Greg Martin

Current office and 2026 campaign

Greg Martin is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 26, having assumed office on April 4, 2022 ¹. His current term concludes on November 3, 2026 ¹. Martin is seeking re-election to the seat in the 2026 cycle ¹. He announced his campaign for the District 26 seat under the theme “Facing Challenges, Finding Solutions - Together,” emphasizing his commitment to conservative policies ⁸.

The upcoming Republican primary election is scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹. Martin self-describes as a "principled conservative" and utilizes the campaign hashtag #TeamGregMartin to engage supporters ³. During the 2026 legislative session, which adjourned sine die in April 2026, Martin served as part of the House Republican supermajority that enacted legislation focused on public safety, healthcare reform, and education ¹².

Background and education

Greg Martin was born on July 31, 1963 ²¹⁴. A resident of Hamilton County, Tennessee, he is a graduate of Hixson High School, completing his studies there in 1981 ²¹⁴. He later attended Bryan College, where he earned a degree ²¹⁴.

Career

Greg Martin is a graduate of Hixson High School and Bryan College ²¹⁴. He has described himself as having a 45-year career in school safety, identifying himself as an expert in the field ⁶. Prior to his state legislative service, Martin served on the Hamilton County School Board as its representative for District 3 from 2012 to 2016 ⁹¹⁵. He subsequently served on the Hamilton County Commission for District 3 from 2016 to 2022, a role in which he also represented the district on the county school board ³⁴¹⁵.

Office history

Greg Martin previously served on the Hamilton County Commission for District 3 from 2016 to 2022 ³⁴. During his tenure, he also served as the district’s representative on the Hamilton County School Board from 2012 to 2016 ¹⁵.

Martin was appointed to the Tennessee House of Representatives by the Hamilton County Commission on March 30, 2022, to fill the vacancy left by Robin Smith ¹. He assumed office on April 4, 2022 ¹². His initial term in this capacity ended on November 3, 2026 ¹.

Martin ran for re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives in the 2024 cycle. In that election, he defeated Democratic challenger Allison Gorman to retain his seat for District 26 ⁷¹⁰. He is currently seeking re-election to this position in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹¹⁶.

Legislative record and accomplishments

Representative Martin’s legislative record includes advocacy for public safety and school security measures. He has highlighted his background as a school safety expert to support legislation addressing the handling of disruptive students with special needs, specifically opposing prohibitions on mechanical restraints for such individuals ⁶. During the 114th General Assembly, which adjourned in April 2026, Martin voted in line with the Republican supermajority to enact policies enhancing public safety and education ¹².

Martin has served on various committee assignments during his tenure, though specific committee rosters are not detailed in the provided sources ¹³. He is a member of the Tennessee House Republican Caucus ¹⁵. On policy positions, Martin identifies as a "principled conservative" and has emphasized election integrity, stating that there needs to be a patriotic revival in the United States due to concerns over election security ¹¹.

In September 2024, Martin faced criticism for distributing red baseball caps to supporters with the slogan "Pretty girls vote Republican," which he defended by stating, “It’s just a hat” ⁵. His legislative priorities include maintaining conservative values in Tennessee and addressing challenges facing District 26 residents ⁸.

Documented disputes and controversies

In September 2024, Martin distributed red baseball caps to supporters featuring the slogan "Pretty girls vote Republican," a move that drew criticism for demeaning women ⁵. Martin defended the merchandise by stating, "It’s just a hat" ⁵.

Martin has advocated for school safety measures involving special needs students, citing his 45-year career in the field to argue against prohibitions on mechanical restraints for such students ⁶. He stated that school personnel are often better positioned to handle these situations due to their familiarity with the students' limitations ⁶.

In October 2023, Martin addressed local Republicans regarding election integrity, stating that concerns about the security of elections could contribute to a nationwide decline in patriotic sentiment ¹¹. He asserted that both Tennessee and Hamilton County elections were "very secure" during this address ¹¹.

Business interests and wealth source

Greg Martin’s professional background is rooted in school safety and education administration. He self-describes as having a 45-year career as an expert in school safety ⁶. Prior to his legislative service, Martin served on the Hamilton County School Board from 2012 to 2016, where he represented District 3 ¹⁵. He also served on the Hamilton County Commission for District 3 from 2016 to 2022 ⁴.

Specific details regarding his private business interests, ownership stakes, or sources of personal wealth are not provided in the available records. Campaign finance reports indicate that Martin raised over $35,000 in contributions during his initial announcement for the State House race in March 2022 ⁹. No further financial disclosure data detailing specific assets or business sales is included in the provided sources.

Family

Greg Martin’s family members are not publicly notable figures in politics or other public spheres ¹². In a 2022 campaign announcement, Martin acknowledged receiving encouragement from his family as he sought election to the state House ⁹.

Sources