File this under: I can’t be in two places at once, and I rarely think to tap a correspondent to cover the South for me. So, here’s the scoop on what’s brewing in Knox County, Tennessee.

The race for Knox County Mayor in 2026 is already heating up. Larsen Jay, currently the Knox County Commissioner at Large for Seat 10, is throwing his hat in the ring for the Republican primary on May 5, 2026. He’s up against Knox County School Board Chair Betsy Henderson. Both Jay and the current mayor, known for his wrestling persona, are term-limited in their current roles, paving the way for this high-stakes GOP showdown.

Yesterday evening, Jay hosted a lively campaign event at Lakeshore Park, complete with food, a car show, and a good ol’ Southern good time. The big draw? My pal, Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, who brought some star power to the gathering. I snagged a few photos from Speaker Sexton’s social media (with his permission, of course) to give you a glimpse of the action.

Stay tuned as this race unfolds—Knox County’s got some big decisions ahead