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Ryan D. Williams
Office history
Current office and 2026 campaign
Ryan D. Williams is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 42, covering Cookeville and Putnam County, since January 2011. He ran for reelection in 2022 and 2024.
Background and education
Williams was born June 1, 1973, in Kingsport, Tennessee. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Carson-Newman University on a soccer scholarship, becoming the first in his family to graduate from college in 1996.
Career
Williams serves as Director of Business Development for J&S Construction Company in Cookeville. He challenged Democratic incumbent Henry Fincher for House District 42 in 2010, winning the Republican Primary and the General Election with 55.3% of the vote. In 2016, his House Republican colleagues elected him Republican Caucus Chairman. He has secured more than $400 million in funding for Tennessee Tech University's capital programs.
Family
Williams has been married to his wife, Abby, for more than 25 years. They have two children, Tyson and Carson, and reside in Cookeville, Tennessee.
Sources
Public filings
Candidates and officeholders are required by law to file campaign finance reports and statements of economic interest. The sites below don't support direct links to an individual record — search by last name on each.
Tennessee — campaign finance (search)
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State offices (Governor, TN Senate, TN House, State Executive Committee, statewide judiciary) —
Tennessee Registry of Election Finance.
Click Search for Candidates and PACs, enter last name “Williams”, and submit.
US House, US Senate, and Presidential candidates file with the FEC — see the federal section below. - County and municipal offices (County Mayor, Commissioner, Sheriff, School Board, court clerks, municipal alderman, etc.) — most major TN counties use the EasyVote portal. Select the relevant county and search by candidate name (“Williams”).
Tennessee — statement of interest
- Required for state and local officials and candidates — Tennessee Ethics Commission Conflict of Interest Search. Enter last name “Williams”and, if needed, select the applicable position.