Mike Sparks

Current office and 2026 campaign

Mike Sparks is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing District 49 ¹. He assumed office in January 2011 after previously serving as a Rutherford County commissioner from 2002 to 2010 ⁴. His current term in the state legislature is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 ¹.

Sparks is seeking re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 49 in the upcoming 2026 cycle ¹. He is listed as a candidate on the ballot for the Republican primary election scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹. As an incumbent, he previously defeated Democrat Luis Mata in the general election for this seat in 2024 ¹¹.

Background and education

Mike Sparks was born on January 11, 1967, at Sewart Air Force Base in Smyrna, Tennessee ¹⁰. He spent his early years in a middle-class community within Rutherford County, where his father, Sam Sparks, was a World War II veteran ¹⁰. Sparks identifies as Baptist ³.

Sparks attended Middle Tennessee State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 2016 ⁶. He also studied at Volunteer State Community College, the Nashville School of Real Estate, and the Dale Carnegie Institute ¹. Additionally, he holds an Associate of Arts degree in Mass Communication from Motlow State Community College and is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) graduate of Volunteer State Community College ⁸.

Career

Sparks was born on January 11, 1967, at Sewart Air Force Base in Smyrna, Tennessee ¹⁰. He attended Middle Tennessee State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in 2016, and Volunteer State Community College, where he obtained an Associate of Arts in Mass Communication and an EMT certification ¹⁸. He also studied at the Nashville School of Real Estate and the Dale Carnegie Institute ¹.

Professionally, Sparks is a business owner and consultant who holds a CCIM commercial real estate designation ⁸. He has worked as a realtor and served as an author, entrepreneur, publisher, and radio spokesperson ⁸. His community involvement includes membership in the National Federation of Independent Business, the Chamber of Commerce, the Farm Bureau, the NRA, the Smyrna Rotary Club, Gideon's International, and the American Legislative Exchange Council ³. He has also served on the Motlow College Advisory Board and as a board member for the American Red Cross, Heart of Tennessee Chapter, from 2002 to 2010 ³.

Office history

Sparks served as a member of the Rutherford County Commission from 2002 to 2010 ⁶. He previously sought office on the Smyrna Planning Committee during the period of 2001–2010 ⁶.

Sparks was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 49 in November 2010 and assumed office in January 2011, succeeding Kent Coleman ¹⁴⁷. He has been re-elected in subsequent cycles, including defeating Democrat Morgan Woodberry in 2022 by a margin of over 2,000 votes ¹¹ and defeating Democrat Luis Mata in November 2024 by a margin of 3,866 votes ¹¹. His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 ¹. As a state representative, he serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee, Finance, Ways, and Means Committee, Insurance Committee, Private Acts Committee, and TennCare Subcommittee ⁸.

Legislative record and accomplishments

Rep. Mike Sparks has served in the Tennessee House of Representatives since January 2011 ¹⁴. He previously served as a Rutherford County commissioner from 2002 to 2010 ⁶. As an incumbent, he is running for re-election to represent District 49 in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹.

Sparks holds several committee assignments within the chamber, including membership on the Appropriations Subcommittee, the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee, the Insurance Committee, the Private Acts Committee, and the TennCare Subcommittee ⁸. He is also a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council ³.

His legislative record includes voting against SB 16/HB 1, which sought to legalize sports gaming, and supporting SB 364/HB 563, known as the Business Protection Act ⁹. Sparks voted in favor of SB 1257/HB 1029 (Human Life Protection Act), SB 1297/HB 1151 (Indecent Exposure Law in Single-Sex Restrooms), and SB 1304/HB 836 (Conscience Provision for Child-Placing Agencies) ⁹. He also supported SB 1373/HB 307, which allowed elective religious courses for credit, and SB 1499/HB 1274, the School Protection Act ⁹.

Sparks voted for SB 1736/HB 1689 regarding single-sex student athletics, SB 2196/HB 2263 (Governor Lee's Pro-Life Bill), and SB 2465/HB 2568 concerning chemical abortion reversal information ⁹. He also voted for HJR 17, which acknowledged God as the source of liberties ⁹.

During his tenure, Sparks has sponsored legislation that prohibits children from accessing certain materials, though specific bill numbers for these sponsored acts are not detailed in the provided sources ¹¹. In 2017, he introduced a resolution recognizing Sampson Keeble, the first African-American elected to the state House, and Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, arguing that society should highlight their struggles and accomplishments rather than vilify them ⁵.

Sparks has received endorsements from conservative organizations, though specific names are not listed in the provided text ⁶. He is a member of the Smyrna Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Farm Bureau, and the NRA ³.

Documented disputes and controversies

Rep. Mike Sparks faced public criticism in 2017 for introducing a resolution that honored both Sampson Keeble, the first African-American elected to the state House, and Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest ⁵. The Murfreesboro Post reported that Sparks stated he felt society was "vilifying certain folks in history" and sought to highlight their struggles and accomplishments ⁵.

Sparks has been involved in disputes regarding his political endorsements, which are documented on Ballotpedia ². Specific instances of withdrawn or contested endorsements are not detailed in the provided source materials ².

In 2024, Sparks defeated Democrat Luis Mata in a close race for Tennessee’s 49th District seat, winning by a margin of 3,866 votes ¹¹. This victory followed his 2022 win over Democrat Morgan Woodberry by a margin of over 2,000 votes ¹¹.

Business interests and wealth source

Mike Sparks identifies himself as a business owner, realtor, and business consultant ³. His professional background includes work as an entrepreneur, publisher, and radio spokesperson, with specific credentials in commercial real estate as a CCIM ⁸. He holds degrees from Middle Tennessee State University and Motlow State Community College, along with certifications from the Nashville School of Real Estate and Volunteer State Community College ¹³⁸.

Sparks has described his wealth sources through his various business ventures, including roles in real estate and media ⁸. Specific details regarding his ownership stakes, sales of businesses, or significant financial-disclosure facts are not provided in the available source material.

Family

Sparks married Felicia Sparks in 1990 ⁴. The couple has two sons and two grandchildren ⁸. His father, Sam Sparks, was a World War II veteran who met his mother, Patricia Flynn, during military service in England ¹⁰.

Sources