Tuesday’s county primary elections yielded consequential results in multiple Middle Tennessee communities. Both Rutherford and Williamson counties will have new top executives.
The primaries often determine the outcome of the general election. For example, in Rutherford County no Democratic candidate qualified for the primary, but the three-way contest on the Republican ticket was close. Nonprofit leader Randy Allen edged out incumbent mayor Joe Carr by fewer than 400 votes. Challenger Craig Harris also made a strong showing.
Rutherford County Mayor Republican primary results
- Randy Allen — 36.16% with 6,844 votes
- Joe Carr — 34.13% with 6,459 votes
- Craig Harris — 29.50% with 5,584 votes
Likewise, no Democratic candidates qualified to run for mayor in Williamson County’s primary. Andy Marshall won the Republican primary there, beating Mary Smith by about 2,000 ballots, according to unofficial tallies. Marshall will be the first new mayor the county has had in more than two decades, after longtime incumbent Rogers Anderson decided not to seek reelection.
Williamson County Mayor Republican primary results
- Andy Marshall — 54.33% with 12,864 votes
- Mary Smith — 45.55% with 10,787 votes
Meanwhile in Wilson County, incumbent County Mayor Randall Hutto ran unopposed in the Republican primary. But he will have a challenger in the general election. Christina Puza-Smith was the sole Democratic candidate for the mayor’s race. The two will face off in August. Hutto has a clear advantage, as Wilson County has been solidly Republican: nearly two-thirds of voters there chose Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
All results are unofficial until they are confirmed by the election commission. Percentages may not added up to 100% due to write-ins.
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