Knox County Criminal Court Clerk Mike Hammond signals a 2026 run for mayor
Mike Hammond, Knox County's criminal court clerk, has signaled his intention to run for Knox County mayor in 2026, setting up a Republican primary with At-Large Commissioner Larsen Jay.
Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs is term limited and cannot run for reelection.
Election officials confirmed to Knox News that Hammond filed a treasurer appointment form April 16. He did not return a call from Knox News.
The move is just an indication Hammond will run. He still must return a nomination petition with signatures from supporters.
Hammond is no stranger to Knox County voters. He was elected to the Knox County Commission in 2004 and served until 2014. He has represented both the 5th District, which includes Farragut, and the county at-large.
He was elected clerk in 2014 and has served in that role ever since. Hammond's website touts his efforts to upgrade technology in the clerk's office.
Before becoming an elected official, he was a private sector manager in the radio broadcasting industry. That's similar to his potential opponent, who was a film and television producer for 15 years.
Hammond and Jay both served as chair during their time on commission.
Jay was elected in 2018 and then again in 2022. He told Knox News in a text he appreciates anyone willing to run for public office.
"I remain focused on serving all of Knox County as an at-large commissioner and will continue to develop a vision for our community's future," Jay said.
No Democrats have registered for the 2026 mayoral primary, but there's still plenty of time. The primary isn't until spring 2026 and the general election is in August 2026.
Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County court clerk Mike Hammond signals a 2026 run for mayor
