Kelly Keisling

Current office and 2026 campaign

Kelly T. Keisling is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 38, having assumed office in 2010 ¹⁴. His current term concludes on November 3, 2026 ¹. In the 2026 election cycle, Keisling is seeking re-election to represent District 38 and appears on the ballot for the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹.

Keisling announced his bid for reelection in January 2026, stating that it remains an honor to serve the district and requesting voter support for his eighth term in the Tennessee General Assembly ¹¹. He self-describes as a conservative candidate and has established a campaign infrastructure to host fundraisers and recruit volunteers ahead of the general election on November 3, 2026 ¹².

Background and education

Kelly T. Keisling was born on March 16, 1951, in Albany, Kentucky ³⁴. He is a Baptist ³. For his secondary education, he graduated from Pickett County High School ¹³. He later attended Belmont University ¹³⁴.

Career

Kelly T. Keisling attended Belmont University and graduated from Pickett County High School ¹³¹³. Before entering public service, he worked in the insurance industry ¹³⁴. He served as the County Executive of Pickett County from 1994 to 1998 ¹³.

Keisling is the president of Keisling Insurance, an independent agency based in Byrdstown, Tennessee, which he has operated since 1985 ¹³¹⁵¹⁶. The firm provides insurance solutions for individuals and businesses in the region ¹⁵.

Office history

From 1994 to 1998, Keisling served as the County Executive of Pickett County ¹³. He worked in the insurance industry prior to assuming elected office ¹³.

Keisling was first elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 38 in 2010 and assumed office on January 11, 2011 ¹⁴⁷. As a member of the Republican Party, he serves two-year terms without term limits ². He has been re-elected multiple times since his initial victory ¹¹. In the 2016 general election, Keisling won with 81.6% of the vote against Democrat Mike Campbell ¹⁰.

As of 2026, Keisling is seeking re-election to represent District 38 in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹¹¹. His current term ends on November 3, 2026 ¹.

Legislative record and accomplishments

Kelly Keisling has served in the Tennessee House of Representatives since 2010, representing District 38 ¹⁴. During his tenure, he has held various committee assignments, including service on the House Agriculture and Transportation Committees during the 107th General Assembly ³. More recently, he has chaired the State Government Committee and served on the Calendar & Rules, Finance Ways and Means, and Government Operations committees ⁸. He also holds membership in several subcommittees, including Appropriations, Corrections, Departments & Agencies, Joint Commerce Labor Transportation and Agriculture, Public Service, Banking & Consumer Affairs, Children & Family Affairs, Commerce, and Judiciary ⁵⁸.

Keisling’s legislative record includes support for significant policy initiatives. He voted in favor of HB 173/SB 173, which clarified that state law preempts local governments from enacting ordinances to decriminalize marijuana ¹³. The Family Action Council of Tennessee tracked his votes on several other bills, including the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act (SB 16/HB 1), the Business Protection Act (SB 364/HB 563), and the Human Life Protection Act (SB 1257/HB 1029) ⁶. He also voted for the School Protection Act (SB 1499/HB 1274) and Governor Lee’s Pro-Life Bill (SB 2196/HB 2263) ⁶.

In addition to his voting record, Keisling has been recognized for specific policy advocacy. U.S. Term Limits honored him with a "Champion of Term Limits" plaque in April 2021 for his support of term limits for Congress ⁹. He has received recognition as Legislator of the Year from the Upper Cumberland Development District, East Tennessee Development District, the Rural Health Association of Tennessee, and the Upper Cumberland EMS Directors ⁵. His legislative scorecard with the Tennessee Legislative Research Center (TLRC) lists a lifetime vote score of 86 and a leadership grade of C ¹⁴.

Business interests and wealth source

Kelly Keisling’s professional background is rooted in the insurance industry. He worked in insurance prior to assuming office in the Tennessee House of Representatives ¹. He currently serves as the president of Keisling Insurance, an independent agency located in Byrdstown, Tennessee, which has provided insurance solutions for individuals and businesses since 1985 ¹⁵¹⁶. The agency operates out of a suite in Byrdstown and lists John Keisling as its president alongside other staff members ¹⁷¹⁸.

Keisling’s wealth source is tied to his ownership and leadership role within this family-run business. He self-describes as the president of Keisling Insurance, indicating his primary financial interest lies in the agency’s operations rather than external investments or sales of other enterprises ¹⁶. The business maintains a presence on professional networks such as LinkedIn, where it describes its goal of providing protection for families and businesses through various insurance products ¹⁹.

There is no information in the provided sources regarding significant sales of businesses, family wealth from prior generations, or detailed financial disclosure figures beyond his professional title. Keisling’s public profile emphasizes his role as a small business owner in the insurance sector as his primary economic activity outside of his legislative service ¹¹⁵.

Family

Kelly Keisling is married to Janet Keisling ³¹³. The couple has three children: two daughters, Jamie Edwards and Karissa Jones, and one son, John ¹³. He also has seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild ¹³.

Sources