{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nMatt Ferry is a Democratic candidate seeking election to the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 48 in 2026 [1]. He appears on the ballot for the Democratic primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1]. Ferry self-describes as a small business owner raised in Murfreesboro who graduated from Middle Tennessee State University [7].\n\nFerry has previously run for the same seat in the general elections of 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024 [7]. He served as the chair of the Rutherford County Democratic Party starting in 2017 [2]. In his current campaign, he states that he is running due to \"outrageous corruption and grift\" within state government over the past sixteen years of Republican control [6]. As of May 2026, no endorsements from Democratic or progressive organizations have been recorded for his candidacy [4].\n\n## Background and education\n\nMatt Ferry was born in Lebanon, Tennessee [1]. He self-describes as a Middle Tennessee native and states that he was raised in Murfreesboro [2][7].\n\nFerry graduated from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) [1][7]. While some candidate profiles indicate that educational details were not provided, other sources confirm his bachelor's degree from the institution [1][5][7].\n\n## Career\n\nMatt Ferry is a small business owner who was raised in Murfreesboro and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University [7]. He obtained a bachelor's degree from that institution [1].\n\nPrior to his current campaign, Ferry served as the chair of the Rutherford County Democratic Party (RCDP) starting in 2017 [2]. During his tenure, he oversaw party operations and worked with various organizations advocating for healthcare rights, workers' rights, and environmental and economic justice [2]. His political engagement began after an internship with Organizing for Action (OFA), after which he started working with local candidates [2].\n\n## Office history\n\nMatt Ferry served as Chair of the Rutherford County Democratic Party, a position he was elected to in 2017 [2]. He held this role until at least 2024 [7]. During his tenure, he oversaw party operations and worked with various organizations advocating for healthcare rights, workers' rights, and environmental and economic justice [2].\n\nFerry has run for the Tennessee House of Representatives in District 48 multiple times without holding the office. He was a candidate in the Democratic primaries for this seat in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024 [7]. In the 2024 cycle, he appeared on the ballot for the Tennessee Democratic Party State Primary held on August 1, 2024 [3]. He is currently the Democratic candidate for District 48 in the upcoming primary election scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nMatt Ferry has not held elected legislative office and therefore has no legislative record of sponsored bills or votes to report [7]. He is a small business owner who previously served as chair of the Rutherford County Democratic Party [2][7]. During his tenure as party chair, he oversaw party operations in Rutherford County, which includes parts of Murfreesboro and Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) [2].\n\nFerry has sought the Democratic nomination for Tennessee House District 48 in multiple prior cycles, including elections in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024 [7]. He is currently running for this seat in the upcoming Democratic primary on August 6, 2026 [1][8]. As a candidate, he has received endorsements from Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood and Change TN [5].\n\nRegarding policy positions, Ferry states that he advocates for healthcare rights, workers' rights, and environmental and economic justice [2]. He characterizes his campaign as a response to what he describes as corruption and grift within state government, arguing that the average Tennessean has not benefited proportionally from budget increases under Republican control [6]. Specific legislative proposals or committee assignments are not detailed in available sources [3][5].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nMatt Ferry self-describes as a small business owner [7]. He was raised in Murfreesboro and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) [1][7]. Specific details regarding his business interests, ownership stakes, or the source of any family wealth are not provided in available records [3][5].\n\nFinancial disclosure information is limited in public sources. One profile notes that he made contributions to the State Democratic Party Organizations and Wayne Steele in 2022 [5]. No other significant financial-disclosure facts, sales of businesses, or detailed income sources are documented in the provided materials [3][5].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Matt Ferry - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Matt_Ferry)\n[2] [Matt Ferry - Run For Something](https://directory.runforsomething.net/candidate/804/ferry-matt/)\n[3] [Vote-USA | Matt Ferry | Candidate for State Representative District 48, Tennessee | August 1, 2024 Tennessee Democratic Party State Primary](https://vote-usa.org/Intro.aspx?State=TN&Id=TNFerryMatt)\n[4] [Endorsements for Matt Ferry - Tennessee Democratic Party Candidate](https://bluevoterguide.org/TN/candidate_Matt_Ferry/301470)\n[5] [iVoterGuide - Matt Ferry iVoterGuide Profile](https://ivoterguide.com/candidate/73890/race/15677/election/1242?culture=es-us)\n[6] [Matt Ferry](https://mattferrytn48.com/)\n[7] [About Matt Ferry](https://mattferrytn48.com/about-matt)\n[8] [Matt Ferry | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/matt-ferry)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_048","county":"Rutherford","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"TN House District 48"},{"contest":"tn_exec_committeeman_14","county":"Bedford","county_count":4,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"TN State Executive Committeeman District 14"}],"cf_filings":[{"county":"rutherford","displayname":"Ferry, Matt","documents":[{"datesubmitted":"03/12/26","documentid":"CF34C59C-143C-4305-BC3B-84EA4A8A86F5","documentname":"APT Ferry 2026","documentnameid":["CF34C59C-143C-4305-BC3B-84EA4A8A86F5","APT Ferry 2026"],"documenttype":"Appointment of Political Treasurer","electionname":null}],"filertype":"Candidate","officename":"Democrat State Exe. Committeeman - Dist #14","source_customer_id":"09ECD306-F24C-4CDD-9580-F9815F736BD5","source_filer_id":"CEFBC79A-0632-490F-9550-A567C3AC8C7A","source_system":"easyvote","state":"TN","status":"Active"}],"firstname":"Matt","fullname":"Matt Ferry","lastname":"Ferry","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_048","contest_title":"TN House District 48","county":"Rutherford","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house_048","office_title":"State Representative District 48","party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"D","primary":{"contest":"state_house_048","contest_title":"TN House District 48","county":"Rutherford","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house_048","office_title":"State Representative District 48","party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"state_house_048","office_title":"State Representative District 48","state":"TN","terms":[]},{"campaigns":[{"contest":"tn_exec_committeeman_14","contest_title":"TN State Executive Committeeman District 14","county":"Bedford","county_count":4,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"tn_exec_committeeman_14","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"D","primary":{"contest":"tn_exec_committeeman_14","contest_title":"TN State Executive Committeeman District 14","county":"Bedford","county_count":4,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"tn_exec_committeeman_14","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"tn_exec_committeeman_14","office_title":"TN State Executive Committeeman District 14","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Matt Ferry is the Democratic candidate for Tennessee House District 48 in 2026, previously losing to incumbent Bryan Terry in 2024.","terms":[],"token":"Ctmmbc2kF2"}