28-03-2025
Knox County Schools board chair Betsy Henderson announces run for mayor
KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — Knox County Schools Board of Education Chair Betsy Henderson has announced that she will be running for Knox County Mayor in 2026.
Henderson confirmed to 6 News that she took the formal step on Friday to appoint Zane Duncan as the treasurer for her campaign. She added that there will be a more formal announcement about her campaign to be the next of Knox County in the coming weeks.
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'Over the past few months, I have been so encouraged by the heartfelt conversations I've had with people throughout Knox County. It is clear that we find ourselves at a crossroads,' Henderson wrote.
'We have the opportunity to keep our county a place where families thrive, where conservative Christian values guide us, and where personal freedom, responsibility, and hard work are celebrated. A place where our policies empower parents to make the best decisions for their children, where taxes stay low, and where local businesses flourish without the burden of government overreach.'
Earlier this month, Henderson told 6 News she was considering joining the race for mayor, adding that she was being encouraged to run by leaders from across the county.
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Henderson has served on the Knox County Schools Board of Education since December of 2020 and as chair of that board since September 2023. Her current term is slated to end in August 2026.
So far, it appears Henderson will be running for the position of County Mayor against Knox County Commissioner Larsen Jay, who announced his plans to run in 2026 over a year ago. Knox County Criminal Court Clerk Mike Hammond also announced in April of 2024 that he planned to run for mayor, however, in November, he withdrew from the race to seek re-election instead.
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