{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nLeonard Perkins is a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives representing Tennessee's 8th Congressional District [1]. He declared his candidacy for the Democratic primary, which is scheduled to take place on August 6, 2026 [1]. The general election for this seat is set for November 3, 2026 [4].\n\nPerkins has established a principal campaign committee titled the Committee to Elect Leonard Perkins Sr to Congress [2]. As of the available records, the committee reported total receipts of $14,164.94 [2]. He completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey for the 2026 election cycle [1].\n\nOn his campaign website, Perkins self-describes as a champion for veterans' human rights, women's reproductive autonomy, and organized labor [3]. His platform emphasizes veteran's rights, women's rights, and pro-labor positions [4].\n\n## Background and education\n\nLeonard Perkins was born in Memphis, Texas [1]. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1973 to 1977 as an air traffic controller [1][3].\n\nPerkins earned a bachelor's degree from Crichton College in 1995 and a graduate degree from the Memphis Theological Seminary in 2012 [1]. He is a pastor and the founder of Patmos Island Community Church, where he has served for 23 years [3].\n\n## Career\n\nLeonard Perkins served in the U.S. Air Force from 1973 to 1977 as a retired air traffic controller [1][3]. Following his military service, he worked as a retired employee for the Department of Veterans Affairs [3].\n\nProfessionally, Perkins is a substance abuse counselor and has served as a pastor for 23 years [3]. He founded Patmos Island Community Church, where he continues to serve as pastor [3]. In the business sector, he founded the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1113 in 2015 [3]. Additionally, in 2019, Perkins established the All Veterans Golfplex and Adaptive Sports Center, a 46-acre therapeutic facility dedicated to supporting veterans and their families [3].\n\nPerkins holds a bachelor's degree from Crichton College, earned in 1995, and a graduate degree from the Memphis Theological Seminary, completed in 2012 [1].\n\n## Office history\n\nLeonard Perkins has not previously held elected or appointed public office [1]. He is running for election to the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Tennessee's 8th Congressional District in the 2026 cycle [1]. The Democratic primary for this seat is scheduled for August 6, 2026, with the general election set for November 3, 2026 [4].\n\nPerkins established a principal campaign committee titled \"Committee to Elect Leonard Perkins Sr to Congress\" to support his bid for the U.S. House [2]. As of the available records, he has not held prior elected or appointed positions, nor have sources indicated losses in previous electoral races [1]. His professional background includes service as a retired USAF air traffic controller and a former employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs [3]. He also served as a pastor and founder of Patmos Island Community Church for 23 years [3].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nLeonard Perkins self-describes as a retired U.S. Air Force air traffic controller and a former employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs [3]. His business interests include serving as a substance abuse counselor and founding Patmos Island Community Church, where he has served as pastor for 23 years [3]. In 2015, Perkins founded the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1113 [3].\n\nIn 2019, Perkins established the All Veterans Golfplex and Adaptive Sports Center, a 46-acre therapeutic facility dedicated to veterans and their families [3]. He also founded this organization in 2019 [3]. Public financial disclosure records for his campaign committee indicate total receipts of $14,064.94 [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Leonard Perkins - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Leonard_Perkins)\n[2] [COMMITTEE TO ELECT LEONARD PERKINS SR TO CONGRESS - committee overview - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00875161/)\n[3] [Championing Veterans\u2019 Human Rights - PERKINS TO CONGRESS](https://perkinstocongress.com/about/)\n[4] [Home- PERKINS TO CONGRESS - US Congress Candidate](https://perkinstocongress.com/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"us_house_8","county":"Benton","county_count":23,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"US House District 8"},{"contest":"us_representative_district_8","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"US Representative, District 8"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Leonard","fullname":"Leonard Perkins","lastname":"Perkins","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"us_house_8","contest_title":"US House District 8","county":"Benton","county_count":23,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_house_8","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"D","primary":{"contest":"us_house_8","contest_title":"US House District 8","county":"Benton","county_count":23,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_house_8","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"us_house_8","office_title":"US House District 8","state":"TN","terms":[]},{"campaigns":[{"contest":"us_representative_district_8","contest_title":"US Representative, District 8","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2024-08-01","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_representative_district_8","office_title":"US Representative, District 8","party":"Democratic","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"Democratic","primary":{"contest":"us_representative_district_8","contest_title":"US Representative, District 8","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2024-08-01","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_representative_district_8","office_title":"US Representative, District 8","party":"Democratic","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2024}],"office_key":"us_representative_district_8","office_title":"US Representative, District 8","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Leonard Perkins is a Democratic candidate for Tennessee's 8th Congressional District in 2026, focusing on veterans' rights and labor.","terms":[],"token":"SnO1uYvLDe"}