Scott DesJarlais

Current office and 2026 campaign

Scott DesJarlais is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Tennessee's 4th Congressional District ¹. He assumed office on January 3, 2011, and his current term ends on January 3, 2027 ¹. As of May 2026, he is serving his eighth term in Congress ⁵.

DesJarlais is seeking re-election to the U.S. House to represent Tennessee's 4th Congressional District ¹. He declared candidacy for the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹. The general election for this seat has not yet occurred as of today ¹².

Background and education

Scott Eugene DesJarlais was born on February 21, 1964, in Des Moines, Iowa ⁸. He self-describes as having been raised in rural America, noting that his father was a second-generation barber and his mother worked as a nurse for 44 years at Fort Meade Veterans Hospital ¹⁰. He attended Brown High School in Sturgis, South Dakota, graduating in 1982 ¹⁴.

DesJarlais earned both a Bachelor of Science degree and an M.D. from the University of South Dakota in 1987 ¹¹⁴. Following his medical education, he moved to Tennessee to practice medicine ¹⁰.

Career

Scott DesJarlais was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1964 ¹. He graduated from Brown High School in Sturgis, South Dakota, in 1982 ¹⁴. His early employment included shining shoes and washing cars at a local dealership, where he was later promoted to the parts department while attending college ¹⁰.

DesJarlais earned a Bachelor of Science degree and his M.D. from the University of South Dakota in 1987 ¹¹⁴. Following medical school, he moved to Tennessee to practice medicine ¹⁰. He is a licensed physician who has worked as an emergency room doctor ¹⁰.

Office history

Scott DesJarlais was first elected to the United States House of Representatives on November 2, 2010, defeating incumbent Democrat Lincoln Davis and Paul H. Curtis in the general election for Tennessee's 4th Congressional District ³. He assumed office on January 3, 2011, succeeding Davis ¹⁸. As of 2026, he is serving his eighth term in Congress, with his current term ending on January 3, 2027 ¹⁵¹¹. In the 2014 Republican primary, DesJarlais defeated state Senator Jim Tracy by a margin of 38 votes to secure the nomination for re-election ².

DesJarlais has represented Tennessee's 4th Congressional District throughout his congressional tenure ¹¹². He is currently assigned to Room 2304 in the Rayburn House Office Building ⁴¹¹. While specific committee assignments are not detailed in the provided sources, he is identified as a member of the Republican Party and has been recognized by conservative groups such as Heritage, the American Conservative Union, and Americans for Prosperity as an effective conservative leader ⁵⁶. He also holds "A" ratings from the National Rifle Association and Numbers USA ⁵.

DesJarlais is currently running for re-election to the U.S. House in the 2026 Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹. As of May 2026, this election has not yet occurred, and its outcome is unknown ¹. No other prior electoral losses are documented in the provided sources.

Legislative record and accomplishments

DesJarlais has built a reputation as a conservative leader in Congress ⁵. He is consistently rated as one of the most effective conservatives in Washington by organizations including Heritage, the American Conservative Union, and Americans for Prosperity ⁶. He holds an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association and an “A” rating from Numbers USA ⁵. His legislative priorities include enforcing fiscal discipline, strengthening the nation’s economy, and ending illegal immigration ⁹.

In the 119th Congress, DesJarlais serves as a member of the U.S. House representing Tennessee's 4th District ⁴. Specific committee assignments for his current term are not detailed in the provided sources ⁴. He has sponsored legislation tracked by BillTrack50, though specific bill numbers are not listed in the available data ¹⁵.

DesJarlais’s voting record reflects his conservative alignment. A July 2010 analysis noted that during his campaign against incumbent Lincoln Davis, he positioned himself as a conservative alternative to Davis, who voted with Democratic leadership 94.4% of the time between January 2009 and June 2010 ³. Since assuming office in 2011, DesJarlais has maintained a consistent voting record aligned with his party ¹².

Business interests and wealth source

Scott DesJarlais’s professional background is rooted in medicine and his family’s service-oriented business history. He self-describes as having been raised in rural America, noting that his father was a second-generation barber and his mother worked as a nurse for 44 years at Fort Meade Veterans Hospital ¹⁰. His early work experience included shining shoes and washing cars at a local dealership, where he was eventually promoted to the parts department while attending college ¹⁰. He earned both a Bachelor of Science and an M.D. from the University of South Dakota before moving to Tennessee to practice medicine ⁸¹⁴.

Financial disclosure records required for members of Congress track his assets and income sources during his tenure in office ¹³. As of the 2026 election cycle, DesJarlais is running for re-election to the U.S. House representing Tennessee's 4th Congressional District on the Republican ticket ¹. Campaign finance data indicates that his fundraising relies heavily on individual contributions and other committee support, with no reported contributions from party committees or personal loans in recent reporting periods ⁷. Specific details regarding his current business ownership stakes or significant sales of private businesses are not detailed in the provided source materials.

Family

Scott DesJarlais was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1964 ¹. He is the son of a second-generation barber and a mother who worked as a nurse for 44 years at Fort Meade Veterans Hospital ¹⁰.

DesJarlais has been married twice; his first marriage to Susan ended in divorce in 1998, and he married Amy DesJarlais in 2002 ⁸. The couple has three children ⁸.

Sources