Knox County Criminal Court Clerk Mike Hammond to run for mayor in 2026

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The race for Knox County mayor has a new entry as another local elected leader is throwing his hat in the ring.

Mike Hammond, Knox County’s Criminal Court clerk, recently announced that he plans to run for Knox County mayor in 2026. He has been the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk since 2014. Prior to that, he served two terms on the Knox County Commission.

“After receiving overwhelming support during the past few months, my wife Dawn and I are taking the first step in the journey toward a potential run for Knox County Mayor. I’m excited to share that I’ve appointed Leigh Ann Carlton as my treasurer. Leigh Ann is an accomplished CPA with more than 30 years in public, corporate and small business
accounting. By appointing a treasurer, this will enable our team to establish a strong financial base for a successful campaign,” shared Hammond.

Hammond also worked at WIVK for 35 years. A release from his campaign shared that he helped the station earn three Marconi awards, eight CMA awards, and five ACM awards. In addition, he won the national Edward R. Murrow Award for his coverage of the 1996 tornadoes in East Tennessee.

Hammond joins Knox County Commissioner Larsen Jay in the race for mayor in 2026. Mayor Glenn Jacobs will not be running due to term limits.

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