A resource guide for aspiring public servants and community leaders: how Metro is put together, what every elected office actually does, when each seat opens, how to file, and how to be useful before your name is on a ballot.
Citizen ActivateOfficial update, 202612 sections
Getting started
The Davidson County power map
Three sheets that answer one question each: who runs the county party, how power is divided inside Metro Government, and how the Council and its 35 districts are built. Read them here, or take the PDF to a meeting. Each sheet prints on one Letter page.
Citizen Activate · Davidson County · 2026 election cycle
Page 1 of 3
Davidson County power & organization map —
1 · Davidson County Republican Party · organizational structure
Who runs the county party?
Authority flows from the members. The County Executive Committee governs, the Chairman carries out its decisions, and the regions, committees and precinct volunteers do the work.
Direct authority / oversight
Reports to / accountable to
Coordinates / works with
Republican voters
Party members · the source of the party's authority
County Executive Committee (CEC)
The governing body of the DCRP. Sets policy, approves the budget, elects officers.
CEC officers
First Vice Chair
Second Vice Chair
Treasurer
Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Accountable to the CEC · works with the Chairman
County Chairman
Chief executive of the DCRP. Manages and administers CEC business and party operations.
Elected by and answers to the CEC
Auxiliary organizations
Young Republicans
Republican Women
Clubs and other allied groups
Coordinates with the Chairman
7 regions · Regional Vice Chairs
1North
2North Central
3East
4Southeast
5South Central
6South
7West
Directed by the Chairman
Standing and appointed committees
Candidate Recruitment
Fundraising
Communications
Election Integrity
Events
Volunteer Development
Others as needed
Directed by the Chairman
Precinct chairs and volunteers
Grassroots activists in every precinct.
Voter contact and outreach
Voter registration
Election Day operations
Poll watching
Issue education
Activist recruitment
Organized by the regions and committees
Who does what?
CECThe final decision-making body for the party. Approves rules, endorses candidates, sets policy and budget.
OfficersSupport the Chairman and manage key functions: finance, records, meetings, committees, regions.
Regions and committeesExecute programs, build the base, recruit volunteers, raise funds and support candidates.
Key point
The members own the party.
No single person does. The CEC is the governing body, and the Chairman is the chief executive who carries out the will of the CEC.
Citizen Activate · Davidson County · 2026 election cycle
Page 2 of 3
Davidson County power & organization map —
2 · Metro Government power map
Who holds the power in Metro?
One consolidated government. Four separately elected sets of officials, and none of them answers to another.
The people / voters
Ultimate electoral authority
Executive power
Mayor
Chief executive
Supervises all Metro departments
Enforces laws and ordinances
Proposes the budget
Veto power
Mayor's office and executive departments
Finance, Law, Police, Fire, General Services, Public Works, Water Services, Codes, IT and more.
Employees report to department heads, who report to the Mayor.
Legislative power
Metro Council
40 members
Makes laws (ordinances)
Approves budget and spending
Zoning and land-use authority
Legislative oversight
Council committees
Review legislation, hold hearings and make recommendations to the full Council.
Full Council
40 members
Votes on legislation and the budget.
Judicial power
Courts
Judges interpret the law and resolve disputes.
General Sessions Court
Criminal Court
Chancery Court
Circuit Court
Judges are elected countywide and serve eight-year terms.
Independently elected
Countywide officials
Sheriff
District Attorney
Public Defender
Assessor of Property
Trustee
County Clerk
Register of Deeds
Court clerks (Criminal, Circuit, Juvenile)
Operate independently within their statutory authority. They do not report to the Mayor.
How power works together
Council passes legislationClears committee, then a majority vote.
Mayor signs or vetoesApproves it, or sends it back.
Council can overrideA two-thirds vote overrides a veto.
Departments implement itThe executive branch carries it out.
Courts interpret the lawJudges resolve disputes over what it means.
Key point
There is no single “boss.”
Metro Nashville runs on a separation of powers. The branches are equal in their own spheres, and checks and balances keep each one honest.
Citizen Activate · Davidson County · 2026 election cycle
Page 3 of 3
Davidson County power & organization map —
3 · Metro Council structure and district map
How the Council is built
Forty members, one vote each: 35 elected by district, 5 countywide. The Vice Mayor presides and breaks ties.
Vice Mayor
Presides over Council meetings: sets the agenda, maintains order and breaks tie votes.
Elected countywide
40 Council members
35 district seats + 5 at-large seats.
Each member has one vote
No member “reports to” another
A majority of 21 votes passes legislation
Council committees
Standing committees focus on specific issues: Budget & Finance, Planning, Public Safety, Public Works and more. The gatekeepers for legislation.
Full Council
All 40 members vote on legislation, the budget, zoning changes, tax measures and other ordinances.
The 35 Council districts
★ Downtown Nashville (District 19)Numbers mark district seats
Schematic for illustration only; district shapes and positions are approximate. Official map and district lookup: maps.nashville.gov (Metro Council Districts).
5
At-large seatsElected by all voters countywide. Represent the entire county. Every voter has five of these.
35
District seatsEach represents one geographic district within Davidson County. Every voter has one of these.
Council in action · how an idea becomes law
1
Idea or issue identifiedBy a member, a constituent or the administration.
2
Referred to committeeFor study and public hearings.
3
Committee voteDo pass, amend or defeat.
4
Full Council voteAll 40 members; 21 votes to pass.
5
Mayor signs or vetoesA two-thirds vote can override a veto.
6
Becomes lawOr the veto is sustained.
Key point
Every seat is filled by a vote.
Four-year terms, all 40 elected at once in the Metro general election. Somebody has to run for each one.
Getting started
How Metro is organized
Davidson County operates under the consolidated Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, commonly called Metro Government. City and county functions are largely unified. Satellite municipalities inside Davidson County retain certain separate governmental functions and may have their own municipal ballots.
The three branches of Metro Government
Legislative branch: Metro Council
The Metropolitan Council is Metro’s legislative body. It adopts ordinances and resolutions, considers zoning and land-use matters, adopts the annual operating and capital budgets, establishes tax levies as authorized by law, confirms certain appointments, and conducts legislative oversight.
The Council has 40 members: 35 district members and five at-large members. The Vice Mayor presides over Council meetings and votes only to break ties. The Vice Mayor is a legislative presiding officer, not a co-executive with the Mayor and not a member of the Council.
Executive branch: Mayor
The Mayor is Metro’s chief executive. Subject to the Metro Charter and applicable law, the Mayor proposes budgets, administers executive departments, appoints department leadership as authorized, implements legislation, and may veto Council legislation.
No single office operates without legal checks. The Mayor’s authority is constrained by the Metro Charter, ordinances, the Council’s legislative and budget authority, state law, judicial review, and independently elected offices.
Judicial branch: Metro Courts
Davidson County voters elect judges or chancellors to designated courts and divisions, including General Sessions Court, Circuit Court, Criminal Court, and Chancery Court. These are distinct courts. Candidates should identify the exact court, division, and seat rather than using the general label “judge.”
Independently elected countywide officials
These officials are elected directly by voters, rather than appointed by the Mayor or Metro Council. Their powers and duties are established by the Tennessee Constitution, Tennessee law, the Metro Charter, and applicable special legislation.
County and Metro elected offices
Sheriff. Operates the jail and performs other duties assigned by law. Separate from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.
Assessor of Property. Appraises property for taxation.
Register of Deeds. Records and maintains real-property documents and other official records.
County Clerk. Maintains designated county records and administers licenses, registrations, and other statutory functions.
Trustee. Collects property taxes and performs county treasury functions.
Criminal Court Clerk. Maintains records and administers clerk functions for the criminal courts.
Circuit Court Clerk. Maintains records and administers clerk functions for the courts within the office’s jurisdiction.
Judicial-district elected offices
District Attorney General. Represents the State of Tennessee in criminal prosecutions.
Public Defender. Provides legal representation to qualifying defendants who cannot afford counsel.
Metro departments, boards, commissions, and authorities
Metro Government carries out many of its responsibilities through departments, boards, commissions, and authorities. These bodies do not all have the same relationship to the Mayor or Metro Council. Executive departments generally operate under the Mayor’s administration, while boards, commissions, and authorities may have separate powers and governing structures established by the Metro Charter, state law, or local law. The Metro Council exercises legislative and budget authority, but does not directly govern every Metro entity.
Examples of Metro departments include the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, the Nashville Fire Department, the Metro Public Health Department, the Planning Department, Parks and Recreation, and the Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT).
Examples of boards, commissions, and authorities include the Metropolitan Planning Commission, the Board of Zoning Appeals, the Beer Permit Board, the Metropolitan Board of Health, the Hospital Authority, and the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority.
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) is governed by the separately elected Metropolitan Board of Public Education and is not an executive department reporting directly to the Mayor.
Key point. Not every Metro department, board, commission, or authority reports directly to the Mayor. Their powers, appointment methods, funding structures, and reporting relationships vary according to law.
Satellite municipalities within Davidson County
Davidson County contains several smaller incorporated cities, known as satellite municipalities, that retained their own municipal governments when Nashville and Davidson County consolidated in 1963. These municipalities operate within Davidson County and Metro Government while retaining certain local governmental powers and elected offices.
Belle Meade
Berry Hill
Forest Hills
Goodlettsville (partially within Davidson County)
Oak Hill
Offices voted on by Davidson County residents
Depending on residence, district boundaries, the election year, and vacancies, a Davidson County voter may vote for some combination of the following. This is not a representation that every office appears on every 2026 ballot.
Mayor
Vice Mayor
District Metropolitan Council member
At-large Metropolitan Council members
Board of Education member
Sheriff
Assessor of Property
Trustee
Register of Deeds
County Clerk
Criminal Court Clerk
Circuit Court Clerk
Juvenile Court Clerk
District Attorney General
Public Defender
General Sessions judge
Circuit Court judge
Criminal Court judge
Chancellor
2026 ballot snapshot
The following is taken from the official 2026 Davidson County Election Calendar published by the Davidson County Election Commission. Vacancies, litigation, and later calendar revisions can change what appears on a ballot. Always use the current PDF.
May 5, 2026: county primary
Contests listed on the official calendar include Circuit Court Clerk; Circuit Court Judge (Division III, unexpired term); County Clerk; County Trustee; Criminal Court Clerk; Criminal Court Judge (Division III, unexpired term); Democratic Executive Committee (Council Districts 1 to 35); General Sessions Judge (Division VI, unexpired term); Juvenile Court Clerk; Public Defender; Register of Deeds; School Board Representative (Districts 2, 4, 6, 8); and Sheriff.
Planning dates on the official calendar for that cycle included the first day to pick up a petition (December 22, 2025), a qualifying deadline of noon on February 19, 2026, and a withdrawal deadline of noon on February 26, 2026. Confirm any later revision before acting.
August 6, 2026: state and federal primary, and county general
The county general on this date includes nominees from the May primary and independent candidates, plus state and federal primary contests: Governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, state Senate and House districts as listed, and State Executive Committee. Oak Hill municipal commissioner races are also listed.
November 3, 2026: state and federal general
Nominees from the August primary and independent candidates, plus listed municipal commissioner races in Belle Meade, Forest Hills, and Goodlettsville.
Not on the ordinary 2026 county cycle
Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Metro Council. Next ordinary cycle listed in prior materials as 2027.
Assessor of Property. Ordinarily follows the gubernatorial-year cycle (2024, 2028, 2032), not the 2026 county-office cycle.
Most judicial seats on the regular eight-year cycle. Next ordinary full-term cycle 2030, except the vacancy and unexpired-term seats listed above.
Profiles describe typical duties and practical demands. They are not job descriptions with the force of law. Confirm eligibility, residency period, licensure, and compensation for the exact seat before qualifying.
The Metro Council is the legislative body of Nashville and Davidson County’s consolidated city-county government. It passes ordinances, resolutions, zoning changes, the annual budget, and tax levies, and confirms mayoral appointments. It is the most common and accessible entry point for candidates into local politics: 40 members in all, 35 district seats elected in single-member geographic districts and 5 at-large seats elected countywide.
Mayoral offices
Mayor: countywide executive
Chief executive. Proposes budgets, administers executive departments, appoints officials as authorized, implements legislation, and may exercise veto authority.
Constituency
Metro-wide.
Term
4 years. Ordinary cycle 2027, 2031, 2035.
Eligibility (Charter)
Age 30 at the beginning of the term; resident of the metropolitan area for at least 3 years preceding election; must continue to reside there during the term.
Time
Full-time, high visibility. Often well beyond a standard workweek.
Best fit
Executive leadership, fundraising capacity, coalition building, public communication, crisis management.
Vice Mayor: legislative presiding officer
Presides over Metropolitan Council meetings, breaks tie votes, and performs duties assigned by the Metro Charter and Council rules. Not a co-executive and not a Council member.
Constituency
Metro-wide.
Term
4 years. Ordinary cycle 2027, 2031, 2035.
Eligibility (Charter)
The same age and residency framework as the Mayor: age 30 at the beginning of the term, and 3 years of metropolitan residency preceding election.
Time
Part-time office with significant meeting, procedural, and public responsibilities.
Votes on legislation, budgets, zoning, and appointments, and handles neighborhood-level constituent service: streets, traffic, parks, sidewalks, land use.
Constituency
One of 35 single-member districts. Prior materials estimated roughly 15,000 to 17,000 residents per district; confirm current maps.
Term
4 years. Ordinary cycle 2027, 2031, 2035. Check term-limit rules.
Eligibility (Charter)
Age 25 at the beginning of the term; resident of the metropolitan area for 1 year and of the district for 6 months preceding the start of the term; must continue to reside in the district; may not hold other Metro elective or appointive office, or Metro employment, except as the Charter allows.
Time
Officially part-time. Realistic load often 15 to 25 hours a week, including nights and weekends.
Best fit
Community-connected, responsive, policy-oriented.
At-large Council member
The same core legislative functions as district members, with a countywide constituency and more citywide strategic work: budget, housing, public safety, economic development, transit.
Constituency
Entire Davidson County. Five seats.
Term
4 years. Ordinary cycle 2027, 2031, 2035.
Eligibility (Charter)
Age 25 at the beginning of the term; 1 year of metropolitan residency; must continue to reside in the metropolitan area. Incompatible-office rules apply.
Time
Part-time, typically a heavier campaign and constituent load than a district race.
Best fit
Countywide campaign capacity, policy focus.
Judicial offices
Judges and chancellors
General Sessions Judge, Circuit Court Judge, Criminal Court Judge, and Chancellor. Each exercises the jurisdiction assigned to its specific court and division.
2026 vacancy seats
The official calendar lists unexpired-term races for Circuit Court Judge Division III, Criminal Court Judge Division III, and General Sessions Judge Division VI.
Term
General Sessions and state trial-court judges and chancellors serve 8 years, with a regular August election every eight years (2022, 2030, 2038), subject to vacancy elections.
Warning
Attorney licensure, professional-experience, age, and residency requirements may apply. Judicial candidates must observe applicable judicial-campaign conduct rules.
Prosecutes criminal cases on behalf of the State within the 20th Judicial District.
Term
8 years. Ordinary cycle 2022, 2030, 2038, unless a vacancy intervenes.
Warning
Attorney licensure, residency, and other legal qualifications apply.
Time
Full-time, very high intensity.
Best fit
Trial lawyer, leadership, public-safety focus.
Public Defender
Leads the office providing legal representation to qualifying people who cannot afford counsel, serving Davidson County and the 20th Judicial District.
2026
On the official May 5, 2026 county primary and August county general cycle.
Warning
Do not assume the general district public defender statute controls every issue in Davidson County. Confirm legal title, term, qualifications, and compensation under the Davidson County authority.
Time
Full-time. Caseload pressure is intense.
Best fit
Mission-driven attorney, high stamina, team manager.
Public safety
Sheriff
Administers responsibilities assigned by law, including the county jail and court security. Distinct from the Chief of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.
2026
On the official May 5, 2026 county primary and August county general cycle.
Term
4 years. Planning cycle 2026, 2030, 2034.
Warning
Tennessee law imposes office-specific eligibility and certification requirements. Obtain written confirmation of eligibility before qualifying.
Values taxable property in accordance with Tennessee law. The Assessor does not independently set the property-tax rate.
Term
4 years. Ordinarily follows the gubernatorial-year cycle (2024, 2028, 2032), not the 2026 county-office cycle.
Time
Full-time.
Best fit
Data-driven, with a real-estate or appraisal background. Politically sensitive, because valuations affect tax bills.
Trustee
Collects and accounts for designated public revenues, including property-tax receipts, as required by law.
2026
On the official 2026 county cycle.
Term
4 years. Planning cycle 2026, 2030, 2034.
Time
Full-time.
Best fit
Finance-oriented systems manager.
Education
Board of Education: Metro Nashville Public Schools
Governs school policy, hires and evaluates the Director of Schools, adopts school-system policies, and approves a proposed education budget. Metro Government retains important funding authority. Nine elected districts.
2026 seats
Even-numbered districts 2, 4, 6, and 8 are listed on the official 2026 calendar.
Term
4 years. Even districts 2026, 2030, 2034. Odd districts 2024, 2028, 2032.
Eligibility (Charter and T.C.A.)
Qualified voter of Davidson County; age 25 at the beginning of the term; resident of Davidson County for 5 continuous years and of the school district for 1 year preceding the start of the term; must continue to reside in the school district; may not hold other elective or appointive public office as a candidate or during the term.
Time
Part-time: meetings, preparation, community engagement, and oversight.
Best fit
Education-focused, collaborative, patient with bureaucracy.
Records and administrative offices
Register of Deeds
Records and maintains deeds and other instruments affecting real property, together with other records assigned by law. Low political visibility, high institutional continuity.
2026
On the official 2026 county cycle.
Term
4 years. Planning cycle 2026, 2030, 2034.
Time
Full-time.
Best fit
Administrative leader, detail-focused.
County Clerk
Licensing, registration, recordkeeping, and other statutory functions covering vehicles, business, marriage, and related public-facing work. One of the most constituent-facing offices.
2026
On the official 2026 county cycle.
Term
4 years. Planning cycle 2026, 2030, 2034.
Time
Full-time.
Best fit
Customer-service oriented administrator.
Criminal Court, Circuit Court and Juvenile Court Clerks
Maintain court records, process filings, collect authorized fees, and perform administrative functions for the courts they serve. The courts, not the clerks, decide cases.
2026
All three clerkships are listed on the official 2026 county calendar. The Juvenile Court Clerk was missing from the earlier edition of this guide and is restored here.
Term
4 years for the county clerkships on this cycle. Confirm the exact clerkship and calendar.
Time
Full-time.
Best fit
Court operations and detail management, with a legal-administration background.
Find your Metro Council or School Board district with Metro’s district lookup (opens in a new tab). Register of Deeds, County Clerk and the court clerks are known as “General Officers” under Tennessee law.
Getting started
Time and salary by office
Time commitment by office
Office
Commitment
Realistic weekly hours
Mayor
Full-time
50–70+ hrs
Vice Mayor
Part-time (high visibility)
20–30 hrs
Council (District)
Part-time
15–25 hrs
Council (At-Large)
Part-time
20–30 hrs
Judge
Full-time
40–60 hrs
School Board
Part-time
15–25 hrs
Assessor of Property
Full-time
40–55 hrs
Trustee
Full-time
40–55 hrs
Register of Deeds
Full-time
40–50 hrs
County Clerk
Full-time
40–55 hrs
Sheriff
Full-time (high intensity)
50–70+ hrs
District Attorney General
Full-time (very high intensity)
50–70+ hrs
Public Defender
Full-time (very high intensity)
50–70+ hrs
Criminal Court Clerk
Full-time
40–50 hrs
Circuit Court Clerk
Full-time
40–50 hrs
Candidates should interview current and former officeholders before making personal, professional, or financial commitments.
Compensation by office
Published reference figures. Confirm each one before relying on it.
Office
Reference figure
Source and status
Mayor
FY2025 Metro pay-plan exhibit listed $209,898
Metro general pay plan exhibit (RS2025 era). Confirm the current ordinance and payroll.
Vice Mayor
FY2025 Metro pay-plan exhibit listed $27,977
Older public reporting also cited $25,230 after the 2019 adjustment.
Council member
FY2025 Metro pay-plan exhibit listed $25,615
The Charter still recites $300 a month; Charter § 18.05 allows change through the general pay plan. The 2019 adjustment raised pay from $15,000 to $23,100.
Public Defender
FY2025 Metro pay-plan exhibit listed $202,130
Davidson County has its own structure. Do not assume the general public defender statute controls payroll.
District Attorney General
Statutory base $205,328 as of June 30, 2024, plus annual state-employee adjustments
T.C.A. § 8-7-105. Not a current paycheck printout.
General officers (Assessor, Trustee, Register, County Clerk, specified court clerks)
Equal salaries among general officers, subject to exceptions and local action. CTAS FY2027 statutory minimum for the 920,000-plus population class: $183,295, effective July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027
T.C.A. § 8-24-102. Metro may pay above the statutory minimum. The Assessor may receive additional pay under § 67-1-508.
Sheriff
Must generally be at least 10% higher than the general-officer salary. CTAS FY2027 statutory minimum for the 920,000-plus class: $201,625
T.C.A. § 8-24-102. Confirm Metro payroll.
State trial-court judge, Chancellor, General Sessions judge
State-set or mixed state and local compensation. Confirm the current schedule.
Board of Education member
Locally established compensation or stipend. Confirm the current MNPS or Metro resolution.
Under T.C.A. § 8-24-102, assessors, county clerks, specified court clerks, trustees, and registers are generally “general officers” and are paid the same salary, except for stated incentive or assessor supplements. The county legislative body may set pay above the statutory minimum. The general district public defender statute established a base of $205,328 as of June 30, 2024, followed by annual adjustments; that figure is a statutory benchmark, not automatically the Davidson County payroll amount.
Pay for Metro’s elected officials is set in Metro’s annual pay plan on the Civil Service Commission’s recommendation. Under Charter § 18.05 a change takes effect at the start of the officer’s next term. The Sheriff’s salary was reset by Council resolution RS2026-2150, effective 1 September 2026, to no less than 10% below the Chief of Police’s pay. Confirm current figures with Metro Human Resources before publishing.
Getting started
Terms and election cycles
Office
Term
Election cycle
Mayor
4 years
2027, 2031, 2035
Vice Mayor
4 years
2027, 2031, 2035
Metro Council Members
4 years
2027, 2031, 2035
General Sessions Judges
8 years
2030, 2038
District Attorney General
8 years
2030, 2038
Public Defender
4 years
2026, 2030, 2034
Sheriff
4 years
2026, 2030, 2034
Assessor of Property
4 years
2024, 2028, 2032 ²
Trustee
4 years
2026, 2030, 2034
School Board, even districts
4 years
2026, 2030, 2034
School Board, odd districts
4 years
2024, 2028, 2032
Register of Deeds
4 years
2026, 2030, 2034
County Clerk
4 years
2026, 2030, 2034
Criminal Court Clerk
4 years
2026, 2030, 2034
Circuit Court Clerk
4 years
2026, 2030, 2034
¹ The regular judicial cycle; vacancies can create intervening unexpired-term elections. ² The Assessor follows the gubernatorial-election cycle rather than the 2026 county-office cycle.
Running
Filing and candidate links
1. Davidson County Election Commission (DCEC)
Your primary local filing and candidate hub. This is where you physically and administratively start your campaign.
Getting candidate packets and petitions
Filing for local offices (county, school board, etc.)
4. Tennessee Secretary of State, Elections Division
State-level candidate authority. Required for state law requirements, nominating petitions for some offices, political party recognition rules, and official candidate guides. Some offices require filings at both the county and state level.
Understand where to file (county, state or party), petition signature requirements, and filing logistics. County and state legislative candidates must file with county election commissions and sometimes additional offices.
The Davidson County Republican Party (often branded as the Nashville GOP) is organized similarly to most Tennessee county Republican parties, with authority flowing from the Tennessee Republican Party’s county-party rules and local bylaws.
Organizational overview
1. County Executive Committee (CEC)
The governing body of the Davidson County Republican Party. The CEC sets party policy and strategy, oversees candidate recruitment and support, conducts party business between membership meetings, organizes fundraising and voter-contact efforts, manages county party finances, and coordinates with the Tennessee Republican Party.
2. Officers
Day-to-day operations are handled by elected officers: Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer and Vice Treasurer, Secretary / Recording Secretary, Regional Vice Chairs, and other officers authorized by the bylaws.
3. Regional Vice Chairs
Davidson County is divided into geographic regions for organizing purposes. Regional Vice Chairs recruit volunteers, coordinate precinct-level activity, assist with voter turnout, help develop future candidates, and serve as liaisons between neighborhoods and party leadership.
4. Precinct organization
At the grassroots level are precinct leaders and volunteers. Their responsibilities include door knocking, voter registration, election-day turnout operations, poll watching, and recruiting local activists.
5. State Executive Committee members
Davidson County elects members to the Tennessee Republican Party State Executive Committee (SEC). These members represent Davidson County’s legislative districts at the state level, vote on state party rules and bylaws, participate in state party leadership decisions, and serve as a bridge between local and state party organizations.
6. Committees and auxiliary organizations
Active committees include Candidate Recruitment, Fundraising, Communications, Election Integrity, Events, and Volunteer Development. The Davidson County GOP also works alongside allied organizations: Nashville Young Republicans, Tennessee Young Republicans, Republican women’s clubs, and Republican elected officials’ organizations.
Getting involved
Super Volunteer resource guide
Recommended volunteer starter pack
Join the GOP Nashville email list
Attend a Davidson County Republican Party meeting
Sign up as a volunteer through GOP Nashville
Participate in a voter-contact activity (door knocking or phone banking)
Join Nashville Republican Women or Tennessee Young Republicans (if applicable)
Volunteer for Election Day operations
Become active in your precinct
Pursue a Precinct Captain or party leadership role
Key organizations and links
GOP Nashville (Davidson County Republican Party)
The official county Republican Party organization for Davidson County. Your first stop for getting involved locally: county party meetings, volunteer activities, candidate support, voter registration, grassroots outreach, and party communications.
Davidson County’s local Young Republican chapter, focused on developing young conservative leaders in the Nashville area, with representation on the county Executive Committee.
The official state Republican Party organization: statewide campaign opportunities, volunteer training, party conventions, candidate resources, and connections across Tennessee.
Leadership development and grassroots activism for the next generation of Republican leaders; often one of the fastest paths into party leadership and campaign management.
Davidson County’s premier Republican women’s organization, founded in 1949, the oldest federated Republican women’s club in Tennessee. Monthly meetings, volunteer opportunities, candidate forums, community engagement, and leadership development.
One of the largest Republican grassroots networks in Tennessee: political education, volunteer training, candidate support, leadership development, and statewide networking.
Essential for every serious political volunteer: poll worker applications, election calendars, precinct information, candidate filing info, voter registration resources, and Election Day procedures.
For political campaigns, voter outreach methods differ in persuasion power, turnout power, cost, scalability, and ability to collect data. The most effective campaigns use multiple channels because each serves a different purpose.
Relative effectiveness ranking, local races
Method
Persuasion
Turnout
Data
Cost
Overall
Door knocking
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
$$
Highest
Relational organizing
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
$
Highest
Live phone banking
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
$$
Very high
Candidate events
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
$$
High
Text messaging (P2P)
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
$
High
Direct mail
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
$$$
High
Social media (organic)
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
$
Moderate
Social media advertising
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
$$
Moderate
Email
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
$
Moderate
Petitions
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
$
Specialized
Robo calls
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
$
Low
Yard signs
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
$$
Low
Newspaper ads
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
$$$
Low
Outreach method descriptions
1. Door knocking (canvassing)
Volunteers or candidates go door-to-door speaking directly with voters. Personal conversations remain the most effective voter contact method ever studied. Research consistently finds that face-to-face contact increases turnout more than nearly any other outreach method.
Best for: Local races, low-information elections, building name recognition, identifying supporters
Drawbacks: Labor intensive, requires volunteer management, difficult in rural districts
2. Relational organizing
Supporters contact friends, family, coworkers, church members, and neighbors. People trust people they know more than campaigns. Examples: a church member invites the congregation to vote; a parent contacts other parents from school; a business owner contacts customers.
Best for: School board, municipal, county, and legislative races
Drawbacks: Hard to scale, hard to measure
3. Live phone banking
Volunteers or paid callers contact voters. Allows campaigns to reach thousands of voters quickly.
Best for: Larger districts, follow-up to mail, early voting reminders
Drawbacks: Declining answer rates, caller ID screening
4. Text messaging
Campaigns send text messages individually or through mass texting platforms. Open rates are significantly higher than email.
Best for: GOTV, volunteer recruitment, last-minute reminders
Drawbacks: Limited persuasion value, can annoy voters if overused
5. Direct mail
Physical mail pieces sent to voters. People actually see it. Types include introduction mail (“Who am I?”), contrast mail (“Why I’m different”), endorsement mail (“Who supports me”), and GOTV mail (“Vote on Tuesday”).
Best for: Older voters, high-propensity voters, Republican primaries, non-digital audiences
Drawbacks: Expensive, no direct feedback
6. Petitions
Collect signatures around an issue. People who sign petitions are raising their hand and identifying themselves, giving the campaign their name, address, contact info, and issue preference.
Best for: Issue-based campaigns and grassroots movements
Drawbacks: Petitions themselves rarely persuade many voters
7. Email
Communicates with supporters at very low cost. Cheap and scalable.
Best for: Existing supporters
Drawbacks: Low open rates, weak persuasion effect
8. Social media
Organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube) builds familiarity, narrative control, and event promotion. Paid social media offers extremely precise audience targeting.
Best for: Organic: building familiarity. Paid: younger voters, issue advocacy, candidate introduction
Drawbacks: Organic reach is limited; paid can become expensive if poorly targeted
9. Candidate events
Town halls, meet-and-greets, house parties, church visits, and civic club meetings. Used for relationship building, volunteer recruitment, fundraising, and persuasion.
Best for: Local races
Drawbacks: Limited scale
10. Earned media
Free coverage via local TV interviews, radio appearances, newspaper stories, and podcasts. Third-party validation is powerful.
Drawbacks: You do not control the message completely
11. Digital advertising
Display ads, streaming TV ads, YouTube ads, and search ads. Used for name recognition, persuasion, and reinforcement.
Best for: Medium-sized and large districts
Drawbacks: Rarely effective alone
12. Yard signs
Show visible support. Used for name recognition and social proof. Research shows minimal direct persuasion effect.
Best for: Small local races
13. Robo calls
Automated recorded calls. Used for election reminders and endorsement announcements. Most voters ignore them.
Best for: Very large voter universes
Recommended outreach mix by campaign size
School Board / Small City Council
Method
Allocation
Door knocking
50%
Relational organizing
20%
Text messaging
10%
Events
10%
Social media
10%
County Commission / Sheriff
Method
Allocation
Door knocking
35%
Phone banking
20%
Direct mail
15%
Text messaging
10%
Social media
10%
Events
10%
State House / State Senate
Method
Allocation
Door knocking
25%
Direct mail
20%
Phone banking
15%
Text messaging
15%
Digital ads
15%
Social media
10%
Core campaign sequence
The most successful local campaigns generally follow this sequence:
Identify voters: petitions, events, social media, canvassing
Turn them out: door knocks, texts, calls, rides to polls
Policy
Metro policy points
As you begin to get more heavily involved in affecting our local political landscape, you will be immersed in policy. While many turn their eyes and minds to state and national policy, some of the policy that affects us most is local policy. Here is a quick introduction to the 2026 landscape of policy issues and the key local political players that influence whether that policy gets put into practice.
Note: the following points are the observations of Citizen Activate contributors and do not reflect the opinions or views of the Davidson County Republican Party.
Nashville Metro Government snapshot: the biggest political battles brewing
Despite the Growth Coalition’s dominance of certain policy points, several major conflicts are emerging. These battles will shape Nashville politics over the next decade.
Metro Government vs. Tennessee state government
A major structural conflict between the state’s priorities and the county’s agenda. The Republican-controlled state legislature has repeatedly intervened in Nashville’s governance. The broader conflict includes disputes over tax authority, stadium financing, transportation funding, and public school budgets.
Development vs. affordable housing
This is becoming the central political divide in Nashville. Rapid growth has dramatically increased housing prices. Advocacy groups such as Stand Up Nashville and various neighborhood associations argue that development incentives have benefited investors while leaving working residents behind. Major debates have focused on density metrics, “inclusive” zoning, major corporate land grabs, workforce housing needs, and tax incentives for developers.
Transportation infrastructure
Traffic congestion is one of the city’s biggest challenges. The Mayor’s initiatives aim to expand transit, sidewalks, and bus systems. Questions revolve around how to fund transit, sales tax increases, bus versus rail priorities, and suburban commuter access.
East Bank redevelopment
The massive redevelopment around the Cumberland River near the Titans stadium is one of the largest urban planning projects in Tennessee history. Political fights involving land use, public subsidies, infrastructure costs, and affordable housing needs erupt in the halls of local government frequently.
Growth vs. neighborhood preservation
Rapid redevelopment in historic neighborhoods has triggered much conflict. Neighborhood groups are increasingly organized and politically active. Key flash-points include rezoning battles, demolition of historic properties, short-term rental regulations, and historic preservation regulations.
The core political divide in the Metro Council (two axes)
Nashville’s Council politics is dominated by land use. Housing density debates have become the central political dividing line, while zoning and planning decisions divide the Council most sharply. Axis A is the housing vs. development battle, with a majority supporting an urbanist, pro-growth outlook and the opposition siding with a neighborhood-protection, slow-growth framework. Axis B is the governance and fiscal divide: progressive spending dominates while fiscal conservatives and big-government skeptics take a back seat, often becoming agenda skeptics rather than agenda setters.
Key Metro Council voting coalitions
The urbanist / pro-growth coalition
Roughly 12–16 reliable votes depending on the issue, felt mainly in planning and transit measures. These members generally support major rezoning, like the Nations plan, aimed at increasing density and walkability, and usually form the majority base for land-use legislation. Key issues: zoning reform (duplexes, triplexes, NEST planning), transit expansion, East Bank redevelopment, urban density around job centers, and residential housing density. Zoning reform proposals to allow duplexes and more housing types are led by council members such as Quin Evans Segall and Rollin Horton.
The neighborhood protection / slow-growth coalition
Roughly 8–12 votes depending on zoning cases, with veto power on zoning issues: this group can block rezoning attempts, especially when district council members control local land-use decisions, and usually forms the core opposition on development bills. Key issues: opposition to density in single-family neighborhoods, development impact concerns, historic preservation and neighborhood planning, zoning limits, and overdevelopment. Rezoning efforts such as the Nations development plan sparked strong neighborhood backlash. Council members Jeff Eslick and Joy Kimbrough spoke against housing-density legislation in council debate.
The progressive governance coalition
Roughly 8–12 reliable votes, with heavy influence on budget and social policy. This coalition overlaps heavily with the urbanists but emphasizes an equity framing rather than a growth framing. Key issues: affordable housing programs, social services funding, public transit, and labor protections.
The fiscal conservative / government skeptic bloc
Roughly 6–8 reliable votes, focused on budget and spending. Not a hard ideological bloc, but often aligned on budget oversight: budget discipline, infrastructure spending, transparency, and skepticism toward large projects. Council member Courtney Johnston has consistently pushed transparency measures around city utilities and contracts.
The leadership coalition
These members wield procedural and committee power rather than ideological cohesion, and often determine what legislation advances regardless of ideology. Key institutional members: Kyonzte Toombs (budget and finance), Delishia Porterfield (senior leadership), Quin Evans Segall (infrastructure and development), Clay Capp (charter and planning), Rollin Horton (zoning authority).
The swing bloc
Even though the Council has 40 members, the effective decision-making group in close votes is usually 15–20 members. Most legislation passes with comfortable margins because the body leans left. High-stakes votes have included budget amendments, major rezoning, policing funding, tax changes, stadium financing, and transit policy. A small swing coalition of about 10 members often determines the outcomes: members who sit between the progressive bloc (about 22 members) and the small conservative minority (3–4 members), vote case by case, negotiate amendments, and often determine whether a vote ends 23–17 (passes) or 19–21 (fails). They tend to evaluate legislation on neighborhood impact, fiscal cost, developer involvement, and pressure from the Mayor’s office.
Where the swing coalition matters most
Rezoning and development: major housing or mixed-use rezonings frequently pass 22–18 or 23–17. Key swing voters: Rollin Horton, Mike Cortese, Clay Capp.
Budget amendments: the Mayor submits the budget, but the Council tweaks it. The central negotiator is Kyonzte Toombs, chair of the Budget and Finance Committee.
Policing and public safety: votes on police funding or policy reforms split the Council. Key moderator: Jordan Huffman.
Transit spending: transit expansion is popular but expensive. Swing vote: Thom Druffel.
If you have more questions about the policy points above or want to try developing a few policy points of your own for your own candidacy, contact Spencer Anastasio at spencer.anastasio@gopnashville.org.
Policy
Saving Nashville’s music
One of the most essential communities in Davidson County is our musician community. Nashville is Music City. Nashville’s music culture is what inspires individuals from around the world to visit, men and women from across the country to move to pursue their dreams, and residents to enjoy an incredible artistic and musical culture distinctly its own. When we think of policy, it is important to think of how we can protect Nashville’s historical musical heritage. These policy points, incorporated by request of the Music Venue Alliance Nashville, are ideas for emerging candidates to consider adopting in their platform as they run their race.
Note: these are the policy points of the Music Venue Alliance Nashville and do not reflect the opinions or views of the Davidson County Republican Party.
Saving Nashville’s music and music history
Preserve Music City
Create a Cultural Land Trust to preserve historic music venues, rehearsal spaces, recording studios, and creative properties threatened by redevelopment.
Ensure East Bank development includes below-market-rate opportunities for locally owned independent music venues, creative businesses, and cultural organizations.
Support the creative workforce
Financially support the Tennessee Live Music Fund to protect and grow Nashville’s network of independent venues, recognizing their role as the farm system for artists, songwriters, and the broader music economy.
Invest 1% of the Metro budget in community via music, arts, and entertainment.
Address musician and venue parking concerns through Metro’s street parking and transportation programs.
Expand affordable workforce housing solutions that serve musicians, artists, venue workers, and creative entrepreneurs.
Create a seat at the table
Invest in the continued growth of the Office of Entertainment, or establish an official advisor dedicated to representing the needs of Nashville’s creative community within Metro government.
Hire local talent to perform at the start of every Metro Council meeting.
Invest in music as economic development
Create new economic development incentives that benefit Nashville’s creative community, independent venues, music businesses, and live entertainment sector.
Incorporate music and culture into neighborhood planning, tourism strategy, and economic development initiatives.
Recognize music as critical infrastructure that drives jobs, tourism, small business growth, and quality of life.
Getting involved
Candidate and volunteer punch card
Sixteen punches. Candidates and Super Volunteers who complete this card will be invited to a special dinner and ceremony at the end of the year and will be up for consideration for special candidate and Super Volunteer development support from GOP Nashville.
Photo evidence required. Send photo evidence of attendance to go@citizenactivate.com; it is added to your future candidate or Super Volunteer profile.
If you have any questions, concerns, or if you think of any helpful additions to this Quick Book, please contact the founder of Citizen Activate, Elle Johnson, at go@citizenactivate.com.
Davidson County · Citizen Activate 2026 · Candidate resource. Figures are approximate and subject to change; check Metro Nashville and Davidson County official sites for current numbers.
