Mark Cochran

Current office and 2026 campaign

Mark Cochran is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 23 ¹. He assumed office on November 6, 2018, following his election as part of the 111th general assembly ³. His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 ¹.

Cochran is seeking re-election to represent District 23 in the Tennessee House of Representatives ¹. He is listed as a candidate for the Republican primary election scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹. BallotReady confirms his status as a candidate for the 2026 Tennessee Primary Election ¹⁰.

Background and education

Mark Cochran was born on November 21, 1985 ³. He grew up on a sixth-generation family farm where he helped feed cattle and worked in his father's grocery store ⁴. Through these experiences, he states that he learned the value of hard work and the importance of serving his community ⁴.

Cochran attended the University of Tennessee ³.

Career

Mark Cochran grew up on a sixth-generation family farm in McMinn County, where he helped feed cattle ⁴. He also worked in his father's grocery store, an experience that shaped his understanding of hard work and community service ⁴. Cochran has self-reported that working in these two family businesses allowed him to witness the impact of economic freedom on Tennesseans ⁴.

Cochran attended the University of Tennessee ³. He is a resident of Englewood, Tennessee ⁵.

Office history

Mark Cochran announced his candidacy for the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2017, seeking to represent District 23 after incumbent John Forgety retired ⁹. He was elected in November 2018 as part of the 111th General Assembly and assumed office on January 8, 2019 ³. In this role, he serves a two-year term with no term limits ². District 23 encompasses McMinn County and parts of Monroe County ³.

Cochran was re-elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 23 in subsequent cycles, with his current term ending on November 3, 2026 ¹. During his tenure, he has served as an Assistant Leader within the Republican Caucus ⁸. His committee assignments have included the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the Education Committee, the Business & Utilities Subcommittee, the Calendar & Rules Committee, the Commerce Committee, the Ethics Committee, and the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee ¹⁸.

Cochran is currently on the ballot for the Republican primary election scheduled for August 6, 2026, to seek re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 23 ¹¹⁰.

Legislative record and accomplishments

Representative Mark Cochran serves on several key committees within the Tennessee House, including the Calendar & Rules Committee, the Commerce Committee, and the Ethics Committee ⁸. He also holds assignments in the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee and its subcommittee, as well as the Business & Utilities Subcommittee ⁸. In previous terms, his committee work included service on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and the Education Committee ¹.

Cochran’s legislative record includes support for significant conservative policy initiatives. He voted in favor of SB 263, which bans state and local government entities from enforcing mandates from international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the World Economic Forum ¹¹. He also supported SB 207, legislation that established a $25 million Farmland Preservation Fund managed by the Department of Agriculture ¹¹. Additionally, Cochran voted for HB 1237, which prohibits state regulatory agencies from engaging in race-based membership bans ¹¹.

His voting history aligns with the priorities of conservative advocacy groups. The Family Action Council of Tennessee highlighted his support for SB 16/HB 1 (the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act), SB 364/HB 563 (the Business Protection Act), and SB 1257/HB 1029 (the Human Life Protection Act) ⁶. He also backed legislation addressing conscience rights for child-placing agencies, religious courses in schools, school protection measures, single-sex student athletics, and chemical abortion reversal information ⁶.

Cochran has sponsored bills related to property rights and government oversight. He introduced HB 1237, which ended the ability of state regulatory and health agencies to enforce race-based membership bans ¹¹. His legislative agenda is described by his campaign as focused on ensuring Tennessee remains a place where people are free to pursue their dreams with minimal government interference ⁴.

Political scorecards reflect his voting patterns. The Tennessee Legislative Report Card gave him a lifetime vote score of 76 and a leadership grade of D ⁵. He received a perfect score from the Family Action Council of Tennessee for the 2020 legislative session ⁶.

Business interests and wealth source

Cochran states that he grew up on a sixth-generation family farm where he fed cattle and worked in his father’s grocery store ⁴. He describes these experiences as foundational to his understanding of hard work and community service ⁴. His campaign materials note that working in these two family businesses allowed him to witness the impact of economic freedom on Tennesseans ⁴.

Specific details regarding Cochran’s current business ownership stakes, sales of businesses, or the specific sources of personal wealth beyond his family’s agricultural and retail background are not provided in the available source materials ¹³⁷. While LegiStorm tracks personal financial disclosures for legislators, the provided text does not list specific financial disclosure facts for Cochran ⁷.

Family

Mark Cochran self-describes as having grown up on a sixth-generation family farm and working in his father's grocery store ⁴. He has stated that these experiences with family businesses taught him the value of hard work and community service ⁴. No further details regarding his spouse, children, or other family members are provided in the available sources.

Sources