Jefferson County Post Announces 2026 Primary Debate, March 2, 2026
DANDRIDGE, Tenn. — The Jefferson County Post is proud to announce the return of its signature civic event: the Jefferson County Post Primary Debate 2026, marking the fourth installment of this locally produced political forum. As Jefferson County continues to grow and evolve, the Post remains committed to fostering informed dialogue and transparent democracy through fair and formal candidate engagement.
Scheduled for March 2, 2026, the debate will once again bring together candidates seeking public office in Jefferson County, offering voters a clear and respectful platform to evaluate their choices. Produced entirely by the Jefferson County Post, the event reflects the paper’s longstanding dedication to regional coverage and community service.
Beginning January 2026, the Post will open its public submission portal, inviting residents to submit questions for consideration. These questions will help shape the debate and ensure that the concerns of Jefferson County voters are front and center.
This year’s debate will be moderated by Dr. John J. McGraw, whose career spans medicine, military service, civic leadership, and community engagement. Dr. McGraw is an orthopedic surgeon who spent nearly two decades with Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic, serving as both a partner and Medical Director from 2003 to 2020. His medical journey began with an M.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, followed by surgical training in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and an orthopedic residency at St. Louis University Hospitals.
Beyond the operating room, Dr. McGraw’s service to country is equally distinguished. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1974 to 2002, including active duty, Air Force Reserve and Mississippi National Guard and a combat tour to Kosovo in 1999. He later joined the U.S. Army Medical Corps Reserves, deploying again to Kosovo in 2009 and Afghanistan in 2011–2012. He retired as a Colonel in 2013, capping off nearly four decades of military service.
Dr. McGraw’s professional leadership includes presidencies of the Mississippi Orthopedic Society and the Southern Orthopedic Association. He served on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and chaired its Board of Councilors in 2015. In 2019, he was named the Academy’s Distinguished Congressional Ambassador of the Year.
Locally, Dr. McGraw served on the Jefferson County Commission from 2014 to 2018 and Chair of the Board of Directors for Tennova Jefferson Memorial Hospital from 2014-2025. He remains active as one of three team physicians for Carson-Newman University Sports Medicine and serves as an elder at First Presbyterian Church in Greenville, South Carolina, where he chairs the Session Prayer Committee and participates in the Sanctuary Choir, Healing Prayer Team, and Missions Committee.
Married to Ann Rogers McGraw for 45 years, Dr. McGraw is the proud father of Beth Ann McGraw Smith of Morristown, Tennessee, and John Jay McGraw, Jr. of Lewisville, Texas. He and Ann are blessed with eight grandchildren.
Stay tuned for further details and public question guidelines in the coming weeks.
