Kent Morrell

Kent Morrell is a Republican candidate running for election to the Tennessee State Senate to represent District 7 [1]. He is on the ballot in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026, where he faces incumbent Richard Briggs [1]. The general election for this seat is set for November 3, 2026 [1].

Morrell was born in Bristol, Tennessee, and is a seventh-generation East Tennessean who grew up near Bristol Motor Speedway [9]. He attended the University of Tennessee, where he earned a degree in Political Science [4]. Morrell has been a resident of the Karns community in northwest Knoxville since 1991 and is married with four adult children [9].

Morrell’s professional background includes owning Indoor Oceans, a small business he founded in 1993 [9]. He also worked as an advocate starting in 2015, specifically focusing on healthcare reform and patient rights [1]. Following a car accident in 2000 that left him with muscular and spinal injuries, Morrell underwent over 200 medical procedures and was bedridden for a decade due to what he describes as bad medical advice [9]. This experience motivated his advocacy work; since 2015, he has advocated at the state level with Safe Access Tennessee, an organization that provides educational resources about treatment options [9]. He serves as chairman of the Knoxville chapter of Safe Access Tennessee and joined the state organization’s board in 2017 [1].

In previous elections, Morrell ran for the same seat in 2022. In the Republican primary for Tennessee State Senate District 7 on August 4, 2022, he received 33.9% of the vote (4,395 votes) before losing to incumbent Richard Briggs, who received 66.1% (8,575 votes) [1].

Morrell’s campaign platform emphasizes conservative policies, including healthcare freedom, parental rights, and fiscal responsibility [2]. He opposes government interference in doctor-patient relationships and supports removing regulations to expand healthcare services [2]. On immigration, he supports Tennessee cooperating with federal enforcement efforts [2]. He also advocates for election integrity in Republican primaries, arguing that Democrats should not be allowed to vote in GOP primaries to select weaker candidates [2]. Morrell characterizes himself as a "patriot, not a politician" and criticizes incumbent Richard Briggs for accepting special interest money and supporting policies he views as harmful to Tennesseans [9].

Sources

• [1] Kent Morrell - Ballotpedia
• [2] Kent Morrell for TN State Senate | Kent Morrell for TN State Senate
• [3] Election News | Kent Morrell for TN State Senate
• [4] About | Kent Morrell for TN State Senate
• [5] 2026 State Senate Races | Kent Morrell for TN State Senate
• [6] KENT MORRELL FOR TENNESSEE SENATE - Home
• [7] KentMorrell
• [8] Tennessee's 2026 candidate lists finalized for state and federal races
• [9] Kent Morrell for Senate - KENT MORRELL FOR TENNESSEE SENATE
• [10] Kent Morrell for Senate Issues - KENT MORRELL FOR TENNESSEE SENATE

Public filings

Candidates and officeholders are required by law to file campaign finance reports and statements of economic interest. The sites below don't support direct links to an individual record — search by last name on each.

Tennessee — campaign finance

• State offices (Governor, US Senate, US Rep, TN Senate, TN House, State Executive Committee) — Tennessee Registry of Election Finance. Click Search for Candidates and PACs, enter last name “Morrell”, and submit.
• Shelby County and municipal offices (County Mayor, Commissioner, Sheriff, School Board, court clerks, municipal alderman, etc.) — Shelby County Public Campaign Finance Portal. Select the election year and search by candidate name (“Morrell”).

Tennessee — statement of interest

• Required for state and local officials and candidates — Tennessee Ethics Commission Conflict of Interest Search. Enter last name “Morrell”and, if needed, select the applicable position.