{"age":62,"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nKevin Raper is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 24, which encompasses Cleveland and parts of unincorporated Bradley County [2][8]. He assumed office on November 8, 2022, following his election to succeed Mark Hall [1][2]. His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1][12].\n\nRaper is seeking re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 24 in the 2026 cycle [1][12]. He is listed as a candidate on the ballot for the Republican primary election scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1][12]. As an incumbent, he continues to represent the district during this upcoming election period [3].\n\nDuring his tenure, Raper has focused on legislative priorities and community engagement. In September 2025, he announced that state funding of $43,830 would be allocated to Bradley County arts groups, including grants for the Museum and Cultural Center at 5ive Points and Lee University [5]. Earlier in 2025, Raper returned to the General Assembly on March 27 after undergoing a successful liver transplant at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in February [6][10]. He has described his recovery as rapid and well ahead of schedule [6][10].\n\nRaper self-describes as a lifelong educator and servant to his community, emphasizing that his relationship with Christ is central to his life and political service [7]. His professional background includes an educational specialist degree from Tennessee Tech University (1998), a master's degree from Tusculum University (1996), and a bachelor's degree in mathematics education from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (1987) [1][3]. He is a member of the Bradley County Republican Party and the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce [3].\n\n## Background and education\n\nKevin Raper was born on January 17, 1964 [2][8]. He graduated from McMinn Central High School in 1982 [1]. Raper earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics education from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1987 [1][3]. He later obtained a Master of Education from Tusculum University in Greeneville, Tennessee, in 1996, and an Educational Specialist degree from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee, in 1998 [3].\n\nRaper self-describes as a lifelong educator and states that his relationship with Christ is the most important aspect of his life [7]. He is a member of the First Baptist Church and the Bradley County Republican Party [3].\n\n## Career\n\nKevin Raper is a lifelong educator who graduated from McMinn Central High School in 1982 [1]. He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics education from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1987 [1][3]. He later obtained a Master of Education from Tusculum University in 1996 and an Educational Specialist degree from Tennessee Tech University in 1998 [3]. Raper self-describes as a servant to his community and emphasizes that his relationship with Christ is the most important aspect of his life [7].\n\nRegarding military service, business ownership, and professional licenses, candidate profiles have not provided specific details on these topics [3][4].\n\n## Office history\n\nKevin Raper served on the Bradley County Commission from the 7th district from September 2018 to September 2022, succeeding Mark Hall and being succeeded by Josh Rogers [2]. He was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 24 in the general election held on November 8, 2022, assuming office on January 10, 2023, after succeeding Mark Hall [2]. His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1].\n\nRaper ran for re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives in District 24 as an incumbent in the Republican primary held on August 6, 2026 [1]. The outcome of this election is unknown as it has not yet occurred relative to the current date [1].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nKevin Raper serves in the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 24, a district encompassing Cleveland and parts of unincorporated Bradley County [8]. He assumed office on November 8, 2022, following his election to represent the area previously held by Mark Hall [1], [2]. As an incumbent Republican, Raper is seeking re-election in the August 6, 2026, primary for a term ending on November 3, 2026 [1], [12].\n\nDuring his tenure, Raper has focused on supporting local cultural and educational initiatives within his district. In September 2025, he announced that Bradley County arts organizations would receive $43,830 in state funding from the 2025-26 budget [5]. This allocation included three grants totaling $34,820 for the Museum and Cultural Center at 5ive Points and two grants totaling $9,010 for Lee University [5]. Raper described this support as an investment in the people and culture of Bradley County, emphasizing that funding the arts strengthens communities and preserves local heritage [5].\n\nRaper\u2019s legislative record includes a lifetime score of 80 from the Tennessee Legislative Research Center (TLRC), with a session vote score of 69 [9]. He is affiliated with the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce and the Bradley County Republican Party [3]. In March 2025, Raper returned to the General Assembly following a successful liver transplant performed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in February of that year [6], [10]. Doctors reported that his recovery was ahead of schedule, with his new liver operating at full function [6].\n\nRaper self-describes as a lifelong educator and servant to his community, stating that his relationship with Christ is the most important aspect of his life [7]. He identifies himself as conservative in political orientation [3]. His official contact information includes a Capitol office in Nashville and a district office at 3440 Edgewood Cir NW in Cleveland, TN [4], [11].\n\n## Family\n\nKevin Raper has two children [2]. He is a member of the First Baptist Church and self-describes his relationship with Christ as the most important aspect of his life [3][7].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Kevin Raper - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Kevin_Raper)\n[2] [Kevin Raper - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Raper)\n[3] [iVoterGuide - Kevin Raper iVoterGuide Profile](https://ivoterguide.com/candidate/67208/race/15628/election/1242)\n[4] [Vote-USA | Kevin D. Raper | Currently Elected State Representative District 24, Tennessee](https://vote-usa.org/Intro.aspx?State=TN&Id=TNRaperKevinD)\n[5] [Rep. Kevin Raper Secures $43,830 For Bradley County Arts Groups - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2025/9/11/508400/Rep.-Kevin-Raper-Secures-43830-For.aspx)\n[6] [State Rep. Kevin Raper To Return To General Assembly Following Successful Liver Transplant - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2025/3/25/501204/State-Rep.-Kevin-Raper-To-Return-To.aspx)\n[7] [Meet Kevin Raper ~ Candidate for Tennessee House District 24 | In this short video, I share my most important beliefs. I have been a lifelong educator and servant to my community and I promise to serve and strongly... | By Representative Kevin Raper | Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/KevinRaperTN/videos/meet-kevin-raper-candidate-for-tennessee-house-district-24/746778049887898/)\n[8] [Contact Representative Kevin Raper of Tennessee | Official Contact Information](https://sengov.com/states/tennessee/kevin-raper/)\n[9] [Tennessee House District 24 - Raper - TLRC](https://tnreportcard.org/representatives/tn-hd24-raper/)\n[10] [Rep. Kevin Raper to return to General Assembly following successful liver transplant | News | clevelandbanner.com](https://www.clevelandbanner.com/news/rep-kevin-raper-to-return-to-general-assembly-following-successful-liver-transplant/article_ad20bfd9-42ba-50ab-bc32-57948d39f872.html)\n[11] [State Representative Kevin Raper | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/28530)\n[12] [Kevin Raper | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/kevin-raper)","birthdate":"Fri, 17 Jan 1964 00:00:00 GMT","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_024","county":"Bradley","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"TN House District 24"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Kevin","fullname":"Kevin D. Raper","lastname":"Raper","middlename":"D.","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_024","contest_title":"TN House District 24","county":"Bradley","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house_024","office_title":"State Representative District 24","party":"R","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"R","primary":{"contest":"state_house_024","contest_title":"TN House District 24","county":"Bradley","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house_024","office_title":"State Representative District 24","party":"R","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026},{"general":null,"party":"R","primary":null,"term":{"county":null,"electiondate":"2022-11-08","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house_024","office_title":"State Representative District 24","party":"R","state":"tn","term_end":"2024-12-31","term_start":"2023-01-01"},"year":2023}],"office_key":"state_house_024","office_title":"State Representative District 24","state":"TN","terms":[{"county":null,"electiondate":"2022-11-08","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house_024","office_title":"State Representative District 24","party":"R","state":"tn","term_end":"2024-12-31","term_start":"2023-01-01"}]}],"summary":"Kevin Raper is a Republican member of the Tennessee House representing District 24, first assuming office in November 2022 and running for re-election in 2026.","terms":[{"county":null,"electiondate":"2022-11-08","office":"state_house_024","state":"tn","term_end":"2024-12-31","term_start":"2023-01-01","title":"State Representative District 24"}],"token":"ucVImcVvb5"}