Rusty Grills

Current office and 2026 campaign

Rusty Grills is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 77, an office he has held since January 14, 2020 ¹². His current term concludes on November 3, 2026 ¹. For the 2026 election cycle, Grills is seeking re-election to represent District 77 in the Tennessee House of Representatives ¹³. He appears on the ballot for the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹.

During the 2026 legislative session, Grills was appointed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton to serve as chairman of the House Business & Utilities Subcommittee ⁹. This appointment follows his tenure as chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee, a role he held starting in 2023 ¹⁹. As of February 2026, Grills also serves on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, Civil Justice Committee, House Rules Committee, Finance, Ways, and Means Committee, Insurance Committee, and Select Committee on Rules ¹¹².

Background and education

Russell Jackson "Rusty" Grills was born on October 1, 1981, in Newbern, Tennessee ². He is the eldest of four children and a ninth-generation farmer who manages part of his family’s row crop operation, which spans over 3,000 acres ⁶. Grills self-describes as a Conservative Baptist ¹².

Regarding his education, Grills was homeschooled and graduated in 2000 ²¹². He also attended Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) from 1999 to 2001 ¹².

Career

Rusty Grills is a ninth-generation farmer who manages a family farming and row crop operation spanning over 3,000 acres in West Tennessee ⁶. He also operates as a business owner ⁹. Grills identifies as a conservative Baptist and was homeschooled, completing education at TCAT between 1999 and 2001 ¹².

Prior to his election to the state legislature, Grills served on the Dyer County Commission for ten years ⁶⁹. He previously held the position of Commissioner for District C in Dyer County ³.

Office history

Prior to his election to the state legislature, Grills served on the Dyer County Commission for District C from 2010 until he was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2019 ³⁶. He assumed office as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 77 on January 14, 2020, following a decisive victory in the Republican primary for the special election that year ¹²¹³. In that November 2019 primary, Grills received approximately 56 percent of the vote among four Republican candidates to secure the nomination ¹³.

Grills was subsequently re-elected to the seat in 2024, defeating challenger James T. “Bubba” Cobb in the Republican primary with an unofficial total of 4,169 votes compared to Cobb’s 1,660 votes ¹¹. He is currently serving a term that ends on November 3, 2026, and is running for re-election in the upcoming Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹¹⁰.

In addition to his legislative service, Grills ran as a Republican candidate for Tennessee State Senate District 77 in 2022 ³. He also previously sought the Tennessee House of Representatives seat for District 77 in 2019 before winning the special election that year ³.

During his tenure in the State House, Grills has held several committee assignments. From 2023 to 2024, he served on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the Civil Justice Committee, the House Rules Committee, and the Transportation Committee ¹. He also served as chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee during this period ¹⁹. For the 2026 legislative session, Grills was appointed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton to serve as chairman of the House Business & Utilities Subcommittee ⁹¹².

Legislative record and accomplishments

Rusty Grills has served on several key committees during his tenure in the Tennessee House of Representatives, including the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, Civil Justice Committee, House Rules Committee, and Transportation Committee ¹. He also holds assignments on the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee and the Insurance Committee ¹². In 2023, Grills was appointed chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee, a role he held through the 2024 session before being named chairman of the House Business & Utilities Subcommittee for the 2026 legislative session by House Speaker Cameron Sexton ¹⁹.

A notable legislative accomplishment during his time in office is the passage of legislation directing the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System and political subdivision pension plans to divest from holdings majority-owned by the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party, or the Chinese military ⁴. Grills stated that investing in such entities poses a threat to the state’s financial and security interests ⁴. He also supported SB263, which bans Tennessee state and local government entities from enforcing mandates from the World Health Organization, United Nations, or World Economic Forum ⁸. Additionally, he voted for HB1237, which ended the ability of state regulatory and health agencies to require race-based membership in organizations ⁸.

Grills has advocated for agricultural interests through his committee work. He supported SB207, which created a $25 million Farmland Preservation Fund managed by the Department of Agriculture ⁸. As a ninth-generation farmer managing over 3,000 acres, he has highlighted the challenges facing farmers due to depressed commodity prices and high input costs ⁵⁶. He also secured state funding for local arts organizations, including $30,000 for Masquerade Theatre in Union City and $12,700 for Reelfoot Arts and Crafts, describing these grants as investments in the creative spirit of the community ¹⁴.

Documented disputes and controversies

In November 2019, Rusty Grills won the Republican primary for a special election in District 77 with approximately 56 percent of the vote ¹³. The vacancy that triggered the special election was created by the resignation of former Representative Bill Sanderson, who left office amid reports of scandalous same-sex philandering ¹³.

In the August 2024 general election cycle, Grills faced a primary challenge from James T. “Bubba” Cobb ¹¹. Grills defeated Cobb in the Republican primary, securing an unofficial total of 4,169 votes compared to Cobb’s 1,660 votes across Obion, Lake, and Dyer Counties ¹¹.

Grills has been a vocal proponent of legislation aimed at reducing financial exposure to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ⁴. In June 2025, Governor Bill Lee signed Grills’ bill directing the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System and political subdivision pension plans to divest from holdings majority-owned by the Chinese government or military ⁴. Grills stated that investing in such companies posed a serious threat to the state’s financial and security interests ⁴. This legislative effort aligned with broader concerns raised by agricultural groups, including the Tennessee Farm Bureau, which had previously highlighted depressed commodity prices attributed to CCP actions ⁵.

Grills supported and voted for Senate Bill 263, known as the Global Entities Ban, which passed in April 2025 ⁸. The legislation prohibited Tennessee state and local government entities from enforcing or recognizing mandates from the World Health Organization, the United Nations, or the World Economic Forum ⁸.

Business interests and wealth source

Rusty Grills is a ninth-generation farmer who manages a family farming and row crop operation comprising over 3,000 acres in West Tennessee ⁶. He serves as chairman of the House Business & Utilities Subcommittee and has previously chaired the Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee ⁹¹². His professional background includes serving on the Dyer County Commission for ten years prior to his election to the state legislature ³⁹.

Grills self-describes himself as a farmer and business owner in his official biography ¹². Public financial disclosure records are maintained for Grills, with LegiStorm noting the addition of 35 new personal financial disclosures to its database regarding him ⁷. Specific details regarding his ownership stakes, sales of businesses, or the precise sources of his wealth beyond his agricultural operations are not detailed in the available source material.

Family

Rusty Grills is married to Christina Marie "Christi" Bennett Grills². The couple has two children². Grills self-describes as a Conservative Baptist¹².

Sources