Clay Doggett

Current office and 2026 campaign

Clay Doggett is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 70, which includes Giles County and parts of Lawrence and Lincoln Counties ¹³⁹. He assumed office on November 6, 2018, following his election in 2018 ¹³. His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 ¹⁶.

Doggett is seeking re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 70 as a Republican candidate ¹⁴. He officially launched his 2026 reelection campaign in Pulaski on January 8, 2026 ¹³. The Republican primary election for this race is scheduled to take place on August 6, 2026 ¹.

In recent legislative activities leading up to the 2026 cycle, Doggett was appointed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton in January 2025 to serve on the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST) ⁷. He was also reappointed in January 2025 as chairman of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee for the 114th General Assembly ¹⁰. In March 2026, Doggett proposed the Greenbelt Initiative Fund Transfer (GIFT) Act (House Bill 2375), which would establish a $210 million Rural Revenue Equity Fund to support services in rural counties ¹².

Doggett has received recognition for his legislative work, including being named Legislator of the Year by the Tennessee Republican Party in August 2025 ¹¹. He was also presented with the Guardian of Small Business award by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in June 2024 ⁹.

Background and education

Clay Doggett was born on September 5, 1983 ³. He is a businessman and law enforcement officer from Tennessee ³. Doggett earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alabama in Huntsville ³.

Career

Clay Doggett is an American businessman and law enforcement officer from Tennessee ³. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alabama in Huntsville ³. Before entering politics, he worked as a law enforcement officer, a background that has informed his legislative focus on public safety and criminal justice ⁸.

Doggett serves as the chairman of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee and is a member of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the Naming and Designating Committee, the Health and Safety Committee, and the Elections Committee ¹³. In January 2025, he was appointed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton to serve on the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), the primary regulatory body for law enforcement in the state ⁷.

His work supporting small business policies earned him the Guardian of Small Business award from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in June 2024 ⁹. In August 2025, he was named Legislator of the Year by the Tennessee Republican Party ¹¹.

Office history

Clay Doggett was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 70 in November 2018 and assumed office on January 8, 2019 ¹³. He serves a two-year term, with his current term ending on November 3, 2026 ¹². District 70 includes Giles County and parts of Lawrence and Lincoln counties ⁹.

During the 113th General Assembly (2023–2024), Doggett was assigned to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and the Criminal Justice Subcommittee ¹. He also serves on the Naming and Designating Committee, the Health and Safety Committee, and the Elections Committee ¹³. In January 2025, he was reappointed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton to continue serving as chairman of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee for the 114th General Assembly ¹⁰.

In January 2025, Doggett was appointed by Speaker Sexton to serve on the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), the primary regulatory body for law enforcement in the state ⁷.

Doggett is running for re-election to represent District 70 in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹⁶.

Legislative record and accomplishments

Clay Doggett has served on several key committees during his tenure in the Tennessee House of Representatives. For the 2021–2022 session, he was assigned to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and the Criminal Justice Committee ¹. In subsequent sessions, his committee assignments expanded to include the Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee, the Naming and Designating Committee, the Health and Safety Committee (specifically during the Second Extraordinary Session), and the Elections Committee ¹³.

In February 2025, Speaker Cameron Sexton appointed Doggett to serve on the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), the state's primary regulatory body for law enforcement ⁷. That same month, he was reappointed as chairman of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee for the 114th General Assembly, a role that leverages his background as a former law enforcement officer to advance public safety policies ¹⁰.

Doggett’s legislative priorities have included support for rural development and small business interests. In March 2026, he proposed the Greenbelt Initiative Fund Transfer (GIFT) Act (House Bill 2375), which seeks to establish a $210 million Rural Revenue Equity Fund to offset property tax revenue losses in counties with high percentages of greenbelt-classified property ¹². His support for small business initiatives was recognized in June 2024 when the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) presented him with its Guardian of Small Business award ⁹.

Doggett’s voting record reflects a focus on public safety, religious freedom, and conservative social issues. According to the Family Action Council of Tennessee, he supported legislation including SB 16/HB 1 (Tennessee Sports Gaming Act), SB 1257/HB 1029 (Human Life Protection Act), SB 1304/HB 836 (Conscience Provision for Child-Placing Agencies), and SB 2196/HB 2263 (Governor Lee's Pro-Life Bill) ⁵. In February 2025, the Tennessee Republican Party named him Legislator of the Year, citing his work on public safety and individual freedoms ¹¹.

Business interests and wealth source

Clay Doggett is identified as an American businessman and law enforcement officer ³. He has been recognized for his support of small business interests, receiving the Guardian of Small Business award from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in June 2024 ⁹. The NFIB cited his support for tax and labor reforms that contributed to hiring and investment in Tennessee ⁹.

Specific details regarding Doggett’s private business holdings, ownership stakes, or the specific sources of his personal wealth are not provided in the available records. While he has proposed legislation such as the Greenbelt Initiative Fund Transfer (GIFT) Act to support rural revenue equity ¹², there is no public information in the provided sources detailing his personal financial disclosures or family wealth origins.

Sources