{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"CARSON STEM","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"CARSON","lastname":"STEM","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"yBx18zFI3c"},"token":"carson_stem"},{"candidatename":"JOSHUA JAMES","chatgptsummary":"Joshua James's biography shows current service on the Rutherford County Commission, demonstrating direct experience with county budgeting, legislative processes, and constituent relations under Tennessee law. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate prior experience in state-level policy judgment or intergovernmental negotiations beyond local duties.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJoshua James, of Murfreesboro, is a Republican candidate in the August 6, 2026 primary for Tennessee's 4th Congressional District, challenging incumbent Scott DesJarlais [1]. James currently serves on the Rutherford County Commission [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Tennessee's redrawn congressional districts: A full guide to every candidate running in 2026 - NewsChannel 5](https://www.newschannel5.com/news/tennessees-redrawn-congressional-districts-a-full-guide-to-every-candidate-running-in-2026)\n[2] [JAMES, JOSHUA - Candidate Overview - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H4TN04288/)","firstname":"Joshua","lastname":"James","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"ZuRZhe3XaG"},"token":"joshua_james"},{"candidatename":"JAKE MALMSTROM","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"JAKE","lastname":"MALMSTROM","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"q0EZLy86SJ"},"token":"jake_malmstrom"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_8","officedescription":"A county commissioner is a member of the county's legislative body. The commission approves the county budget, sets the property-tax rate, authorizes borrowing, and passes county resolutions and ordinances. Commissioners are elected from districts (or at-large seats) to represent constituents on countywide policy.","officequalities":"- Policy judgment on countywide matters \u2014 budget, taxes, land use, services, and intergovernmental issues \u2014 within Tennessee county-government law.\n- Budget literacy: the commission approves the county budget, sets the property-tax rate, and authorizes multi-year bond issues.\n- Legislative process: drafting, amending, and voting on resolutions and ordinances; committee work that pre-screens items.\n- Constituent relations in the district \u2014 case-work and community issues flow through the commissioner's office.\n- Willingness to complete the state-required annual continuing education through UT CTAS.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"County Commissioner","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-07-19","title":"rutherford County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://rutherfordcountytn.gov/uploads/dm/79850/Sample_Ballot_Rutherford_County_General_Aug_2026.pdf"},"title":"County Commission District 08"}