Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp announced this weekend that he will seek another four years as Mayor. Wamp, who grew up the son of a U.S. congressman and has recently engaged in a war of words with local city mayors over high property taxes, said Saturday he will be seeking a second-four year term as Hamilton County mayor in 2026.
Wamp, 38, was the youngest mayor in Hamilton county history when he was elected four years ago. He announced his plans in an email to supporters. He said in the email he will make those plans official at a Wamp family Labor Day picnic, set for 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 1 at Chester Frost Park, in Chattanooga.
“The picnic is free and all are welcome, but since we’re kicking off our reelection campaign, we’ve asked supporters to step up as cohosts of the event,” Wamp said in Saturday’s email. “We’re grateful to the hundreds of folks who have already given generously to our reelection campaign, and we would be honored if you would contribute if you are able.”
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who has announced plans to run for Tennessee governor next year, will be a special guest, along with Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, who is serving as Blackburn’s campaign treasurer.
“Over the last three years, it has been an incredible honor to serve our county and cast a vision for the community we all love,” Wamp said in the email. “We’ve brought back vocational education, invested in roads, schools and families, and we’ve protected taxpayers in the process. But, there’s a lot of work left for us to tackle together.”
Wamp, the son of former Congressman Zach Wamp and brother of Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp — who, like her sibling, took office after being elected in 2022 — was defeated by U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann in the Republican primary for Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District in 2012 and 2014.
Wamp focused on business interests before his run for county mayor in 2022, defeating a field that included then-Hamilton County Commission Chair Sabrena Smedley and business owner Matt Hullander, the son of Hamilton County Trustee Bill Hullander, in the GOP primary. He defeated Democratic nominee Matt Adams by a little less than 8,000 votes in the general election.
Wamp is expected to easily win the Republican nomination for reelection and is likely to secure a second term as county mayor as well.
Steve Gill is the Publisher of TriStar Daily.
