Jody Barrett

Current office and 2026 campaign

Jody Barrett is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 69, having assumed office on November 8, 2022 ¹⁴⁹. His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 ¹. Barrett is seeking re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives in the Republican primary for District 69, which is set for August 6, 2026 ¹.

Prior to this upcoming state legislative race, Barrett ran in the special election for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District in 2025. He finished second in the Republican primary on October 7, 2025, receiving 25.3% of the vote after losing to Matt Van Epps ³. During that congressional campaign, Barrett faced significant opposition spending from dark money groups, including the School Freedom Fund, which spent hundreds of thousands of dollars against him ¹⁴¹⁵.

In his current legislative role, Barrett is known for conservative leadership and has served on committees including Business & Utilities, Commerce, and Education ⁸. In March 2026, a bill he introduced that would have treated women seeking abortions similarly to those convicted of first-degree murder failed in a House committee ¹⁷.

Background and education

Joseph Michael Barrett was born on November 8, 1973, in Bon Aqua, Tennessee ⁴. He graduated from Dickson County Senior High School in 1992 ¹. Barrett earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from Lincoln Memorial University in 1996 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1999 ¹³.

Barrett identifies as a member of the First Baptist Church in Dickson, a affiliation he has held since 2001 ⁵. He self-describes as "Tennessee Born, Tennessee Raised, and Tennessee Proud" and states that his core values are rooted in faith, family, and individual liberty ⁷.

Career

Jody Barrett graduated from Dickson County Senior High School in 1992 ¹. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from Lincoln Memorial University in 1996 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1999 ¹¹³. Barrett is an attorney by profession ⁴.

Barrett identifies himself as a small business owner ⁸¹⁰. Professionally, he has served as the former board chair of the Dickson County Family YMCA from 2009 to 2023 ⁵. He is also a member of the Dickson High Noon Rotary Club since 2003 and a member of First Baptist Church in Dickson since 2001 ⁵.

Office history

Jody Barrett assumed office as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 69 on November 8, 2022 ¹⁴⁹. He serves two-year terms and is not subject to term limits ². In his legislative capacity, Barrett serves on the Business & Utilities Subcommittee, the Commerce Committee, the Education Committee, the Education Instruction Subcommittee, and the Naming & Designating Committee ⁸.

Barrett ran for re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives in the Republican primary on August 6, 2026, which is scheduled after the current date ¹. He previously sought election to the U.S. House of Representatives for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District in a special election cycle ³⁶. In the Republican primary held on October 7, 2025, Barrett finished second with 25.3% of the vote, losing to Matt Van Epps who received 51.6% ³.

Legislative record and accomplishments

Representative Jody Barrett serves on the Commerce Committee and its Business & Utilities Subcommittee, as well as the Education Committee and its Education Instruction Subcommittee ⁸. He also sits on the Naming & Designating Committee ⁸. The Tennessee Lookout Report Card assigns him an A+ leadership grade and a 94 lifetime score, noting a 100% vote score for his tenure ¹².

In March 2026, Barrett sponsored legislation that would have treated women seeking abortions as equivalent to those convicted of first-degree murder ¹⁷. The bill failed in a House committee for lack of sufficient support ¹⁷. During the same period, he participated in a press conference regarding the rejection of this anti-abortion measure ¹⁷.

Barrett has utilized his legislative voting record to distinguish himself in political campaigns. In the 2025 special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, he pointed to his voting record to set himself apart from other candidates ¹⁴. He subsequently lost the Republican primary on October 7, 2025, receiving 25.3% of the vote behind winner Matt Van Epps ³.

As a candidate for Congress, Barrett faced opposition spending from the School Freedom Fund, a dark money group that targeted him for his stance against private school vouchers ¹⁵. The group spent nearly $20,000 on attack ads against him during the special election cycle ¹⁵.

Documented disputes and controversies

During the 2025 special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, state Representative Jody Barrett faced significant opposition from dark money groups while competing in a crowded Republican primary against ten other candidates ³. The School Freedom Fund, a pro-private school voucher group, spent nearly $20,000 on attack ads targeting Barrett due to his opposition to private school vouchers ¹⁵. Out-of-state spending groups funneled more than $842,000 in funds specifically to oppose Barrett, a figure that far outpaced the outside spending for any other candidate in the race ¹⁴.

Barrett’s legislative record has also drawn public attention regarding his stance on reproductive rights. In March 2026, a Tennessee House committee rejected a bill introduced by Barrett that would have treated women seeking abortions as individuals convicted of first-degree murder ¹⁷. The legislation failed for lack of sufficient support within the committee, and Barrett held a press conference following the rejection to discuss the measure ¹⁷.

Business interests and wealth source

Jody Barrett is a small business owner and attorney ⁸. He earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1999 ¹³. His professional background includes work as an attorney, though specific former employers are not detailed in the provided records ¹³.

Barrett’s personal financial disclosures have been tracked by LegiStorm, which noted the addition of 35 new disclosures for him in its database updates ¹¹¹⁶. Specific details regarding his business ownership stakes, sales of businesses, or the precise sources of his wealth are not contained in the available source material.

Family

Jody Barrett is married to Holly, whom he wed in 1996 ⁴. The couple has three children ⁴. Barrett self-describes as a husband and father who views the family unit as a foundational cornerstone of society ⁷⁸. No other family members are noted as holding public office or being notable public figures in the available records.

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