Paul Bailey

Current office and 2026 campaign

Paul Bailey is a Republican member of the Tennessee State Senate representing District 15 ¹. He assumed office on November 4, 2014, and his current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 ¹. Bailey serves as the state senator for a district that includes Smith, Jackson, Putnam, and White counties ⁴.

Bailey is seeking re-election to the Tennessee State Senate in 2026 ¹. He is listed on the ballot for the Republican primary election scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹. As of May 2026, Bailey remains in office and active in his legislative duties ⁷.

During the 2026 legislative session, Bailey has been involved in advancing measures focused on finalizing the year's work at the Capitol ⁵. He self-describes as a lifelong conservative who prioritizes families, jobs, and local businesses over influence from external groups ⁶. His campaign website highlights his legislative record, including support for measures such as the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act and various pro-life initiatives ⁸.

Background and education

Paul Edward Bailey was born on March 4, 1968 ³. He is a Christian and resides in Tennessee with his wife, Amy, and their three children ⁹. Bailey self-describes as a lifelong conservative who identifies as a trucking owner and small farmer ⁹.

Bailey attended White County High School before earning a degree from Tennessee Tech University ³. Ballotpedia also notes that he attended Tennessee Tech University ¹.

Career

Paul Bailey is the owner of CB Trucking and has worked as a small farmer ¹⁹. He attended White County High School and Tennessee Tech University ³.

Bailey’s political career began with an unsuccessful bid for the 15th District Senate seat in 2002 ⁴. He subsequently ran for and won a seat on the White County Commission, where he served as Chairman ⁴. In 2014, Bailey was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Representative Charles Curtis, serving in the 42nd House seat before resigning from that position ¹⁴. He then successfully ran for the Tennessee State Senate, assuming office on January 13, 2015, representing District 15 ³.

Office history

Bailey first entered electoral politics in 2002 with an unsuccessful bid for the Tennessee State Senate seat representing the 15th District ⁴. He subsequently served as a White County Commissioner and Chairman before resigning from that post when he was appointed to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2014 to fill the unexpired term of Representative Charles Curtis, who retired ⁴. Bailey served in the 42nd House seat during this appointment ⁴.

Bailey assumed office as a member of the Tennessee State Senate representing District 15 on January 13, 2015, following his election to the open seat ³. He represents Smith, Jackson, Putnam, and White counties ⁴. Members of the Tennessee State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits ². Bailey is currently serving his fourth term in the Senate, which ends on November 3, 2026 ¹. He is running for re-election to represent District 15 in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹.

Legislative record and accomplishments

Paul Bailey has served in the Tennessee State Senate since January 13, 2015, representing District 15 ³. Prior to his legislative service, he was appointed to the state House of Representatives to fill an unexpired term after serving as Chairman of the White County Commission ⁴. He assumed his current Senate seat following a successful run for the open district in 2014 ⁴.

During his tenure, Bailey has aligned with conservative policy positions, including voting against measures to decriminalize marijuana at the municipal level ⁹. His legislative record includes support for several key bills identified by the Family Action Council of Tennessee, such as SB 16/HB 1 (the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act) and SB 1257/HB 1029 (the Human Life Protection Act) ⁸. He also voted for SB 1297/HB 1151 regarding indecent exposure laws in single-sex restrooms, SB 1304/HB 836 concerning conscience provisions for child-placing agencies, and SB 1373/HB 307 allowing elective religious courses for credit ⁸.

In the 2026 legislative session, Bailey has continued to advance measures focused on local priorities as the session nears its conclusion in April ⁵. He self-describes as a lifelong conservative who prioritizes families, jobs, and local businesses over external political groups ⁶. His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 ¹.

Business interests and wealth source

Paul Bailey is the owner of CB Trucking ¹. He also identifies himself as a small farmer ⁹. Prior to his election to the state legislature, Bailey served as a county commissioner and later as chairman of the White County Commission ⁴. He resigned from the county commission when he was appointed to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2014 to fulfill an unexpired term ¹.

Specific details regarding family wealth sources, ownership stakes in other entities, sales of businesses, or significant financial-disclosure facts are not provided in the available sources.

Family

Paul Bailey is married to Amy Bailey³. The couple has three children³.

Sources