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David S. Kerr Jr.
Office history
Current office and 2026 campaign
David S. Kerr Jr. is running as a Democrat in the August 6, 2026 primary for Tennessee's 1st Congressional District, which covers Northeast Tennessee. He faces fellow Democrat in the primary before a potential general election against the Republican nominee.
Kerr's campaign focuses on rural healthcare infrastructure (including preventing hospital closures), the rising cost of living for working families, veterans' services, and constituent-first representation. He supports congressional term limits, comprehensive lobbying reform, universal background checks for firearm purchases, and reproductive healthcare access. He has pledged not to take corporate money.
Background and education
Kerr grew up in South Knoxville before moving to the Cedar Bluff area during his teenage years. He attended Knoxville Catholic High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, with honors, from the University of Phoenix while serving on active military duty.
Career
After high school, Kerr embarked on a 20-year career in the United States Marine Corps, serving as a Motor Transport Maintenance Chief (MOS 3529) and retiring at the rank of Master Sergeant. During his service, he was deployed to Iraq from 2007 to 2008 as part of a Point of Entry Transition Team, and to Afghanistan from 2012 to 2013 as a Civil-Military Operations Chief. Following his military retirement, he returned to East Tennessee and settled in Dandridge (Jefferson County).
Family
He is a father of two and a lifelong Tennessean.
Sources
Public filings
Candidates and officeholders are required by law to file campaign finance reports and statements of economic interest. The sites below don't support direct links to an individual record — search by last name on each.
Tennessee — campaign finance (search)
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State offices (Governor, TN Senate, TN House, State Executive Committee, statewide judiciary) —
Tennessee Registry of Election Finance.
Click Search for Candidates and PACs, enter last name “Kerr”, and submit.
US House, US Senate, and Presidential candidates file with the FEC — see the federal section below. - County and municipal offices (County Mayor, Commissioner, Sheriff, School Board, court clerks, municipal alderman, etc.) — most major TN counties use the EasyVote portal. Select the relevant county and search by candidate name (“Kerr”).
Tennessee — statement of interest
- Required for state and local officials and candidates — Tennessee Ethics Commission Conflict of Interest Search. Enter last name “Kerr”and, if needed, select the applicable position.
Federal offices — campaign finance
- US House, US Senate, and Presidential candidates file with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), not with state systems — FEC candidate search. Filter by office, state, and cycle to narrow the results. Financial disclosures (personal assets and income) for members of Congress and congressional candidates are filed with the US House Clerk or US Senate Office of Public Records, depending on the office.