{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDavid 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.\n\nKerr'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.\n\n## Background and education\nKerr 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.\n\n## Career\nAfter 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).\n\n## Family\nHe is a father of two and a lifelong Tennessean.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Elect David Kerr: A Veteran for Tennessee's 1st District \u2013 Campaign Website](https://davidkerr4congress.com/)\n- [2] [Kerr announces bid for Congress in 1st District \u2013 Elizabethton Star](https://elizabethton.com/2026/01/23/kerr-announces-bid-for-congress-in-1st-district/)\n- [3] [U.S. House candidate David Kerr addresses GC Democrats \u2013 Greeneville Sun](https://www.greenevillesun.com/news/local_news/u-s-house-candidate-david-kerr-addresses-gc-democrats/article_3a514c62-a6bd-4dde-9525-570fd884fb2c.html)\n","campaigns":[{"contest":"us_house_1","county":"Blount","county_count":16,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"US House District 1"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"David S.","fullname":"David S. Kerr Jr.","lastname":"Kerr","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"us_house_1","contest_title":"US House District 1","county":"Blount","county_count":16,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_house_1","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"D","primary":{"contest":"us_house_1","contest_title":"US House District 1","county":"Blount","county_count":16,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_house_1","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"us_house_1","office_title":"US House District 1","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"suffix":"Jr.","terms":[],"token":"lhxjqXmNwN"}