James William Macon III is running as an Independent for U.S. Senate in Tennessee. The Nov. 3, 2026, general election features a crowded field of certified candidates vying for the seat, according to BallotReady election data.
Macon, who describes himself as "a husband, father, business leader, community servant, and problem-solver," said he has spent more than two decades leading complex organizations and managing billion-dollar budgets, according to his Civoren candidate questionnaire.
Candidate information
- Name: James William Macon III
- Party: Independent
- Office sought: U.S. Senate, Tennessee
- Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
- Ballot status: Certified, per BallotReady
Other certified candidates in the race: Bill Hagerty (Republican), Marquita Bradshaw (Democratic), Andrew Gerena (Independent), Catherine Barcel Whitson (Independent), David Sutman Jr. (Independent), Jeremy Dean Hearn (Independent), Robert Jones (Independent), Tharon Chandler (Independent) and Yoshi D. Matthews (Independent).
Experience and public service
Macon's professional background includes media, retail operations and medical-device procurement roles, according to BallotReady profile data. He worked at CBS News/WBBM Chicago from 2000 to 2001 and as a network video editor at CNN from 2002 to 2004. He served as operations manager at Williams Sonoma from 2006 to 2012.
More recently, Macon held the title of director of indirect sourcing at Wright Medical from 2019 to 2020. BallotReady lists him as director of indirect procurement at Stryker Careers since 2021. He also lists employment at Medtronic in his Civoren response, though no dates or title were provided.
His BallotReady profile and Civoren response list no public offices held.
On the issues
Campaign finance: Macon said he does not accept contributions or donations. He said he believes "elected officials should spend more time listening to citizens than dialing for dollars," according to his Civoren questionnaire response.
Campaign platform: Macon said his campaign focuses on restoring accountability, strengthening oversight and improving education and healthcare outcomes. He also listed supporting economic growth, protecting homeownership, strengthening agriculture, reducing poverty and long-term fiscal responsibility as priorities, according to his Civoren response.
Specific legislative proposals, funding mechanisms and implementation timelines were not provided in the candidate's available responses.
Candidate positions and biographical claims are drawn from Macon's Civoren candidate questionnaire and BallotReady profile data. The Duck River Sentinel did not interview the candidate for this profile.
