The GOP’s state executive committee requested 149 primary candidates statewide be stricken from ballots on Wednesday. That list included five candidates who were verified to appear on the Blount County ballots in May.

Shawn Carter, from Blount county mayor primary
Brad Bowers, from Blount county mayor primary
Brett Coulter, from Blount county mayor primary
Phyllis Crisp, from Blount county register of deeds primary
Beth Myers-Rees, from Blount county register of deeds primary

The letter does not indicate the reason for a candidate’s inclusion. The main change to the party by-laws are two fold, the first being a voting history requirement and the second is the party $250 fee.

Here is a list of the 249 candidates removed from the ballot. It appears there are 6 from Knox County.

UPDATE: all Blount County candidates are now listed as bona fide and qualified to appear on the Republican primary ballot in May.
According to election files all five have voting records that meet the requirements added to the GOP bylaws in 2025. The appearance on the draft list would appear to be for other criteria associated with filings and party fees.