General Sessions Judge Alex McVeagh won the Republican nomination Tuesday night for a Hamilton County Circuit Court judge seat, according to the final, unofficial vote totals released by the Hamilton County Election Commission.
"I'm running on adrenaline," McVeagh said Tuesday. "All of the people that have invested in me is truly humbling."
McVeagh and Chattanooga attorney Michele Coffman were both seeking the nomination in the race to replace former Circuit Court Judge Marie Williams, who stepped down from the bench six years before her term was set to expire.
McVeagh received 17,365 votes to Coffman's 12,599.
Circuit Court judges mainly handle civil cases, including divorces, child custody and business disputes.
(READ MORE: Chattanooga-area primary election results)
McVeagh's family drove in from out-of-state to be there for him, and supporters were putting up his campaign signs until the last minute, he said Tuesday night. Dozens of his friends, family members and colleagues showed up to celebrate him at his election party at the Lakeshore Grille.
"It makes me a little emotional," McVeagh said.
He was one of the youngest judges in Tennessee when he was appointed to a Hamilton County General Sessions seat in 2017, he said previously. During his seven years on the bench, he helped start an online portal to assist people in resolving outstanding medical debt and an eviction mediation program during COVID-19.
He also founded and presides over the county's misdemeanor drug recovery court, he said previously. It is essentially a last chance program for those who repeatedly face criminal charges due to drug addiction.
McVeagh identifies as a conservative Christian.
He raised about $182,500 in campaign donations from nearly 400 donors ahead of the primary election, according to Tennessee's campaign finance data. Coffman raised about $132,900 during the same period.
McVeagh garnered widespread support from several local first responder unions, former Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond and Hamilton County judges, according to previous statements and donor lists.
On the other hand, Coffman didn't have any official endorsements, she said previously. Most of her donors were made up of local attorneys and business people.
Coffman also held an election watch party Tuesday evening at Charlie's Restaurant Lounge in Soddy-Daisy. She said she felt it was remarkable to see all the people who stepped up in support of her campaign.
"These are my people," Coffman said. "I could not be more humbled and honored to have them, and they are from all walks of life."
Chattanooga attorney Kisha Cheeks ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for the judgeship.
While the Hamilton County Circuit Court seat is part of a partisan race, Tennessee judges cannot bring their political viewpoints or any other potential biases into the courtroom, according to the state's Code of Judicial Conduct.
"Although each judge comes to the bench with a unique background and personal philosophy, a judge must interpret and apply the law without regard to whether the judge approves or disapproves of the law in question," the code states.
The Hamilton County Circuit Court judge seat is elected at large by voters throughout the county.
The 2024 state and county general election is scheduled to be held on Thursday, Aug. 1.
Contact Sofia Saric at ssaric@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476.