleveland County since 2010.","token":"45e0a27eb6287685"},{"bio_snippet":"Current office and 2026 campaign Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. served as the 46th President of the United States from January 20, 2021 through January 20, 2025. He appeared on the 2024 Tennessee Democratic presidential primary ballot on Super Tuesday March 5, 2024 , winning all 63 o","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nJoseph Robinette Biden Jr. served as the 46th President of the United States from January 20, 2021 through January 20, 2025. He appeared on the 2024 Tennessee Democratic presidential primary ballot on Super Tuesday (March 5, 2024), winning all 63 of the state's delegates as the only candidate who met ballot qualification requirements. In July 2024, following a widely criticized debate performance and pressure from within the Democratic Party, Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.\n\n## Background and education\n\nBorn on November 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Biden grew up in a working-class Catholic family. He graduated from the University of Delaware in 1965 with degrees in history and political science, and earned his J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law in 1968.\n\n## Career\n\nBiden was first elected to the New Castle County Council in Delaware in 1970. In 1972, at age 29, he was elected to the U.S. Senate from Delaware and served six terms (1973\u20132009). He chaired both the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He served as the 47th Vice President under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017. Biden won the 2020 presidential election over Donald Trump. As president, he signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021), the Inflation Reduction Act (2022), and the Respect for Marriage Act (2022).\n\n## Family\n\nBiden's first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden, and infant daughter Naomi were killed in a 1972 car accident. Beau Biden, his son from that marriage, died of brain cancer in 2015. Biden married Jill Tracy Jacobs in 1977; they have one daughter, Ashley Biden.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Joe Biden \u2013 Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden)\n- [2] [Joe Biden | Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joe-Biden)","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Joseph","fullname":"Joseph R. Biden","lastname":"Biden","middlename":"R.","suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"i8TKAWhx5H"},{"bio_snippet":"Republican candidate for McNairy County mayor in 2026; McNairy County archives director and 3rd District county commissioner, former helicopter pilot and law-enforcement officer.","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nKim Bienash is a Republican candidate for McNairy County Mayor in the August 6, 2026 county general election, an open-seat race in which incumbent mayor Larry Smith is not among the candidates. [1][2][6] Bienash announced his campaign in February 2026, framing it around \"honesty, common sense, and a strong work ethic\" and describing himself as a conservative who supports limited government, fiscal responsibility, and \"smart growth that protects local families.\" [1][3] He currently serves as a member of the McNairy County Commission for the 3rd District. [3][4] Four qualified candidates appeared at a July 15, 2026 mayoral debate at the Selmer Community Center: Bienash, Anthony Knight, Jeff Maxedon, and Dylan Michael. [2]\n\n## Background and education\nBienash's campaign biography states that his father served as a county Director of Public Works and his mother taught at a school for the blind, which he credits with shaping his view that public service \"isn't a career choice, it's a responsibility.\" [3]\n\n## Career\nAccording to his campaign, Bienash's working career has spanned farm and crop-dusting work, power-line crews, law enforcement, and rentals and leasing, along with more than a decade as a professional helicopter pilot for large aviation operators. [3] For roughly the past five years he has served as the volunteer director of the McNairy County Archives and Records office. [3][5] He has also taken part in local storm-damage response, emergency management, damage assessments, road surveys, and tornado recovery and relief work during the 2023-2026 disaster seasons. [3]\n\n## Office history\nBienash serves as a 3rd District member of the 21-seat McNairy County Commission and, according to his campaign, has served on the county's Industrial Development Board. [3][4]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Kim Bienash announced run for McNairy County Mayor - WBBJ TV](https://www.wbbjtv.com/2026/02/19/kim-bienash-announced-run-for-mcnairy-county-mayor/) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [McNairy County mayoral candidate debate held ahead of early voting - WBBJ TV](https://www.wbbjtv.com/2026/07/17/mcnairy-county-mayoral-candidate-debate-held-ahead-early-voting/) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Kim Bienash for McNairy County Mayor (campaign site)](https://wemadeitinc.com/jason/clients/kimbienash@gmail.com/) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[4] [County Commissioners - McNairy County, Tennessee](https://www.mcnairycountytn.org/county-commissioners.html) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[5] [McNairy County Archives - Tennessee State Library & Archives directory](https://tnsos.net/TSLA/archives/index.php?archives=McNairy+County+Archives&option=archives) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[6] [Mayor's Office - McNairy County, Tennessee](https://www.mcnairycountytn.org/mayors-office.html) - accessed 2026-07-23","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Kim","fullname":"Kim Bienash","lastname":"Bienash","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":"Republican candidate for McNairy County mayor in 2026; McNairy County archives director and 3rd District county commissioner, former helicopter pilot and law-enforcement officer.","token":"VkrxSicunn"},{"bio_snippet":"","biography":null,"birthdate":null,"firstname":"Clint","fullname":"Clint Biggers","lastname":"Biggers","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"Z0faA5I6vp"},{"bio_snippet":"Republican Brian O\u2019Neal Biggs is the incumbent NC House member for District\u202f70, running for re\u2011election in 2026.","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nBrian O'Neal Biggs is a Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 70, a Randolph County district, and serves as House Deputy Majority Whip for the 2025-2026 session [1]. The General Assembly's member record lists his occupation as Realtor and records him as having served two terms in the House [1]. He filed on December 1, 2025 and appears on the November 3, 2026 general-election ballot; no primary was held for the seat in the March 3, 2026 primary, and his general-election opponent is Democrat William (Bill) McCaskill of Asheboro [2]. Biggs's address of record on the filing is in Trinity [2].\n\n## Career\n\nBiggs's campaign biography states that he was first elected to the North Carolina House in November 2022 and that before that he served on the Randolph County Board of Education from 2014 to 2022, four of those years as vice chair [3]. A profile published by the North Carolina Leadership Forum at Duke University describes him as \"a seasoned Realtor/Broker\" with \"a real estate career that spans 22 years\" and lists his leadership roles as \"President of the Realtors Commercial Alliance, the High Point Realtors Commercial Alliance, Vice-Chairman on the Randolph County Board of Education from 2014-2022, the Archdale-Trinity Tax Council, and currently the YMCA Board of Directors\" [4]. That profile dates his board service to the same 2014-2022 window but describes the vice-chairmanship as covering it, rather than four years within it.\n\n## Office history\n\nBiggs won District 70 in the November 2022 general election, defeating Democrat Susan Lee (Susie) Scott 22,160 votes to 5,887 [5]. He was re-elected in 2024 in a rematch against Scott, 33,617 to 10,520 [6].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nFor the 2025-2026 session Biggs is Chairman of the Appropriations, Education committee and of Education - K-12; Vice Chairman of Appropriations; and a member of Agriculture and Environment, Health, Transportation, the House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform, and the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee [7].\n\nFour bills on which he is a primary sponsor have been enacted this session: HB 87, the Educational Choice for Children Act (Session Law 2026-6); HB 920, the Virtual Currency Kiosk Consumer Protection Act (Session Law 2026-45); HB 959, Various Education Changes (Session Law 2025-38); and HB 975, EMS Personnel Provisions (Session Law 2025-42) [8].\n\nHB 87 became law over a veto. Gov. Josh Stein vetoed the bill on August 6, 2025; the House overrode the veto 73-46 on May 20, 2026 and the Senate followed 30-19 on June 3, 2026, enacting it as Session Law 2026-6 [9]. In a statement the same day, Stein said: \"I vetoed House Bill 87 because at the time we were awaiting sound guidance from the federal government before opting in. Despite not receiving that guidance yet, the General Assembly decided to opt the state into the program\" [10].\n\nBiggs is the first-listed primary sponsor of HB 31 \"Make Election Day A State Holiday,\" HB 60 \"Modernize Medicaid Dental Rates,\" HB 161 \"Restore Down-Zoning Auth./Randolph Co.,\" HB 186 \"The Stars and Stripes Commitment Act,\" HB 498 \"Military to Teacher Ret. Incentive,\" HB 773 \"School Performance Grade Changes,\" HB 774 \"School Breakfast for All,\" HB 775 \"Criminal History Checks for School Positions,\" HB 781 \"Unauthorized Public Camping & Sleeping,\" HB 782 \"Civic Club Registration Plate Clarification\" and HJR 1030 \"US Department of Edu.\" [8].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\n\nBiggs is the first-listed primary sponsor of House Bill 781, \"Unauthorized Public Camping & Sleeping,\" which the House passed 69-42 in May 2025 [11][12]. NC Newsline reported that critics contended the legislation \"will criminalize homelessness.\" Introducing the bill on the floor, Biggs pushed back: \"This bill does not criminalize homelessness. It addresses unauthorized public property camping and sleeping without prohibiting homelessness itself.\" He said the bill grew out of conversations with municipal leaders who asked for guidance on the state's growing homeless population, adding: \"Some people want to kick it down the road two years, five years, but how long are we going to wait until we deal with our homeless population in our own house\" [12]. Rep. Laura Budd, D-Mecklenburg, said the bill \"falls short in a lot of ways, but it took an act of courage to actually put it out there,\" while voting against it as an unfunded mandate; Rep. Jordan Lopez, D-Mecklenburg, said it \"basically requires local governments to push away or outright hide unhoused people\" [12]. The General Assembly's record shows HB 781's last action as referral to the Senate Rules committee on May 8, 2025 [11].\n\nSimilar provisions advanced in 2026 as House Bill 437, \"Drug-Free Zones/Unauthorized Public Camping,\" on which Biggs is one of four listed primary sponsors and which NC Newsline identified him as sponsoring [13][14]. NC Newsline described H437 as \"a controversial bill requiring local governments to regulate and police homeless camps and make homeless shelters drug-free zones\"; the House gave it final approval 73-40 and the Senate passed it 26-16 [14][15]. Arguing for the bill, Biggs said it \"seeks to increase public safety, sanitation, public health, protect public spaces and be compassionate with assistance to people that are experiencing homelessness\" [14]. Rep. Marcia Morey, D-Durham, responded that \"this bill doesn't give you one new housing unit for a homeless family. It doesn't give you any treatment for someone with addiction problems. It doesn't give you mental health counselors. It doesn't help anyone pay rent\" [14].\n\nGov. Stein vetoed H437 on July 8, 2026, calling it a \"poorly constructed bill\" that places a \"significant\" and \"unfunded\" burden on local governments and that \"fundamentally misunderstands\" recovery from drug addiction [15]. Biggs replied that Stein would have signed the legislation if he were \"serious\" about helping homeless people, saying \"The Governor's refusal to address homelessness only allows more people to sink deeper into addiction and mental illness while making our communities less safe\" [15]. A spokesperson for House Speaker Destin Hall said the House would move to override the veto, and House Democratic Leader Robert Reives said his caucus would vote to sustain it [15]. As of July 30, 2026 the veto stands and the General Assembly's bill record shows H437 placed on the House calendar for August 4, 2026 [13].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [Representative Brian Biggs - Biography](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/793) - North Carolina General Assembly, accessed 2026-07-30\n[2] [2026 Candidate Listing](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/Elections/2026/Candidate%20Filing/Candidate_Listing_2026.csv) - North Carolina State Board of Elections, accessed 2026-07-30\n[3] [Brian Biggs for NC House](https://www.brianbiggsnchouse.com/) - Committee to Elect Brian Biggs, accessed 2026-07-30\n[4] [Rep. Brian Biggs](https://sites.duke.edu/nclf/brian-biggs/) - North Carolina Leadership Forum, Duke University, accessed 2026-07-30\n[5] [Official precinct-level results, November 8, 2022 general election](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2022_11_08/results_pct_20221108.zip) - North Carolina State Board of Elections, accessed 2026-07-30\n[6] [Official precinct-level results, November 5, 2024 general election](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2024_11_05/results_pct_20241105.zip) - North Carolina State Board of Elections, accessed 2026-07-30\n[7] [Representative Brian Biggs - Committees](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Committees/H/793) - North Carolina General Assembly, accessed 2026-07-30\n[8] [Representative Brian Biggs's Introduced Bills](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/IntroducedBills/H/793) - North Carolina General Assembly, accessed 2026-07-30\n[9] [House Bill 87 / SL 2026-6 - Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA)](https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H87) - North Carolina General Assembly, accessed 2026-07-30\n[10] [Governor Stein Reacts to Override of House Bill 87 Veto](https://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2026/06/03/governor-stein-reacts-override-house-bill-87-veto) - Office of the Governor of North Carolina, accessed 2026-07-30\n[11] [House Bill 781 - Unauthorized Public Camping & Sleeping](https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H781) - North Carolina General Assembly, accessed 2026-07-30\n[12] [NC House approves camping ban bill despite concerns about costs, criminalizing homelessness](https://ncnewsline.com/2025/05/09/nc-house-approves-camping-ban-bill-despite-concerns-about-costs-criminalizing-homelessness/) - NC Newsline, accessed 2026-07-30\n[13] [House Bill 437 - Drug-Free Zones/Unauthorized Public Camping](https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H437) - North Carolina General Assembly, accessed 2026-07-30\n[14] [Ban on 'unauthorized camping' by homeless people in North Carolina is on its way to Gov. Stein](https://ncnewsline.com/2026/07/01/ban-on-unauthorized-camping-by-homeless-people-in-north-carolina-is-on-its-way-to-gov-stein/) - NC Newsline, accessed 2026-07-30\n[15] [Stein vetoes 'unauthorized camping' homeless ban in NC](https://ncnewsline.com/2026/07/08/stein-vetoes-unauthorized-camping-homeless-ban-in-nc/) - NC Newsline, accessed 2026-07-30","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Brian","fullname":"Brian O'Neal Biggs","lastname":"Biggs","middlename":"O'Neal","suffix":null,"summary":"Republican Brian O\u2019Neal Biggs is the incumbent NC House member for District\u202f70, running for re\u2011election in 2026.","token":"5933d6a313956208"},{"bio_snippet":"","biography":null,"birthdate":null,"firstname":"Fred","fullname":"Fred C. Biggs Sr","lastname":"Biggs","middlename":"C.","suffix":"Sr","summary":null,"token":"RwEB1HfxLa"},{"bio_snippet":"Jeremy Biggs is the incumbent Alderman for Position 6 in Arlington and won reelection.","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nJeremy Biggs serves as the Alderman for Arlington Position 6 [1]. He is a candidate in the 2026 election for this position [2]. His campaign maintains an official presence on Facebook to communicate with voters [2]. The specific date of the upcoming 2026 election has not yet occurred, so its outcome remains unknown.\n\n## Office history\n\nJeremy Biggs has served as an Alderman for Arlington Position 6 [2]. He is a candidate for this position in an upcoming election [2].\n\nBiggs has previously run for office but lost. In 2018, he ran for Arlington City Council Position 4 and was defeated by incumbent David Burch [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Five of six incumbents win reelection in Arlington - Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian](https://dailymemphian.com/article/30150/five-of-six-incumbents-win-re-election-in-arlington)\n[2] [Jeremy Biggs, Alderman Position 6 | Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/electjeremybiggs/)","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Jeremy","fullname":"Jeremy Biggs","lastname":"Biggs","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":"Jeremy Biggs is the incumbent Alderman for Position 6 in Arlington and won reelection.","token":"TpuZQVbq74"},{"bio_snippet":"Republican Justin Biggs seeks re-election as Knox County Trustee amid a Comptroller investigation into alleged misuse of county vehicles and travel funds.","biography":"Justin Biggs is a Republican candidate seeking re-election to the position of Knox County Trustee in Tennessee, with an election date set for May 5, 2026 [1]. He was first elected to the office in 2022 and draws an annual salary of $164,904 [7]. The Knox County Trustee is responsible for collecting property taxes, disbursing and accounting for county funds, and investing money to earn interest and profits for the county [7].\n\nFollowing his election, Biggs expanded his office's payroll by hiring several friends and granting them raises ranging from 30% to 71%, which increased the office's payroll costs by nearly $400,000 compared to the previous trustee's tenure [7]. In 2023, the county leased six new Ford Silverado 1500 pickup trucks for Biggs' office at a cost of $397,968, which was approximately $200,000 more than what taxpayers pay for vehicles used by other county offices [7].\n\nIn November, Knox County auditors began investigating spending by Biggs and his employees after receiving a tip, specifically examining travel expenses and the use of the leased trucks [5]. GPS data acquired by WBIR showed that Biggs drew a travel allowance while also using the county vehicles for personal business, including trips to Virginia, which constitutes \"double-dipping\" as officeholders can choose one option but not both [5]. The investigation also revealed that other employees used the vehicles for personal errands, such as checking on pets [5].\n\nIn response to the scrutiny, Biggs announced he was cooperating with authorities and fired an employee, Jason Dobbins, for a violation of policy [5]. He has reimbursed the county $3,500 for excess expenses, though it remains unclear if this covers all amounts owed [7]. The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury is conducting an ongoing review of Biggs' activities and those of other county officials, including Property Assessor Phil Ballard [5].\n\nAs a result of the investigation, Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen recused herself from any potential criminal case due to a conflict of interest involving her assistant's spouse, who works for the county but is not an employee of Biggs [5]. Blount County District Attorney General Ryan Desmond was appointed as pro tem to handle the matter [5]. Former Knoxville Mayor Victor Ashe has called on Biggs to resign, and most of the Republican establishment has kept distance from his campaign, with many preferring his primary opponent, Register of Deeds Nick McBride [7].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n- [5] [Knox Co. DA recuses herself from any potential criminal investigation into Trustee Justin Biggs, other county employees](https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/knox-co-da-recusing-herself-from-any-potential-criminal-investigation-into-trustee-justin-biggs/51-ee050997-2a7b-47a3-8683-edc2a66c08dc)\n- [7] [Knox County lessons about a trustworthy trustee \u2022 Tennessee Lookout](https://tennesseelookout.com/2025/06/03/knox-county-lessons-about-a-trustworthy-trustee/)","birthdate":"Tue, 14 Jun 1983 00:00:00 GMT","firstname":"Justin","fullname":"Justin Biggs","lastname":"Biggs","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":"Republican Justin Biggs seeks re-election as Knox County Trustee amid a Comptroller investigation into alleged misuse of county vehicles and travel funds.","token":"kwTyWLl4dV"}]