Johnny Garrett

Current office and 2026 campaign

Johnny Garrett is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 45, a seat he has held since assuming office on November 6, 2018 ¹⁹. In addition to his legislative duties, which include serving as the House Majority Whip and sitting on the Appropriations, Civil Justice, Finance, Ways, and Means, and Judiciary committees, Garrett is an attorney and a seventh-generation resident of Goodlettsville, Tennessee ³⁷⁸.

Garrett declared his candidacy for the Republican primary to represent Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, with the primary election scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹. He is not seeking re-election to the Tennessee State House, meaning he will not appear on the ballot for that office in the upcoming August primary ¹. His campaign finance reports indicate he has raised over $1.7 million, including significant individual contributions and loans ².

Garrett self-describes as a pro-Trump Christian conservative who aims to support President Trump’s America First agenda ⁴⁵. He states that his priorities include lowering taxes, securing borders, promoting peace through strength, opposing men in women's sports, and protecting conservative family values ⁴¹². In the current legislative session, he has sponsored House Bill 2036, which would limit eligibility for federal office to natural-born citizens ¹⁰.

Background and education

Johnny C. Garrett was born on August 8, 1978 ³. He is a seventh-generation resident of Goodlettsville, Tennessee, and has lived in Sumner County for over 35 years ⁸. Garrett identifies as a Christian conservative and is a member of the Methodist faith ⁴⁵⁶.

Garrett attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in General Business between 1997 and 2001 ⁶⁸. He subsequently attended the Nashville School of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctor in 2006 ⁶⁸.

Career

Johnny Garrett is an attorney who earned a Bachelor of Science in general business from the University of Tennessee and a Juris Doctor from the Nashville School of Law ³⁶. He is licensed through the Tennessee Bar Association, where he is listed as a member of Bone McAllester Norton PLLN in Hendersonville ⁸.

Garrett has served in the Tennessee House of Representatives since November 6, 2018, representing District 45 ¹⁹. During his tenure, he has held leadership roles including Republican Whip starting in 2021 and serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee, Civil Justice Subcommittee, Finance, Ways, and Means Committee, and Judiciary Committee ⁶⁷. He is a seventh-generation resident of Goodlettsville who has lived in Sumner County for over 35 years ⁸.

Office history

Johnny Garrett was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 45 in November 2018 and assumed office on January 8, 2019, succeeding Courtney Rogers ¹³. He serves as a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee, Civil Justice Subcommittee, Finance, Ways, and Means Committee, and Judiciary Committee within the state legislature ⁷. In addition to his committee assignments, Garrett holds the position of Republican Whip in the Tennessee House of Representatives, a role he has held since 2021 ⁶⁸.

Garrett is currently running for election to the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Tennessee's 6th Congressional District in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹. He declared his candidacy for this seat in July 2025, positioning himself as a pro-Trump conservative attorney ¹². Garrett will not appear on the ballot for re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives in the upcoming August 2026 primary, meaning he will not seek another term in that body ¹.

Legislative record and accomplishments

Johnny Garrett has served in the Tennessee House of Representatives since January 8, 2019, representing District 45 ¹³. During his tenure, he has held leadership roles within the Republican caucus, serving as the House Majority Whip starting in 2021 ⁶⁸. His committee assignments include membership on the Appropriations Subcommittee, the Civil Justice Subcommittee, the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee, and the Judiciary Committee ⁷.

Garrett’s legislative record is characterized by conservative policy positions. He received an 86% lifetime rating from CPAC ¹³ and earned a perfect scorecard from the Family Action Council of Tennessee for his votes on measures including the Human Life Protection Act (SB 1257/HB 1029), the Governor Lee's Pro-Life Bill (SB 2196/HB 2263), and legislation restricting single-sex student athletics (SB 1736/HB 1689) ¹¹. In January 2026, Garrett sponsored House Bill 2036, which would limit eligibility for federal office to natural-born citizens ¹⁰.

As a candidate for the U.S. House in Tennessee’s 6th District, Garrett self-describes as a pro-Trump Christian conservative who supports President Trump’s America First agenda ⁴⁵. He states that his priorities include lowering taxes, securing borders, and maintaining traditional gender standards in sports ¹². Financial records from the Federal Election Commission show that Garrett raised $1,707,664.57 for his congressional campaign, including $900,000 in loans received ².

Business interests and wealth source

Johnny Garrett holds a Bachelor of Science in General Business from the University of Tennessee and a Juris Doctor from the Nashville School of Law ³⁶. He is an attorney who serves as a member of Bone McAllester Norton PLLC in Hendersonville, Tennessee ⁸. As a state legislator, he has held leadership roles within the Tennessee House Republican Caucus, including serving as the House Majority Whip since 2021 and the Republican Whip starting in 2019 ⁶⁷.

Garrett’s campaign finances for his bid to represent Tennessee's 6th Congressional District reflect a reliance on individual donors rather than personal wealth. Federal Election Commission data indicates that he raised a total of $1,707,664.57 for his congressional campaign, with $807,664.57 coming from contributions and $900,000 from loans received ². Of the total contributions, $772,323.00 were individual contributions, including $624,038.21 in itemized donations and $148,284.79 in unitemized donations ². He also contributed $2,291.57 of his own funds to the campaign ².

Garrett self-describes as a pro-Trump Christian conservative who cites his Tennessee roots and family values as central to his identity ⁴⁵. He is a seventh-generation resident of Goodlettsville, Tennessee, where he has lived for over 35 years ⁸. His professional background in business and law is frequently highlighted alongside his role as a husband and father of three children: Jackson, Ella, and Addie ⁶.

Family

Garrett self-describes as a husband and father of three ⁴⁵. His wife is named Kara, and their children are Jackson, Ella, and Addie ⁶.

Sources