KINGSPORT -- Kingsport area voters today will elect state and federal candidates to compete in the November general election, plus county school board members, judges and constables in county general elections.
In Tennessee's newly renumbered 8th Senatorial District, the GOP primary is a winner-take-all election since no Democrat is on the November ballot.
State Rep. Frank Niceley of Strawberry Plains is competing with Hawkins County Republican Cynthia Bundren Jackson, Jefferson County Republican Hobart Rice and Union County Commissioner Jeff Brantley for the district seat held by retiring state Sen. Mike Faulk.
The 8th Senate District covers Hawkins, Hancock, Claiborne, Union, Jefferson and Grainger counties.
A contentious 2nd House District GOP primary will be decided between incumbent state Rep. Tony Shipley and former Kingsport Alderman and Vice Mayor Ben Mallicote. The winner will face Democrat Bruce Dotson in the November general election.
The 2nd House District covers parts of Kingsport and Sullivan County.
The 3rd House District GOP primary features Blountville businessman Timothy Hill against former Mountain City Mayor Kevin Parsons and Bluff City Republicans Karen Greene Morrell and Thomas White. The winner will face Democrat Leah Kirk in the November general election.
The district includes parts of Sullivan and Carter counties and all of Johnson County.
Incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Corker is seeking to be the GOP nominee in the Republican primary and faces opposition from four candidates.
There are seven Democrats seeking the Democratic nomination.
U.S. Rep. Phil Roe is unopposed in the GOP primary and will face Democrat Alan Woodruff in the November general election.
Also unopposed in the GOP primary and November general election are Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey in the 4th Senatorial District and state Rep. Jon Lundberg in the 1st House District.
In the Sullivan County general election, both Sullivan County District Attorney General Barry Staubus and Property Assessor Bobby Icenhour are unopposed.
In the Division 3 General Sessions Court judge race, incumbent Republican Ray Conkin faces independent William "Andy" Law.
In the Sullivan County Board of Education contest, Jack Bales faces off against Heather Price in District 1. Todd Broughton competes with incumbent Jim Kiss in District 3. Randall Jones, Anissa Lyttle and current board Chair Ron Smith are seeking the District 5 seat. Current Vice Chair Betty Combs and Michael Hughes are after the District 7 seat.
Constables in 10 Sullivan County districts will also be elected.
Polls will open at 8 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. A valid photo ID is required to cast a ballot under state law.