Dawn White

Current office and 2026 campaign

Dawn White is a Republican member of the Tennessee State Senate representing District 13 ¹. She assumed office on November 6, 2018, following her service in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 2012 to 2018 ¹. Her current term in the State Senate is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 ¹.

White is seeking re-election to the Tennessee State Senate for District 13 as a Republican candidate ¹. She qualified for the ballot by the March 10, 2026, deadline set by the Tennessee Secretary of State ². White appears on the ballot for the Republican primary election scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹. The general election for this seat is scheduled to be held on November 3, 2026 ⁴.

White self-describes as a lifelong conservative Republican who prioritizes faith, family, and community ⁵. Her campaign website states that she supports President Donald J. Trump’s agenda and previously introduced a resolution calling for funding for the border wall ⁷. White identifies herself as a former kindergarten teacher and small business owner ⁵. She currently chairs the Senate Education Committee and serves on the Judiciary Committee ¹².

Background and education

Dawn White was born on October 22, 1975, in Eagleville, Tennessee ³⁶. She identifies as a Baptist ⁶. White is a lifelong conservative Republican who self-describes her core values as faith, family, and community ⁵¹⁰.

White earned a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Middle Tennessee State University ⁶. She subsequently obtained a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the same institution between 1998 and 1999 ⁶. White also completed an Education Specialist degree in Administration and Supervision at Middle Tennessee State University, graduating between 1999 and 2002 ⁶¹.

Career

Dawn White began her professional career as a kindergarten teacher in the Murfreesboro City School System at Black Fox Elementary, where she taught for seven years ⁵. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Middle Tennessee State University, earned between 1997 and 1998, as well as a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction (1998–1999) and an Education Specialist degree in Administration and Supervision (1999–2002) from the same institution ¹⁶.

White is a small business owner who has described herself as having found success through entrepreneurship prior to entering public service ⁷. She self-describes her professional background as that of a conservative business owner rather than a career politician, noting that she was a successful business owner before entering public service ⁷.

Office history

Dawn White served in the Tennessee House of Representatives from District 37 from January 8, 2013, to January 8, 2019 ³. She was elected to this seat in November 2012, succeeding Bill Harmon and serving until she was succeeded by Charlie Baum ³. During her tenure in the House, White worked on legislation including the Criminal Justice Veterans Compensation Act of 2015, which established sustainable support for Tennessee’s Veterans Treatment Court programs ⁸.

White assumed office in the Tennessee State Senate representing District 13 on November 6, 2018, succeeding Bill Ketron ³. She was elected to this position in the general election held that same year and has been re-elected subsequently, with her current term ending on November 3, 2026 ¹. As a State Senator, she serves as the chair of the Senate Education Committee and also sits on the Judiciary Committee ¹².

White is currently running for re-election to the Tennessee State Senate in District 13 ¹. She qualified for the ballot with a filing deadline of March 10, 2026, and appears on the Republican primary ballot scheduled for August 6, 2026 ²⁴. The general election for this seat is scheduled for November 3, 2026 ⁴.

Legislative record and accomplishments

Dawn White serves on the Senate Education Committee, which she chairs, and the Judiciary Committee ¹². Her legislative priorities include safer communities, higher educational standards, lower taxes, and smaller government, aligning with her self-described support for President Donald J. Trump’s agenda to "Make America Great Again" ⁷. She has also introduced and passed a resolution calling on Congress to immediately fund the construction of President Trump’s border wall ⁷.

During her tenure in the Tennessee House of Representatives, White sponsored SB 711/HB 854, the Criminal Justice Veterans Compensation Act of 2015 (CJVA), which provided sustainable support for the establishment and maintenance of Tennessee’s Veterans Treatment Court programs ⁸. As a State Senator, she has supported several key pieces of legislation tracked by the Family Action Council of Tennessee, including SB 16/HB 1 (Tennessee Sports Gaming Act), SB 1257/HB 1029 (Human Life Protection Act), and SB 2196/HB 2263 (Governor Lee's Pro-Life Bill) ¹¹. Her legislative record also includes support for SB 1297/HB 1151 regarding indecent exposure laws in single-sex restrooms, SB 1304/HB 836 concerning conscience provisions for child-placing agencies, and SB 1373/HB 307 allowing elective religious courses for credit ¹¹.

Business interests and wealth source

White states that she was a successful business owner prior to entering public service ⁷. Her professional background includes seven years as a kindergarten teacher in the Murfreesboro City School System at Black Fox Elementary ⁵. She self-describes her pre-political career as involving small business ownership, alongside her work in education ¹².

Specific details regarding the nature of her businesses, ownership stakes, or sources of family wealth are not provided in the available records. Financial disclosure reports for White are noted as being part of the legislative database, but specific asset values or income sources are not detailed in the cited materials ⁹.

Family

Dawn White is married to Chad ⁶. She self-describes her personal values as centering on faith, family, and community ⁵.

Sources