TIFTON — With qualifications closed, the candidates at local, state, and federal level prepare for the upcoming election May 21.

Candidate qualifications were held the week of March 4, with races at all levels of government seeing a newcomer or two up to bat.

At the local level, county commissioners Tony McBrayer and Fred Rigdon face no opposition for their bids for reelection as the District 7 and 5 commissioners, respectively. District 2 commissioner Melissa Hughes will be campaigning against Daughtry Melton IV and Cal Russell Thomas for the Democratic nomination for her seat; the winner will face Priscilla Prince, the only Republican to qualify for it, in the November election.

Jonathan Jones and John Waddell, District 7 and 3 representatives for the Tift County Board of Education, will likewise run unopposed from primary to general election, but District 1 representative incumbent Marilyn Burks is expected to race against Ambrose King.

No incumbents will be running for the District 169 and 170 seats in the state House of Representatives. The District 170 election will instead see a race between Donny Robertson and Jaclyn Dixon Ford, while three candidates have qualified for the District 169 seat: Angie Osteen, William Roberts, and Theresa R. Rewis.

State Sen. Carden Summers will run unopposed in his reelection.

Lastly, Democrats Darrius Maurice Butler and Vince Watkins will vie in May to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Austin Scott for the position of District 8 representative in the federal House of Representatives.

Early voting for the May 21 election will begin April 29 and will be held at the Tift County elections office at 222 Chestnut Avenue until May 17 every weekday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., as well as 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 4 and 11. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day. Unregistered voters who wish to participate must register by April 22.

For more information, contact (229) 386-7915.