Elaine Davis

Current office and 2026 campaign

Elaine Davis is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing District 18 in parts of western and southern Knox County ³. She assumed office on January 10, 2023, following her initial election to replace departing Representative Eddie Mannis ³. Her current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 ¹.

Davis is seeking re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 18 as a Republican candidate ¹. She appears on the ballot for the Republican primary election scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹. During her tenure, she has focused on issues including infrastructure, public safety, education, and healthcare ⁴. In April 2026, Davis issued a Capitol Report highlighting legislative activities such as the passage of House Bill 1649, which bans kratom ¹¹.

Background and education

Elaine Davis was born on July 25, 1967 ³. She is a native of Knox County, Tennessee ⁷. Davis graduated from Farragut High School in 1985 ¹. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and criminal justice from the University of Tennessee in 1997 ¹³.

Davis previously held political affiliation with the Democratic Party, having run for Knox County Commission as a Democrat in 2006 before switching her party affiliation to the Republican Party ⁷.

Career

Elaine Davis graduated from Farragut High School in 1985 and earned a B.A. in psychology and criminal justice from the University of Tennessee in 1997 ¹³. Prior to her legislative service, she ran for Knox County Commission as a Democrat in 2006 before switching her party affiliation to Republican ⁷.

Davis self-describes having a "proven track record of effective leadership" and states that her professional background includes advocacy for infrastructure, public safety, education, healthcare, job creation, and lowering the cost to do business ⁴. Specific details regarding non-political employment history, businesses owned, or military service are not provided in the available sources.

Office history

Davis ran for Knox County Commission as a Democrat in 2006 ⁷. She later switched her party affiliation to Republican ⁷.

In 2022, Davis was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 18 as a Republican, defeating Democrat Greg Kaplan with 54.10% of the vote ⁸. She assumed office on November 8, 2022, or January 10, 2023, succeeding Eddie Mannis ¹³. The district encompasses parts of western and southern Knox County ³. Members of the Tennessee House serve two-year terms with no term limits ².

Davis was re-elected in 2024, defeating Democrat Bryan Goldberg ⁶⁷. Her current term ends on November 3, 2026 ¹. She is running for re-election to represent District 18 in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹.

Legislative record and accomplishments

Elaine Davis serves on the Tennessee House of Representatives District 18, having assumed office in January 2023 after defeating Democrat Greg Kaplan in the November 2022 general election ³⁸. She is currently seeking re-election in the August 6, 2026 Republican primary ¹.

Davis self-describes as a steadfast advocate for infrastructure, public safety, education, healthcare, low taxes, election integrity, job creation, and lowering the cost of doing business ⁴. Her legislative priorities include eliminating Tennessee’s grocery tax without shifting costs to taxpayers or stores, while allowing for a local option to manage revenue ⁵.

The Tennessee Legislative Research Center tracks Davis’s voting record, assigning her a lifetime vote score of 80 and a leadership grade of C as of April 2026 ¹⁰. Specific legislative activity includes support for House Bill 1649, known as Matthew Davenport’s Law, which bans the use, sale, and distribution of kratom by establishing new criminal penalties ¹¹.

Documented disputes and controversies

During the 2022 general election for Tennessee House District 18, Davis’s campaign was marked by allegations of antisemitism leveled against her opponent, Democrat Greg Kaplan ⁸. Davis defeated Kaplan to retain the Republican-held seat, receiving 54.10% of the vote compared to Kaplan’s 45.90% ⁸.

In the 2024 general election, Davis faced Democratic challenger Bryan Goldberg in what was described as Knox County’s most closely watched legislative race ⁶. The contest focused on differing priorities, with Davis emphasizing crime and public safety while Goldberg committed to health care reform and public education ⁹. Davis won re-election to a second term ⁷.

Davis has engaged in public policy disputes regarding state taxation, specifically urging the elimination of Tennessee’s grocery tax without shifting costs to taxpayers or stores ⁵. She advocated for allowing a local option to manage such changes while maintaining low taxes and lowering the cost to do business ⁴.

Family

Elaine Davis has three children ³. She graduated from Farragut High School in 1985 and earned a B.A. in psychology and criminal justice from the University of Tennessee in 1997 ¹.

Sources