Powell, TN – Former three-term Knox County Republican Party Chairman Buddy Burkhardt has officially drawn an opponent in the race for the Seventh District seat on the Knox County Commission. The contest heated up after current Commissioner Rhonda Lee announced she will not seek a second term, choosing instead to run for General Sessions Judge Division IV.
Stepping into the void left by Lee is Barry Beeler, a candidate who notably shares the same campaign treasurer as Lee and several other local Republican contenders. The overlap has already sparked conversation in local political circles about continuity and party coordination in the Seventh District.
Burkhardt, a longtime resident of the Seventh District, brings substantial Republican credentials to the race. In addition to serving three terms as Knox County GOP Chairman, he currently serves as President of the Powell Republican Club and as former longtime officer of the Halls Republican Club. His deep roots in the district, which includes the Powell and Halls communities, position him as a familiar and active figure among grassroots conservatives.
The Seventh District seat, which encompasses much of North Knox County, has historically been a reliably Republican stronghold. With both candidates running as Republicans and no Democratic challengers announced at this stage, the May 2026 Republican primary is expected to decide the ultimate winner.
Commissioner Lee’s decision to vacate the seat for a judicial bid has created a rare open contest in a district that seldom sees competitive turnover. Voters in the Seventh District will now choose between Burkhardt’s established party leadership and Beeler’s emerging campaign, which appears to enjoy some of the same organizational support that helped propel Lee to victory in her initial run.
Filing deadlines for the 2026 county elections are still months away, but the early entry of both candidates signals an active and potentially spirited primary season ahead for Knox County Republicans in the Seventh District.
