{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nMichael Lankford is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 75 [1]. He assumed office on January 13, 2026, following his appointment by the Montgomery County Commission to fill the seat vacated by the death of Representative Jeff Burkhart [3][8]. Lankford was selected in a tie-breaking vote after the commission failed to reach a majority in earlier rounds of voting [9][10]. He is required under state law to vacate his position as Montgomery County Commissioner for District 6 to serve in the General Assembly [13].\n\nLankford is running for re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives in the 2026 Republican primary for District 75 [1]. He qualified for the ballot by meeting the filing deadline of March 10, 2026 [2]. As an incumbent, he continues his legislative work, which has included participation in budget hearings and support for legislation such as House Bill 1649, known as Matthew Davenport\u2019s Law, which bans kratom [15][17].\n\n## Background and education\n\nMichael Lankford was born on April 16, 1995 [3]. He is a native of Montgomery County, Tennessee [12]. Professionally, he has worked as a financial officer with Farm Credit Mid America, serving farmers and rural landowners in Montgomery, Cheatham, Houston, Stewart, and Davidson counties [12].\n\nLankford earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Austin Peay State University and a Master of Science degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin, both in agriculture business and risk management [3][12].\n\n## Career\n\nMichael Lankford was born on April 16, 1995 [3]. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Austin Peay State University and a Master of Science in agriculture business and risk management from UT Martin [3][12]. Prior to his appointment to the state legislature, Lankford worked as a financial officer with Farm Credit Mid America, where he served farmers and rural landowners in Montgomery, Cheatham, Houston, Stewart, and Davidson counties [12].\n\nLankford previously served as a commissioner for District 6 of the Montgomery County Commission [3][6]. He was appointed to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 75 on December 8, 2025, following a tie-breaking vote by the Montgomery County Commission to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Representative Jeff Burkhart [4][5][8][10]. State law required him to vacate his county commissioner position upon accepting the state appointment [13]. Lankford was sworn in as the representative for District 75 on January 13, 2026 [3][7][11].\n\n## Office history\n\nMichael Lankford served as a Montgomery County Commissioner for District 6 [3]. He was elected to this position and assumed office prior to his appointment to the state legislature [12]. As a commissioner, he participated in county governance, including casting tie-breaking votes on personnel matters such as the appointment of the county clerk [6].\n\nLankford\u2019s tenure on the Montgomery County Commission ended in December 2025 when he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Following the death of State Representative Jeff Burkhart, the Montgomery County Commission held votes to select a replacement [8]. After an initial 9-9 tie among commissioners, Mayor Wes Golden cast the deciding vote to appoint Lankford to the seat [10]. This appointment required Lankford to vacate his county commission role, triggering a search for his successor in District 6 [13].\n\nLankford was sworn in as the Republican representative for Tennessee House District 75 on January 13, 2026, succeeding Jeff Burkhart [3]. He assumed office for the remainder of Burkhart\u2019s term [11]. In this capacity, he serves on committees and participates in legislative processes such as budget analysis and committee hearings [17].\n\nLankford has run for elected office previously. He announced a campaign for the Republican nomination to the Montgomery County Commission, District 6, where he was successful in his election to that body [12]. There is no record in the provided sources of other specific races won or lost by Lankford prior to his county commission service.\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nMichael Lankford assumed office in the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 75 on January 13, 2026, following an appointment by the Montgomery County Commission to fill the seat vacated by the death of Jeff Burkhart [3][11]. Prior to his state legislative service, Lankford served as a Montgomery County Commissioner for District 6, where he worked on fiscal and policy matters alongside colleagues such as Joe Smith [6][14].\n\nDuring his initial months in the General Assembly, Lankford has focused on budgetary oversight and public safety legislation. He participated in hearings before the Finance, Ways and Means Committee regarding state agency funding requests and spending priorities [17]. On issues of public health and safety, he supported House Bill 1649, known as Matthew Davenport\u2019s Law, which bans the use, sale, and distribution of kratom and establishes criminal penalties for offenders [15].\n\nLankford\u2019s policy positions emphasize fiscal conservatism and support for rural agricultural interests. As a former county commissioner, he endorsed candidates who demonstrated strong understanding of local government and fiscal responsibility, including Joe Smith for State Representative District 68 [14]. He has also publicly supported Matt Van Epps for Congress, arguing that Tennessee\u2019s rural future depends on leadership that understands the economic realities of farming, such as input costs and regulatory burdens [16].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nMichael Lankford\u2019s professional background is rooted in agriculture and finance. He has worked as a financial officer for Farm Credit Mid America, a role in which he serves farmers and rural landowners across Montgomery, Cheatham, Houston, Stewart, and Davidson counties [12]. His education includes a Bachelor of Science from Austin Peay State University and a Master of Science in agricultural business and risk management from UT Martin [12].\n\nPrior to his appointment to the Tennessee House of Representatives, Lankford served as a commissioner for Montgomery County District 6. He was required by state law to vacate this county seat upon being appointed to the state legislature [8][13]. During his time in local government, he held positions on multiple committees and described himself as fiscally conservative [14].\n\nPublic financial disclosure records for Lankford are not included in the provided source materials. Consequently, specific details regarding his personal wealth sources, ownership stakes in private businesses, or proceeds from any business sales cannot be detailed here.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Tennessee House of Representatives District 75 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_House_of_Representatives_District_75)\n[2] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n[3] [Michael Lankford - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Lankford)\n[4] [Montgomery County, TN on X: \"Commissioner Michael Lankford Appointed to State House District 75 Seat Following a tie-breaking vote at the formal commission meeting last night, Michael Lankford was officially appointed to serve as the representative for State House District 75. https://t.co/DCCVdN7I30 https://t.co/9BWWNp5eKP\" / X](https://x.com/mcgtn/status/1998370114283163915)\n[5] [Commissioner Michael Lankford Appointed to State House ...](https://www.facebook.com/mcgtn/posts/commissioner-michael-lankford-appointed-to-state-house-district-75-seatfollowing/1287649803403793/)\n[6] [County Commissioner | UT County Technical Assistance Service](https://www.ctas.tennessee.edu/official/michael-lankford)\n[7] [State Rep. Michael Lankford sworn in as Tennessee House member for District 75 - ClarksvilleNow.com](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/state-rep-michael-lankford-sworn-in-as-tennessee-house-member-for-district-75/)\n[8] [Montgomery County Commissioner Michael Lankford to fill late TN Rep. Burkhart\u2019s seat after close vote](https://www.wsmv.com/2025/12/09/montgomery-county-commissioner-michael-lankford-fill-late-tn-rep-burkharts-seat-after-close-vote/)\n[9] [Michael Lankford appointed to represent state House District 75 in tie-breaking vote - ClarksvilleNow.com](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/michael-lankford-appointed-to-represent-state-house-district-75-in-tie-breaking-vote/)\n[10] [Republican Michael Lankford replaces the late Jeff Burkhart in State House District 75 - Main Street Media of Tennessee](https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/mainstreetclarksville/republican-michael-lankford-replaces-the-late-jeff-burkhart-in-state-house-district-75/?pubid=portlandsun)\n[11] [State Representative Michael Lankford | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/30651)\n[12] [Michael Lankford running for Montgomery County Commission, District 6 - ClarksvilleNow.com](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/michael-lankford-running-for-montgomery-county-commission-district-6/)\n[13] [Montgomery County looking for next District 6 commissioner after Michael Lankford appointed to TN House](https://www.wsmv.com/2025/12/10/montgomery-county-looking-next-district-6-commissioner-after-michael-lankford-appointed-tn-house/)\n[14] [Montgomery County Commissioner Michael Lankford endorses Joe Smith for State Representative for District 68 - Clarksville Online - Clarksville News, Sports, Events and Information](https://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2024/07/11/montgomery-county-commissioner-michael-lankford-endorses-joe-smith-for-state-representative-for-district-68/)\n[15] [State Rep. Michael Lankford's Capitol Report | April 10, 2026 \u2014 Tennessee House Republican Caucus](https://tnhousegop.org/member-newsroom/2026/04/state-rep-michael-lankfords-capitol-report-april-10-2026/)\n[16] [Montgomery County Commissioner Michael Lankford Endorses Matt Van Epps for Congress - Clarksville Online - Clarksville News, Sports, Events and Information](https://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2025/08/28/montgomery-county-commissioner-michael-lankford-endorses-matt-van-epps-for-congress/)\n[17] [State Rep. Michael Lankford's Capitol Report | Feb. 27, 2026 \u2014 Tennessee House Republican Caucus](https://tnhousegop.org/member-newsroom/2026/02/state-rep-michael-lankfords-capitol-report-feb-27-2026/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_075","county":"Montgomery","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"TN House District 75"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Michael","fullname":"Michael Lankford","lastname":"Lankford","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_075","contest_title":"TN House District 75","county":"Montgomery","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house_075","office_title":"State Representative District 75","party":"R","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"R","primary":{"contest":"state_house_075","contest_title":"TN House District 75","county":"Montgomery","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house_075","office_title":"State Representative District 75","party":"R","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"state_house_075","office_title":"State Representative District 75","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Michael Lankford (R) was appointed to the Tennessee House District 75 seat in December 2025 and sworn in on January 13, 2026, succeeding Jeff Burkhart.","terms":[],"token":"XN7VY4z4Sv"}