James
William Macon III
Independent candidate James William Macon III is challenging incumbent Sen. Bill Hagerty in Tennessee's 2026 U.S. Senate race.
- sources
- 6
- positions
- 8
- endorsements
- 0
Background
James William Macon III is an Independent candidate running for U.S. Senate in Tennessee in the November 3, 2026 general election, challenging incumbent Republican Bill Hagerty. 11315
According to candidate materials reproduced in the Vote Rutherford voter guide, Macon "currently serve[s] as a Senior Director at Stryker." He describes more than 25 years of Fortune 500 leadership experience, including executive roles at Medtronic, Wright Medical, and other organizations. He also reports approximately five years as a journalist, including work with CNN, and a decade in church leadership as a pastor, administrative pastor, and educator. These details are candidate-provided claims. 1
Candidate profiles list his hometown as Memphis, Tennessee. 23 His educational background, as reported across candidate profiles, includes a BA in Communications Media Production and an MA in Communications Media Studies from Northern Illinois University, an MBA from the University of Tennessee, and an electronics certificate from Metropolitan Community College, though some sources list only the MA and MBA. 12
No prior elected office has been identified in the available sources. 123
At a glance
- Party
- Independent
- Running for
- U.S. Senate, Tennessee
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Senior Director at Stryker (candidate-provided)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 9filingJames William Macon III confirmed as Independent candidate on Tennessee U.S. Senate general-election ballot
Voter guides updated by October 9, 2026 list James William Macon III as an Independent candidate in Tennessee's U.S. Senate general election scheduled for November 3, 2026. He appears alongside Republican Bill Hagerty, Democrat Marquita Bradshaw, and several other candidates. No separate filing date or event was reported in the sources.
2026 General Election - Tennessee US Senate - iVoter Guide · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 5newsMacon listed among Tennessee U.S. Senate candidates in WSMV election guide
WSMV's October 5, 2026 voter guide for the Tennessee November 3 general election includes James William Macon III as an Independent U.S. Senate candidate. The guide provides no additional campaign activity or announcements specific to Macon.
It’s the last day to register to vote in Tennessee for the 2026 Midterm Elections. Here’s what you need to know · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Sources 6
- [1] James William Macon III — Candidate for U.S. Senate - Tennessee(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
- [2] 2026 General Election - Tennessee US Senate - iVoter Guide(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [3] It’s the last day to register to vote in Tennessee for the 2026 Midterm Elections. Here’s what you need to know(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [4] James William Macon III for U.S. Senator, Tennessee · The Gist(opens in a new tab) Oct 4, 2026
- [5] James William Macon III - Senator(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [6] James William Macon III — U.S. Senator (Tennessee ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 2, 2026