Tim Rudd

Current office and 2026 campaign

Tim Rudd is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 34, having assumed office on November 8, 2016 ¹³. His current term concludes on November 3, 2026 ¹. In the 2026 election cycle, Rudd is seeking re-election to represent District 34 and appears on the ballot for the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹.

During his tenure, Rudd has served as Chairman of the Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee within the Tennessee House Republican Caucus ⁵. He has also been involved in legislative efforts regarding election integrity, including filing a resolution in 2021 to initiate proceedings for the removal of Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle following her ruling on absentee voting during the pandemic ⁸.

Background and education

Tim Rudd was born on November 30, 1960, in St. Petersburg, Florida ³. He moved to Tennessee at the age of three and was raised in Murfreesboro and Smyrna ⁵.

Rudd attended Smyrna High School in Smyrna, Tennessee ⁴. He later earned degrees from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro and Cumberland University in Lebanon ³⁴.

Career

Tim Rudd was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, and has lived in Tennessee since he was three years old ⁵. He was raised in Murfreesboro and Smyrna ⁵. His educational background includes attendance at Smyrna High School in Smyrna, Cumberland University in Lebanon, and Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro ⁴³.

Professionally, Rudd has operated a marketing and direct mail consulting business for over 30 years ⁴. He also worked as an affiliate broker in real estate for more than 25 years ⁴.

Office history

Tim Rudd was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2016, representing District 34¹³. He assumed office on November 8, 2016, succeeding Rick Womick¹³. As a member of the Tennessee House, Rudd serves two-year terms and is not subject to term limits². His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026¹.

During his tenure, Rudd has served on several committee assignments. In the 2017 legislative session, he was assigned to committees¹. For the 2019-2020 term, he held committee assignments¹. During the 2021-2022 term, he continued to serve on committees¹. As of the 2023-2024 session, Rudd was assigned to the Education Committee, the Health Committee, and the State & Local Government Committee¹. He also serves as the Chairman of the Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee⁵.

In February 2021, Rudd filed legislation to initiate the removal process for Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle following her ruling on absentee voting during the pandemic⁸. In 2023, he supported a resolution to expel three Democratic lawmakers from the legislature³.

Rudd is an incumbent running for re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives in District 34¹. He is on the ballot for the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026¹.

Legislative record and accomplishments

Tim Rudd has served in the Tennessee House of Representatives since January 2017, representing District 34 ¹³. During his tenure, he has held various committee assignments, including service on the Education Committee, the Health Committee, and the State & Local Government Committee ⁵. In recent sessions, Rudd was assigned to the Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee, where he serves as chairman ⁵.

Rudd’s legislative record includes support for several conservative policy initiatives. The Family Action Council of Tennessee awarded him a scorecard that lists his support for SB 16/HB 1 (the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act), SB 364/HB 563 (the Business Protection Act), and SB 1257/HB 1029 (the Human Life Protection Act) ⁷. He also supported SB 1297/HB 1151 regarding indecent exposure laws in single-sex restrooms, SB 1304/HB 836 concerning conscience provisions for child-placing agencies, and SB 1373/HB 307 allowing elective religious courses for credit ⁷. Additionally, Rudd backed SB 1499/HB 1274 (the School Protection Act), SB 1736/HB 1689 on single-sex student athletics, and SB 2196/HB 2263 (Governor Lee's Pro-Life Bill) ⁷.

In the realm of election integrity and government accountability, Rudd sponsored a resolution in 2021 to authorize the Speaker of the House to appoint a committee to consider the removal of Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle following her ruling on absentee voting during the pandemic ⁸. He also supported SB 2465/HB 2568, which addresses chemical abortion reversal information, and HJR 17, which acknowledges God as the source of liberties ⁷. In 2023, Rudd supported a resolution to expel three Democratic lawmakers from the legislature ³.

Documented disputes and controversies

In February 2021, Rudd filed a resolution seeking to remove Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle from office ⁸. The legislation aimed to authorize Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton to appoint a committee to consider her removal following a ruling that expanded absentee voting during the pandemic by accepting fear of COVID-19 as an acceptable reason for requesting a ballot ⁸. Rudd stated he filed the resolution in direct response to this judicial decision ⁸.

In 2023, Rudd supported a resolution to expel three Democratic lawmakers from the legislature ³. Specific details regarding the grounds for the expulsion effort or the identities of the targeted lawmakers are not provided in the available source material ³.

Business interests and wealth source

Tim Rudd’s professional background includes ownership of a marketing and direct mail consulting business for over 30 years ⁴. He also has more than 25 years of experience as a real estate agent and affiliate broker ⁴. Current professional listings identify him as a Real Estate Broker and Salesperson with Coldwell Banker Southern Realty, holding license number 269596 ¹¹.

Prior to his election to the Tennessee House of Representatives, Rudd served as the Clerk of Municipal Court in Clermont County, Ohio, for three terms from 2004 to 2021 ⁹¹⁰. During that tenure, he also worked as a bookkeeper for the court, which collected and disbursed millions of dollars annually ⁹. His earlier career included roles as an Assistant Clerk in Clermont County’s Common Pleas Court (1996–2003), a sales tax agent for the Ohio Department of Taxation (1988–1996), and a management trainee at Citizens Bank of Higginsport (1986–1988) ¹⁰. He also operated Rudd Cattle Farm from 1981 to 1986 ¹⁰.

Rudd’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Cincinnati, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa in 1981 ¹⁰. He also attended Cumberland University and Middle Tennessee State University ⁴.

As an incumbent state representative, Rudd is subject to financial disclosure requirements. LegiStorm records indicate that personal financial disclosures have been added to its database for Rudd, though specific asset or income details are not provided in the available source material ⁶.

Sources