Melody Shekari, 28, a lawyer who just completed a policy analyst fellowship with Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke’s office, is scheduled to make her candidacy official at 9 a.m. Thursday.
View our 2018 Voter Guide
For the first time in a long time, Hamilton County’s legislative delegation races are competitive – in the primary and especially in November’s general election.
Among our county’s six delegation seats, a state Senate seat and five seats in the state House of Representatives are on the ballot.
On Aug. 2 (and beginning today in early voting), voters will choose among five Democratic candidates in House District 28 and two Republicans in House District 30. (The ballot will indicate there also is a contested primary in District 26, but that’s misleading because one Democratic primary candidate in that race dropped out.)
In November, all six seats will have both a Democrat and Republican option. In District 26, barring a court ruling that invalidates Republican Robin Smith’s late qualification after incumbent Gerald McCormick dropped out, the remaining Democrat, David Jones, will square off against Smith.
Also in November, District 27 incumbent Republican Patsy Hazlewood will face Democrat Brent Morris; District 29 incumbent Republican Mike Carter will face Democrat Tammy Magouirk; and District 11 incumbent Republican Sen. Bo Watson will face Democrat Randy Price.