{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Richie Mercado","chatgptsummary":"Mercado's biography shows he is a Wilson County business owner and candidate for District 17 Democratic Executive Committeeman, indicating familiarity with local party structures. The record contains no evidence of disciplinary actions or controversies. Bio does not indicate experience in intra-party governance rules or coordination with the state chair.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nRichie Mercado is a candidate for Wilson County District 17 Democratic Executive Committeeman [1]. He also states that he is running for Wilson County District 1 County Commission in Tennessee [2]. His campaign website describes his vision as one that works for all residents and neighbors, aiming to carry forward the success of recruiting and training candidates locally to the state level [1]. Mercado asserts that he possesses the energy to move the party in a new direction, ultimately seeking to flip the state blue [1]. He further states that he will use his years of service and leadership to bring accountable and sustainable progress for neighbors, building a stronger, more connected community [2].\n\n## Background and education\n\nRichie Mercado is a resident of Wilson County, Tennessee [2]. He states that he is running for District 17 Democratic Executive Committeeman and previously ran for District 1 County Commission in Wilson County [1][2].\n\nThe provided sources do not contain information regarding Richie Mercado's birthplace, year of birth, upbringing, religion, schools attended, or degrees earned.\n\nNO_CONTENT\n\n## Career\n\nRichie Mercado is a business owner and operator [2]. He states that he has years of service and leadership experience which he intends to apply to his role as a District 1 County Commission candidate in Wilson County, Tennessee [2].\n\n## Office history\n\nRichie Mercado is currently a candidate for District 17 Democratic State Executive Committeeman [1]. He has also announced his candidacy for District 1 County Commission in Wilson County, Tennessee [2].\n\nThe provided sources do not contain information regarding any previously held elected or appointed offices, nor do they specify the outcomes of past races run by Mercado.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Donate to Richie for Dist 17 Dem Executive Committeeman](https://secure.actblue.com/donate/richie4dems)\n[2] [Richie 4 TN](https://www.richie4tn.com/)","firstname":"Richie","lastname":"Mercado","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"eeBDqQHubx"},"token":"richie_mercado"},{"candidatename":"Brad Lytle","chatgptsummary":"Brad Lytle's biography shows relevant experience as chairman of the Wilson County Republican Party, where he organized candidate forums and managed security concerns regarding vandalized campaign signs. He also serves as a founding attorney specializing in intellectual property law. Bio does not indicate prior experience with state-level party governance or knowledge of ballot-access requirements.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nBrad Lytle serves as the chairman of the Wilson County Republican Party [2]. In 2026, he is a candidate for the Tennessee Executive Committee, District 17, in the Republican primary [1]. Lytle moved to Tennessee from upstate New York and has been active in local party affairs, including organizing candidate forums through the Wilson County GOP website [2].\n\nDuring his tenure as party chairman, Lytle addressed incidents involving vandalism of campaign signs supporting former President Donald Trump in Wilson County. He stated that he felt \"violated\" by the defacement, which included graffiti labeling the former president a \"felon\" and \"racist,\" and noted that officials chose to leave the signs displayed to send a message to the vandals [3]. Lytle also offered a $1,500 reward for information leading to the identification of those responsible for the theft and damage [4].\n\n## Background and education\n\nBrad Lytle is a political figure who moved to Tennessee from upstate New York [2]. He serves as the chairman of the Wilson County Republican Party [2]. Specific details regarding his birthplace, year of birth, upbringing, religion, schools attended, or degrees earned are not provided in the available sources.\n\n## Career\n\nBrad Lytle is a founding attorney at Xsensus, where he specializes in intellectual property law [5]. His professional work includes assisting companies in developing patent portfolios, preparing and prosecuting patents, and providing strategic counseling on corporate IP workflows and licensing [5]. He also offers legal opinions and advises upper-level management on IP strategy and enforcement [5].\n\nLytle moved to Tennessee from upstate New York, citing his background as a \"political refugee\" during an interview with The Tennessee Star Report in March 2022 [2].\n\n## Office history\n\nBrad Lytle served as chairman of the Wilson County Republican Party [2]. In this role, he organized party events, including a candidate forum hosted by the party [2]. He also addressed security concerns regarding campaign materials, noting that multiple Donald Trump signs in the county were vandalized and stolen, with defaced messages such as \"Felon\" and \"racist\" spray-painted on them [3][4].\n\nLytle is a candidate for Tennessee Executive Committee Member, District 17, in the Republican primary election scheduled for 2026 [1].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\n\nIn March 2022, Brad Lytle discussed his relocation from upstate New York to Tennessee and his role as chairman of the Wilson County Republican Party during an in-studio appearance on The Tennessee Star Report with host Michael Patrick Leahy [2].\n\nFollowing the defacement and theft of multiple Donald Trump campaign signs in Wilson County, Lytle stated that party officials felt \"violated\" and viewed the act as a violation of their First Amendment rights [3]. He noted that the signs were spray-painted with words such as \"Felon\" and \"racist,\" and the party chose to leave the damaged signs on display to send a message to the vandal while offering a $1,500 reward for information leading to an arrest [4].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n[2] [Wilson County Republican Party Chairman Brad Lytle on Why He Moved to Tennessee - Tennessee Star](https://tennesseestar.com/the-tennessee-star/wilson-county-republican-party-chairman-brad-lytle-on-why-he-moved-to-tennessee/jcarr/2022/03/31/)\n[3] [Multiple Trump signs vandalized, stolen in Wilson County, TN](https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/we-feel-violated-multiple-trump-signs-vandalized-stolen-in-wilson-county/)\n[4] [\u2018We feel violated\u2019: Multiple Trump signs vandalized, stolen in Wilson County](https://www.yahoo.com/news/feel-violated-multiple-trump-signs-231040374.html)\n[5] [Bradley Lytle - Xsensus IP Law](https://www.xsensus.com/people/lytle/)","firstname":"Brad","lastname":"Lytle","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"dgyyGBDMMx"},"token":"brad_lytle"},{"candidatename":"Derek Truelove","chatgptsummary":"Truelove's biography shows over 25 years of business experience and local community involvement through church and chamber initiatives, which may support intra-party governance and coordination with county committees. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate specific experience with party rules, ballot-access requirements, or state election law interactions.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nDerek Truelove is a candidate for the Tennessee Executive Committee, District 17 Republican Primary in 2026 [1]. He has been listed among the candidates for this local office on the Williamson County election commission's candidate list for the May/August 2026 cycle [2].\n\nTruelove is a resident of Lebanon, Tennessee, where he has lived for more than 20 years [3]. He is married to Kristen and they have five children [3]. Professionally, Truelove possesses over 25 years of business experience, ranging from Fortune 100 companies to start-ups [3]. He serves as a member of Joy Church and is involved with Living Sent Ministries, which he describes as combining his passion for the Lord, business, and serving others [3]. Additionally, he has served in a business capacity at the Mount Juliet Chamber through an initiative called Business by the Book [3].\n\n## Background and education\n\nDerek Truelove has been a resident of Lebanon, Tennessee, for more than 20 years [3]. He is a member of Joy Church, where he has served for over a decade [3].\n\nSpecific details regarding his birthplace, year of birth, or formal educational background are not provided in the available sources.\n\n## Career\n\nDerek Truelove has over 25 years of business experience, ranging from work with Fortune 100 companies to startups [3]. He is the founder of Living Sent Ministries, an organization he describes as combining his passions for faith, business, and service [3]. Additionally, Truelove is involved with \"Business by the Book\" at the Mount Juliet Chamber of Commerce [3].\n\nTruelove has been a resident of Lebanon, Tennessee, for more than 20 years [3]. He is married to Kristen and they have five children [3].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nDerek Truelove states that he has over 25 years of business experience, ranging from Fortune 100 companies to startups [3]. He is associated with Living Sent Ministries, an organization he describes as combining his passions for the Lord, business, and serving others [3].\n\nTruelove self-describes as being involved in \"Business by the Book\" at the Mount Juliet Chamber of Commerce [3]. Specific details regarding his ownership stakes, sales of businesses, or significant financial-disclosure facts are not provided in the available sources.\n\n## Family\n\nDerek Truelove is married to Kristen and they have five children [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n[2] [Candidate Information | Williamson County, TN - Official Site](https://www.williamsoncounty-tn.gov/1743/Candidate-Information)\n[3] [Derek Truelove \u2013 Living Sent Ministries](https://livingsentministries.org/2021/05/18/derek-truelove/)","firstname":"Derek","lastname":"Truelove","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"kJn5qVp5PH"},"token":"derek_truelove"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"party_exec_committee","o.office":null,"office":"tn_exec_committeeman_17","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 17"}