Donations are driving up the competition in this key Knox County Commission race

The most expensive race for a Knox County Commission seat in this election cycle is centered in neighborhoods that are shifting from red to blue .

Republicans have almost exclusively represented the district, which includes Bearden, Sequoyah and West Hills, going back to the 1980s. One of the rare Democrats to represent the district left office in 2014.

Republican Garrett Holt and Democrat Shane Jackson are running for the open seat after Republican Kyle Ward declined to run again. Democrats are trying to take a bite out of Republican commissioners' 9-2 majority.

Holt, 30, is an account executive at Tempus Labs who's says he'll be smart about the county's growth while preserving its charm. Holt touted the reach of his campaign and his desire to connect with voters across the district.

"I've tried to tell voters in this process, 'You have a candidate who's ready to work and brings his absolute best effort to this,'" Holt said. "Do I want to keep conservative values in West Knoxville and Knox County? Absolutely, but more than that, I have invested so much into this race to show people that I'm willing and ready to serve."

Jackson, 48, is a community banker and military veteran who's focused on improving funding for schools and ensuring neighbors get reliable emergency medical services. He acknowledged the competitiveness of the race and said he'll work to earn votes until the last second. Election Day is Aug. 1.

"I have been overwhelmed with the amount of support and well wishes I've received," Jackson said.

Both candidates have marketed themselves as moderate, an indication that the changing nature of the district's electorate favors centrists.

4th District generates big spending at the end of the campaign

Holt raised $42,408 and Jackson raised $39,314 in recent months. Only one other commission candidate, Matthew Park in District 9, raised more.

Jackson secured the endorsement of the East Tennessee Realtors with a $5,000 donation from its political action committee. The Realtors group this election cycle has supported Democrats in 4 out of the 5 county commission races in which the group made an endorsement.

“I am honored to have the support and trust of the East Tennessee Realtors," Jackson said in a statement.

"I will be committed to working hand in hand with the association to address the challenges and opportunities facing our community. I recognize the importance of promoting policies that foster a thriving, sustainable housing market with affordability and attainability at top of mind.”

East Tennessee Realtors board members vetted candidates through a questionnaire, in-person interview and recommendations.

"I welcome anyone's endorsement or contribution, but as a commissioner I'm not going to be beholden to any special interest groups," Holt, who runs a real estate business, told Knox News in a text.

Campaign finance disclosures don't directly dictate a candidate's success - just because a candidate raises more money doesn't guarantee a win. But disclosures are a strong indicator of support for a candidate and their presence in the community.

Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Donations are driving up the competition in this key Knox County Commission race