The Ballot Brief
Davidson County, Tennessee

Public Defender — 20th Judicial District

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. The sitting officeholder, Martesha Johnson, is on the ballot. One name is on the ballot for this seat.

Tennessee › Davidson County › Public Defender — 20th Judicial District

Decided at the 2026 primary: Martesha Johnson won the seat

DECIDED at the August 6, 2026 county general election: Martesha Johnson was elected unopposed with 99 percent, per the Davidson County Election Commission's official results. This office will not appear on the November 3 ballot. On Davidson County's August 6, 2026 county general ballot, per the Election Commission's certified sample ballot. The listed nominee won the May 5 county primary; the printed ballot also provides a write-in line. RESULTS ARE IN: this race was decided on August 6, 2026. Totals from the county Election Commission are unofficial until the county canvass, due no later than Monday, August 24 (Tenn. Code 2-8-101); Tennessee has no automatic recount.

Winner

Martesha Johnson

Democratic Incumbent

Biography

Martesha Johnson is the 20th Judicial District's sitting public defender and the Democratic nominee on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot, per the Election Commission's certified sample ballot.

Next on your ballotTennessee Senate District 17

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Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for Public Defender — 20th Judicial District in 2026?

The Public Defender — 20th Judicial District race was decided at the 2026 primary - Martesha Johnson won the seat - and does not appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot. One candidate was on the primary ballot: Martesha Johnson. Candidate information follows official Davidson County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Public Defender — 20th Judicial District election in Tennessee?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Tennessee are on the Tennessee election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Davidson County ballot?

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Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Davidson County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Tennessee election office, or see the full Davidson County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Davidson County ballot

13 tracked races in Davidson County, Tennessee. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Tennessee Senate District 19Tennessee Senate District 21Tennessee House District 50See all 13 Davidson County races
Candidate profiles
Martesha Johnson, full profileOfficial Tennessee election office