{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nAndrea Andrews Kline is the appointed Republican incumbent for Knox County General Sessions Court, Division IV, sworn in December 2025 and seated in January 2026 to fill the unexpired term of retired Judge Andrew Jackson VI; she must stand in the August 6, 2026 election and faces Democrat Ben Houston II [1][2][3]. She won the May 2026 Republican primary over Rhonda Lee [2]. She campaigns on experience and efficiently managing the court's roughly 65,000 annual cases while protecting individual rights, and on increasing involvement with specialized courts addressing mental health and homelessness - \"Experience matters.\" [1]\n\n## Background and education\nKline, 58, moved to Knoxville for the University of Tennessee, earning a psychology degree in 1991 and a law degree in 1995 [2].\n\n## Career\nShe was a solo practitioner for four years handling civil, personal-injury, domestic, criminal-defense and guardian ad litem work, then in 2000 was hired as an assistant district attorney general, prosecuting thousands of cases over nearly 30 years in Knox County courts [1][2]. She founded Tennessee's first Elder Abuse Special Prosecution Unit and helped craft legislation strengthening protections for elderly and vulnerable adults [1][2].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\nIn the Knox County Bar Association's 2026 judicial-preference survey, two-thirds of 363 respondents recommended her, with 44.6% giving strong recommendations [2]. Retired Judge Andrew Jackson VI endorsed her, and she reported raising over $108,000, including a $23,000 personal loan [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Knox County general sessions court judge voter's guide (Knox News)](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/knox-county-general-sessions-court-070030014.html) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Primary 2026: General Sessions Court Judge (Compass Knox)](https://compassknox.com/2026/05/04/primary-2026-general-sessions-court-judge/) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Andrea Kline sworn in as Knox County's newest General Sessions Court judge (WATE)](https://www.wate.com/news/knox-county-news/andrea-kline-sworn-in-as-knox-countys-newest-general-sessions-court-judge/) - accessed 2026-07-23","campaigns":[{"contest":"general_sessions_judge_unexpired","county":"Knox","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"General Sessions Judge Division Iv (Unexpired Term)"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Andrea","fullname":"Andrea Kline","lastname":"Kline","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"general_sessions_judge_unexpired","contest_title":"General Sessions Judge Division Iv (Unexpired Term)","county":"Knox","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"general_sessions_judge","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"general_sessions_judge_unexpired","contest_title":"General Sessions Judge Division Iv (Unexpired Term)","county":"Knox","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"general_sessions_judge","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"R","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"general_sessions_judge","office_title":"General Sessions Judge Division Iv (Unexpired Term)","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Appointed Republican incumbent for Knox County General Sessions Judge, Division IV; a nearly-30-year prosecutor who founded TN's first elder-abuse unit, seeking a full term.","terms":[],"token":"Gy6N0f21TX"}