Anne Backus

Current office and 2026 campaign

Anne Backus is a Democratic Party candidate running for election to the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 33 ¹. She qualified as a candidate following the March 10, 2026, deadline and appears on the ballot for the Democratic primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹². Backus is currently serving as a board member with the Tennessee Democratic Party ⁷.

A retired project manager who spent 33 years at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Backus anchors her campaign on Anderson County values of honesty and transparency ³¹². She states that she was encouraged to enter the race by constituents who felt their concerns were not being adequately represented in the state legislature ⁸. Her platform prioritizes public schools and gun safety ⁶.

Backus has been active in community advocacy, including a decade of service with CASA of the Tennessee Heartland, where she was honored for her work advocating for children in foster care ⁹. She also supports the Tennessee Equality Project ⁵. In 2026, she completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey and hosted a campaign kickoff event organized by the Anderson County Democratic Party ¹¹³.

Background and education

Anne Backus was born in Pensacola, Florida ¹. She earned a bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University in 1980 ¹.

Backus spent 33 years working as a project manager at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge before retiring ³⁶¹⁰¹¹. In her retirement, she has become an active volunteer in the community, including serving with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of the Tennessee Heartland for ten years ⁴⁹. She is also affiliated with PFLAG and the Democratic Party at the state level ¹⁵.

Career

Anne Backus earned a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University in 1980 ¹. She spent 33 years working as a project manager at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge before retiring from that position ³⁶¹⁰¹¹. In her professional role, she managed projects to achieve goals on time and under budget while working with diverse groups of people ⁶.

Following her retirement, Backus has remained active in the community through various volunteer roles. She has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for CASA of the Tennessee Heartland, where she was honored alongside another volunteer for 10 years of dedicated service advocating for children in foster care ⁹. Her volunteer work includes discussing advocacy efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and participating in training initiatives for new volunteers in Anderson and Blount Counties ⁴. Additionally, she is affiliated with PFLAG and has been active with the Tennessee Equality Project ¹⁵.

Office history

Anne Backus served as a member of the Democratic State Executive Committee ¹. She was also listed as a board member of the Tennessee Democratic Party ⁷.

Backus ran for election to the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 33 in 2024. She filed her petition with the Anderson County Election Commission in April 2024 and was approved as a candidate ¹⁰. As the only Democrat in the race, she did not face an opponent in the August 1 primary election ⁸¹⁰.

In 2026, Backus is running for election to the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 33 ¹. She qualified as a candidate by the March 10, 2026 deadline and is on the ballot for the Democratic primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ².

Business interests and wealth source

Anne Backus’s professional background is rooted in her 33-year tenure as a project manager at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge ³⁶¹⁰¹¹. She retired from this position prior to her current political campaigns, having earned a bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University in 1980 ¹³⁶.

There is no available information in the provided sources regarding Backus’s personal wealth source, family wealth, private business ownership stakes, or sales of businesses. The candidate self-describes her financial and professional history primarily through her long-term employment at Y-12 and her current status as a retiree ³¹¹.

Backus has not publicly disclosed specific details about her personal assets or income sources in the provided materials. Her campaign communications focus on her volunteer work, particularly with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of the Tennessee Heartland, where she was honored for ten years of service ⁴⁹, and her role as a member of the Democratic State Executive Committee ⁷.

Family

Anne Backus identifies herself as a mother and grandmother ³. She has served for ten years as a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in foster care ⁹. Her community involvement also includes affiliation with PFLAG and her local church ¹.

Sources