Richard Briggs

Current office and 2026 campaign

Richard Briggs, a Republican member of the Tennessee State Senate representing District 7, is currently serving his term which ends on November 3, 2026 ¹². He assumed office on November 4, 2014, after defeating incumbent Stacey Campfield in the 2014 general election ¹¹³. Briggs has been re-elected to subsequent terms, including a second four-year term in 2018 ⁴¹².

Briggs is running for re-election to the Tennessee State Senate to represent District 7 in the upcoming 2026 election cycle ¹. He qualified for the ballot by meeting the state's qualifying deadline of March 10, 2026, and appears on the official candidate list for the Tennessee Senate ³. The Republican primary election is scheduled to be held on August 6, 2026, with the general election set for November 3, 2026 ⁵.

On his campaign website, Briggs self-describes as having a passion for service and states that he stands for improving education, creating jobs, and keeping taxes low ⁶. He promises to continue serving the district with honor and integrity, asserting that Tennesseeans enjoy the lowest taxes as a percentage of personal income in the nation and the lowest debt per capita in the country ⁸. Briggs identifies himself as a conservative who believes the state can do better for its community ⁶.

Background and education

Richard Briggs was born on December 7, 1952, in Knoxville, Tennessee ⁴¹¹. He is a member of the Republican Party ⁴. Briggs attended the University of Kentucky Medical School, where he earned his medical degree ⁴.

Career

Richard Briggs graduated from the University of Kentucky Medical School in 1978 ⁴¹⁵. He is a cardiothoracic surgeon who has practiced in Knoxville, Tennessee, for over 45 years ¹⁵. His medical training includes residency in thoracic surgery at the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, completed in 1983 ¹⁷. Briggs is affiliated with the University of Tennessee Medical Center and maintains an office at 10810 Parkside Drive in Knoxville ¹⁵¹⁶¹⁸. He accepts a wide range of insurance providers, including Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, and various commercial plans ¹⁸.

Briggs served in the military, holding senior staff and leadership positions during his service ¹⁴. His political career began when he was first elected to the Knox County Commission in 2008, representing District 5 ⁷¹². He was re-elected to a second term on the commission in 2010 ⁷¹².

Office history

Briggs first entered elected office in 2008 when he was elected to the Knox County Commission, representing District 5 ¹². He secured re-election to a second term on that commission in 2010 ⁷.

In 2014, Briggs ran for and won election to the Tennessee State Senate, defeating incumbent Stacey Campfield to represent District 7 ¹³. He assumed office on November 4, 2014 ¹. As a state senator, he serves four-year terms without term limits ². He was re-elected to a second term in the Senate in 2018 ⁷.

Briggs is currently serving his third term in the Tennessee State Senate, representing District 7 ¹⁰. His current term ends on November 3, 2026 ¹. In the upcoming election cycle, he is running for re-election to the Tennessee State Senate to represent District 7 and is on the ballot in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹. The general election for this seat is scheduled for November 3, 2026 ⁵.

Legislative record and accomplishments

Senator Briggs has served on several key committees during his tenure in the Tennessee State Senate. For the 2023–2024 session, he was assigned to the Senate Rules Committee as Vice Chair, the State & Local Government Committee where he served as Chair, and the Transportation and Safety Committee ¹. In prior sessions, he has also served on the Finance Committee, the Transportation Committee, and the Health Committee, and previously chaired the Senate Ethics Committee ⁷.

Politically, Briggs self-describes as a conservative who prioritizes improving education, creating jobs, and keeping taxes low ⁶. He advocates for a business-friendly philosophy, citing Tennessee’s status as having the lowest debt per capita in the nation and the lowest taxes as a percentage of personal income ⁸. His legislative record includes support for measures that cut $570 million in taxes, reduced the food tax by 30%, eliminated the gift and inheritance tax, and phased out other levies ⁸.

Briggs has received endorsements from a range of organizations reflecting his conservative stance. These include the National Rifle Association, which gave him an “A” rating, the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), the American Conservative Union (which awarded him for Conservative Excellence in 2015 and Conservative Achievement from 2016–2018), and Tennesseans for Student Success ⁹. He also holds endorsements from the Knoxville/Knox County Fraternal Order of Police, the Tennessee Education Association, and the Tennessee Professional Firefighters Association ⁹.

Business interests and wealth source

Richard Briggs is a physician by profession, having attended the University of Kentucky Medical School ⁴. He is recognized in East Tennessee as a heart and lung surgeon ¹³. His campaign website states that he stands for creating jobs and keeping taxes low ⁶.

Specific details regarding his business interests, family wealth source, ownership stakes, or sales of businesses are not provided in the available sources. Similarly, significant financial-disclosure facts beyond his professional title are not detailed in the referenced materials.

Sources