{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Emily Goldberg","chatgptsummary":"Emily Goldberg's biography shows relevant experience for the State Executive Committee role through her service as vice chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party and membership on local party committees like the Lincoln Day dinner planning committee. She also holds prior municipal office on the Chattanooga City Council and served on the HUD Board, demonstrating familiarity with governance structures. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience with state-level ballot-access requirements or formal training in Tennessee election law.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nEmily Goldberg is a Republican candidate for State Executive Committeewoman in District 10 [1]. She has qualified for the ballot following the March 10, 2026, deadline established by the Tennessee Secretary of State [1]. Goldberg self-describes as a business owner and states that she is running to ensure Tennessee remains conservative for future generations [2][3].\n\nGoldberg currently serves as the vice chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party [5]. Her recent political experience includes serving on the Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Board, an appointment made by a Chattanooga City Council representative who noted her diligence and leadership in that role [4]. Additionally, she has served on various local Republican committees, including the Lincoln Day dinner planning committee, which serves as the primary fundraiser for the Hamilton County GOP [5].\n\n## Background and education\n\nEmily Goldberg self-describes as a resident of Hamilton County who has called Tennessee home for nearly a decade and a half [2]. She operates a business alongside her husband [2].\n\nSpecific details regarding her birth year, upbringing, religion, or formal educational background are not provided in the available sources.\n\n## Career\n\nEmily Goldberg operates a business alongside her husband [2]. She holds professional licenses, though specific details regarding the nature of these licenses are not provided in available sources [2].\n\nGoldberg has served as a member of the Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Board, where she took on leadership positions and was noted for being thoughtful and diligent in her decisions [4]. Her appointment to this board was made by a City Council representative who cited Goldberg's passion for people and willingness to stand up for what she believes is right [4].\n\n## Office history\n\nEmily Goldberg served as a member of the Chattanooga City Council [4]. In addition to her municipal service, she was appointed to the Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Board by a City Council representative, where she took on leadership positions and served with diligence [4]. She also held the role of vice chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party and served on various local party committees, including the Lincoln Day dinner planning committee [5].\n\nGoldberg is currently serving as a State Executive Committeewoman for District 10 in the Tennessee Republican Party [1]. She has previously run for the State Republican Executive Committee, with campaign materials from July 2022 highlighting her residency in Hamilton County and her financial support for Republican candidates [5].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nEmily Goldberg self-describes as a business owner who operates alongside her husband [2]. She states that her experience in business has provided her with firsthand insight into the impacts of high taxes and burdensome regulations on enterprises [2].\n\nGoldberg has provided generous financial support to numerous Republican candidates for various offices [5]. Additionally, she serves as the vice chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party and has held various roles within the local party, including service on the Lincoln Day dinner planning committee [5].\n\n## Family\n\nEmily Goldberg self-describes as a business owner who works alongside her husband [2]. She states that she and her family have called Tennessee home for nearly fifteen years [2]. No further details regarding her spouse's name, children, or other family members are provided in the available sources.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n[2] [Why I\u2019m Running | Elect Emily Goldberg](http://electemilygoldberg.com/why-im-running/)\n[3] [Donate | Elect Emily Goldberg](http://electemilygoldberg.com/donate/)\n[4] [Emily Goldberg. . . Without A Doubt - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2022/7/21/452789/Emily-Goldberg.-.-.-Without-A-Doubt.aspx)\n[5] [Emily Goldberg For State Republican Executive Committee - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2022/7/20/452747/Emily-Goldberg-For-State-Republican.aspx)","firstname":"Emily","lastname":"Goldberg","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"398yjn8IW0"},"token":"emily_goldberg"},{"candidatename":"Heather McClendon","chatgptsummary":"McClendon's biography shows relevant intra-party governance experience as a current Tennessee Democratic Party State Executive Committeewoman for District 10 and prior service in the same role during the 10th District Primary. The record documents no controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience with state election law administration or coordination with county-level party committees.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nHeather McClendon is a member of the Tennessee Democratic Party who serves as State Executive Committeewoman for District 10 [1]. She is running in the 2026 election for the Tennessee House of Representatives District 30 seat, which covers East Ridge and parts of East Brainerd, Apison, and Collegedale [7]. McClendon previously challenged incumbent Republican Esther Helton-Haynes for this same district seat in the 2024 general election, where she received 40% of the vote to Helton-Haynes's 60% [2][7].\n\nMcClendon launched her 2026 campaign as a school psychologist and cancer survivor, emphasizing her background as a dedicated mother and single parent to three children [4][5]. Her platform focuses on substantial reforms for District 30 and Tennessee, with core priorities including enhancing public education, improving healthcare accessibility, and addressing policies she argues have stripped away rights for women and safety for children [4][5]. She has secured endorsements from the Hamilton County Democratic Party, the Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women, Communications Workers of America Local 3865 Tennessee, and other organizations [1].\n\n## Background and education\n\nHeather McClendon grew up in Ringgold, Georgia, and graduated from Ringgold High School [3]. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Georgia before moving to Chattanooga to complete an education specialist degree in school psychology at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga [3].\n\n## Career\n\nHeather McClendon holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in psychology from the University of Georgia and an education specialist degree in school psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga [3]. She has worked as a school psychologist since 2001 [9]. A resident of Chattanooga, she is a single mother to three children [5].\n\nMcClendon identifies as a cancer survivor [4]. Her professional background and personal experiences have informed her decision to enter public service, with self-reported motivations including a desire to make representatives more accessible to voters who feel disconnected from their government [10].\n\n## Office history\n\nHeather McClendon served as a State Executive Committeewoman for the 10th District Primary [1]. In her professional life, she worked as a school psychologist [4][5].\n\nMcClendon ran for election to the Tennessee House of Representatives in District 30 during the 2024 cycle. She officially launched her campaign in June 2024 [4] and formally accepted the Democratic nomination on August 1, 2024 [5]. The district covers East Ridge and parts of East Brainerd, Apison, and Collegedale [7]. In the general election held on November 5, 2024, she was defeated by Republican incumbent Esther Helton-Haynes, receiving 40% of the vote to Helton-Haynes's 60% [2][7].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nHeather McClendon has not held elected legislative office and therefore has no legislative record, sponsored bills, or committee assignments to cite. Her professional background is rooted in education and psychology; she holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Georgia and an education specialist degree in school psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga [3].\n\nIn her 2024 campaign for Tennessee House District 30, McClendon focused on policy positions rather than legislative achievements. She self-describes as a school psychologist, cancer survivor, and single mother to three children [5]. Her platform emphasized enhancing public education, improving healthcare accessibility, and addressing issues impacting Tennesseans [4]. Specifically, she stated her commitment to rewriting rules to ensure every school and educator in Tennessee has the resources needed to prepare students for success [8].\n\nMcClendon\u2019s policy positions included standing against policies pushed by the supermajority in the Tennessee General Assembly that she argued stripped away rights for women, safety for children, and healthcare for vulnerable populations [5]. She pledged to expand funding for neighborhood public schools to inspire imagination and set children up for success regardless of their background or location [8].\n\nDuring her 2024 run, McClendon received endorsements from several organizations, including the Tennessee Democratic Party, Gun Sense Voter, Hamilton County (TN) Democratic Party, Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood, Tennessee Families for Vaccines, Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women, United Campus Workers, and Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 3865 [1].\n\n## Family\n\nMcClendon self-describes as a single mother to three children [5]. She notes that her family members voted for her during the 2024 general election [6]. There is no available information in the provided sources regarding her spouse or other family members holding public office.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Endorsements for Heather McClendon - Tennessee Democratic Party Candidate](https://bluevoterguide.org/TN/candidate_Heather_McClendon/548325)\n[2] [Helton-Haynes defeats McClendon in East Hamilton County race | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/nov/05/helton-haynes-holds-sizable-lead-over-mcclendon/)\n[3] [Democrat Heather McClendon challenging state Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes for her statehouse seat | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/oct/11/democrat-heather-mcclendon-challenging-state-rep/)\n[4] [Heather McClendon Launches Campaign For House District 30 Seat - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2024/6/22/488807/Heather-McClendon-Launches-Campaign.aspx)\n[5] [Heather McClendon Hosts General Election Kickoff Event Aug. 22 - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2024/8/22/491266/Heather-McClendon-Hosts-General.aspx)\n[6] [Heather McClendon - Tennessee House District 30](https://www.facebook.com/heathermcclendon2024/posts/122151841526287806/)\n[7] [TN House Dist. 30 race - Esther Helton-Haynes defeats Democrat Heather McClendon](https://www.local3news.com/local-news/tn-house-dist-30-race---esther-helton-haynes-defeats-democrat-heather-mcclendon/article_95d3fcb0-9af3-11ef-a3fd-db4a9747e279.html)\n[8] [Heather McClendon | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/heather-mcclendon-7e58f5f4-385b-45ae-92e8-3dfa078eb636)\n[9] [Heather McClendon's Biography](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/216550/heather-mcclendon)\n[10] [Heather McClendon Seeking District 30 House Seat - East Ridge News Online](http://www.eastridgenewsonline.com/heather-mcclendon-seeking-district-30-house-seat/)","firstname":"Heather","lastname":"McClendon","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"dha78bD63h"},"token":"heather_mcclendon"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"party_exec_committee","o.office":null,"office":"tn_exec_committeewoman_10","officedescription":"The State Executive Committee is the elected governing body of a Tennessee political party (Democratic or Republican). It is a party-organization office, not a government office \u2014 its members set party rules and organization, and are chosen by voters in that party's primary.","officequalities":"- Intra-party governance: the State Executive Committee is the elected governing body of a Tennessee political party, not a public office that legislates or administers government.\n- Working knowledge of party rules, conventions, ballot-access requirements, and how the party interacts with state election law.\n- Coordination with the party chair and county-level party committees.\n- This is a partisan party-organization role; voters in the party's primary choose the committee members. The qualities here describe party-organization fit, not government competency.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"State Executive Committee","partisan":1,"pgr":"primary","quantity":null,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"TN State Executive Committeewoman District 10"}