{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Mark Evans","chatgptsummary":"Mark Evans's biography shows he is a Republican candidate for Tennessee State Executive Committeeman in District 18 who met filing requirements and secured signature approval by March 2026. The record contains no mention of disciplinary history or controversy. Bio does not indicate prior experience with intra-party governance, party rules, or coordination with county committees.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nMark Evans, of Hendersonville, is a Republican candidate for Tennessee State Executive Committeeman, District 18, which covers Sumner and Trousdale counties [1]. He filed the required signatures (2 of 2) by the March 10, 2026 qualifying deadline, and the Tennessee Secretary of State's office listed his signatures as approved in the March 24, 2026 candidate list [1]. The Republican primary is scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Candidates for Republican State Executive Committee as of March 24, 2026](https://sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com/s3fs-public/document/TNGOPSEC_Filed_2026-03-24.pdf) \u2014 District 18, p.6, accessed 2026-07-20","firstname":"Mark","lastname":"Evans","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"e9f85L1JlO"},"token":"mark_evans"},{"candidatename":"Craig Garton","chatgptsummary":"Craig Garton's biography shows relevant experience as Secretary of the Republican Party of Sumner County since April 2025, demonstrating familiarity with party governance and officer elections. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate prior State Executive Committee service or direct knowledge of state ballot-access requirements.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nCraig Garton currently serves as Secretary of the Republican Party of Sumner County, a position he was elected to in April 2025 [4]. He is also a candidate for the Tennessee State Executive Committee, running in the Republican primary for District 18 during the 2026 election cycle [1].\n\nGarton previously announced a bid for Alderman of Ward 5 in Hendersonville, Tennessee, stating that his ambition was to serve the community rather than govern over it [2]. He has self-described himself as a Navy veteran who has been part of the Hendersonville community for many years and seeks to make it a better place [3].\n\n## Background and education\n\nCraig Garton served in the United States Navy [3]. He resides in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and has been a long-time member of that community [3]. Garton self-describes as having come home to heal after his military service and expresses a desire to give back by serving the community through local government [2].\n\nGarton attended school in Sumner County, Tennessee. He was elected Secretary of the Republican Party of Sumner County on April 1, 2025 [4].\n\n## Career\n\nCraig Garton served in the United States Navy [3]. He has worked to improve his community and self-describes as having served honorably in the military before returning home [2][3]. Garton is a candidate for Republican State Executive Committee, 18th Representative District Primary, appearing on the official candidate lists released by the Tennessee Secretary of State following the March 10, 2026 qualifying deadline [1].\n\nPrior to his current political activities, Garton served as Secretary of the Republican Party of Sumner County after being elected to the position in April [4]. He also previously sought election as Alderman for Ward 5 in Hendersonville, Tennessee, stating that he had been part of the community for many years and worked tirelessly to make it a better place [3].\n\n## Office history\n\nCraig Garton served as Secretary of the Republican Party of Sumner County, elected to the position on April 1 [4]. The party holds executive committee officer elections every odd-numbered year in accordance with Tennessee Republican Party bylaws [4].\n\nGarton announced a bid for the office of Alderman for Ward 5 in Hendersonville, Tennessee [2]. In this campaign, he self-describes as a Navy veteran seeking to serve the community through local government [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n[2] [Garton announces election bid | News | hendersonvillestandard.com](https://www.hendersonvillestandard.com/news/garton-announces-election-bid/article_1fa1bb3e-0f44-11eb-b6bf-534af02090f2.html)\n[3] [Craig Garton For Alderman Ward 5 - Hendersonville, TN - Nextdoor](https://nextdoor.com/pages/craig-garton-for-alderman-ward-5-hendersonville-tn/)\n[4] [Sumner Republican Party elects new officers - Main Street Media of Tennessee](https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/hendersonvillestandard/sumner-republican-party-elects-new-officers/)","firstname":"Craig","lastname":"Garton","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"whUItqKfpT"},"token":"craig_garton"},{"candidatename":"Tyler Templeton","chatgptsummary":"Tyler Templeton's biography shows extensive experience in Tennessee law, juvenile court systems, and mediation for domestic violence cases, demonstrating familiarity with state legal frameworks and community coordination relevant to intra-party governance. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience with party rules, conventions, or ballot-access requirements.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nTyler Templeton is a licensed attorney in Tennessee and serves as a mediator for the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts [1]. He practices law at The Templeton Law Firm in Gallatin, Tennessee, where he specializes in family law, criminal defense, and personal injury cases [3][5]. Templeton was admitted to the Tennessee bar in 2017 after graduating from the Nashville School of Law in 2016 [3]. He has been recognized as a \"Rising Star\" by Super Lawyers for the years 2023 through 2025 [3].\n\nTempleton is running for judge in the 2026 election. His campaign website, templetonforjudge.com, outlines his platform and background [2]. He states that a severe ATV accident in June 2018, which required five weeks of hospitalization and multiple surgeries, influenced his professional mission to assist individuals affected by addiction [2]. Templeton has extensive experience with the juvenile court system and, along with his husband, serves as a foster parent to a teenager-in-need he previously represented [6].\n\n## Background and education\n\nTyler Templeton is an attorney and mediator based in Gallatin, Tennessee [1]. He graduated from the Nashville School of Law in 2016 and was licensed to practice law in Tennessee in 2017 [3]. He practices family law, criminal defense, and personal injury at The Templeton Law Firm, which he operates with his husband, Cynthia Templeton [4][5].\n\nTempleton has extensive experience working within the juvenile court system, a background that led him and his husband to become foster parents to a teenager-in-need whom Tyler had represented in court [6]. In June 2018, he was hospitalized for five weeks following an ATV accident that resulted in facial damage and numerous surgeries; this event influenced his mission to assist individuals affected by the drug epidemic through recovery programs [2].\n\n## Career\n\nTyler Templeton graduated from the Nashville School of Law in 2016 and became licensed to practice law in Tennessee in 2017 [3]. He is an attorney at The Templeton Law Firm, a family-owned practice located in Gallatin, Tennessee, which he operates alongside his husband, Cynthia Templeton [4][5]. The firm provides legal services in family law, criminal defense, personal injury, and social security disability claims [3][5].\n\nTempleton has extensive experience working within the juvenile court system, a background that led him and his husband to become foster parents to a teenager-in-need he represented [6]. He also serves as a mediator for domestic violence cases in Gallatin County [1]. In June 2018, Templeton was hospitalized for five weeks following an ATV accident that required numerous surgeries and resulted in facial damage; this experience influenced his mission to assist individuals affected by addiction issues [2].\n\nTempleton has been selected as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers from 2023 through 2025 [3].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nTyler Templeton is an attorney who practices family law, criminal defense, and personal injury [3]. He is licensed to practice law in Tennessee since 2017 after graduating from Nashville School of Law in 2016 [3]. Templeton operates The Templeton Law Firm in Gallatin, Tennessee, alongside his husband, Cynthia Templeton [4]. The firm describes itself as a family business that assists clients across the state [4].\n\nTempleton\u2019s legal practice includes representing clients in Social Security disability and income cases on a contingency basis, where fees are contingent upon recovery [4]. He also maintains an extensive background working within the juvenile court system [6]. This experience influenced his personal life, leading him and his husband to become foster parents to a teenager-in-need whom Templeton had represented in court [6].\n\nTempleton is listed as a mediator with the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts, specializing in domestic violence cases [1]. He has been selected as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers for the years 2023 through 2025 [3]. In June 2018, Templeton was hospitalized for five weeks following an ATV accident that resulted in facial damage and numerous surgeries [2]. He states that this event shifted his professional focus toward assisting individuals affected by the drug epidemic [2].\n\n## Family\n\nTyler Templeton practices law alongside his husband, Cynthia Templeton, as part of The Templeton Law Firm in Gallatin, Tennessee [4]. The couple describes their practice as a family firm dedicated to assisting clients during difficult times [4].\n\nTempleton and his husband became foster parents to a teenager-in-need after Templeton represented the youth in the juvenile court system [6]. They provided stability and care to help the young man complete his education and transition into adulthood [6].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Tyler Templeton | Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts](https://tncourts.gov/programs/mediation/find-mediator/tyler-templeton)\n[2] [Templeton for Judge](https://templetonforjudge.com/)\n[3] [Top Rated Gallatin, TN Family Law Attorney | Tyler Templeton | Super Lawyers](https://profiles.superlawyers.com/tennessee/gallatin/lawyer/tyler-templeton/32e2d115-8da3-4f58-b1b5-3ded0527f087.html)\n[4] [Templeton Law Firm | Criminal Defense | SSD Claims | Gallatin, TN](https://thetempletonfirm.com/)\n[5] [The Templeton Law Firm in Gallatin, Tennessee](https://profiles.superlawyers.com/tennessee/gallatin/lawfirm/the-templeton-law-firm/ccd43b0f-f676-427a-a790-d50c39720aed.html)\n[6] [Juvenile Criminal Defense - The Templeton Law Firm](https://thetempletonfirm.com/juvenile-criminal-defense/)","firstname":"Tyler","lastname":"Templeton","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"y2W2LttT80"},"token":"tyler_templeton"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"party_exec_committee","o.office":null,"office":"tn_exec_committeeman_18","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 Committeeman District 18"}