{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nAnne 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 [1][2]. Backus is currently serving as a board member with the Tennessee Democratic Party [7].\n\nA 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 [3][12]. 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].\n\nBackus 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 [1][13].\n\n## Background and education\n\nAnne Backus was born in Pensacola, Florida [1]. She earned a bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University in 1980 [1].\n\nBackus spent 33 years working as a project manager at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge before retiring [3][6][10][11]. 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 [4][9]. She is also affiliated with PFLAG and the Democratic Party at the state level [1][5].\n\n## Career\n\nAnne Backus earned a bachelor\u2019s 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 [3][6][10][11]. In her professional role, she managed projects to achieve goals on time and under budget while working with diverse groups of people [6].\n\nFollowing 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 [1][5].\n\n## Office history\n\nAnne 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].\n\nBackus 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 [8][10].\n\nIn 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].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nAnne Backus\u2019s professional background is rooted in her 33-year tenure as a project manager at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge [3][6][10][11]. She retired from this position prior to her current political campaigns, having earned a bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University in 1980 [1][3][6].\n\nThere is no available information in the provided sources regarding Backus\u2019s 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 [3][11].\n\nBackus 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 [4][9], and her role as a member of the Democratic State Executive Committee [7].\n\n## Family\n\nAnne 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].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Anne Backus - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Anne_Backus)\n[2] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n[3] [Anne Backus for State House (TN 33)](https://www.backusfortn33.com/)\n[4] [Watch as Anderson Co CASA, Anne Backus, and Anderson Co Program Coordinator chat about what CASA of the Tennessee Heartland has been up to during... | By CASA of the Tennessee Heartland | Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/CASATNH/videos/watch-as-anderson-co-casa-anne-backus-and-anderson-co-program-coordinator-chat-a/1312622918934691/)\n[5] [Anne Backus at Tennessee Equality Project](https://www.tnep.org/82705)\n[6] [Anne Backus: Running for state representative; public schools, gun safety are priorities](https://www.yahoo.com/news/anne-backus-running-state-representative-154301998.html)\n[7] [Anne Backus - Board Member at Tennessee Democratic Party | The Org](https://theorg.com/org/tennessee-democratic-party/org-chart/anne-backus)\n[8] [Anne Backus to run for Tennessee House seat](https://mycouriernews.com/articles/2024/05/8423/anne-backus-to-run-for-tennessee-house-seat)\n[9] [CASA honors two volunteers for 10 years of advocacy | Community | thedailytimes.com](https://www.thedailytimes.com/community/casa-honors-two-volunteers-for-10-years-of-advocacy/article_866cff72-fadc-4fab-a3ff-4454fee50e76.html)\n[10] [Backus Files Petition as Candidate for Tennessee House District 33 \u2013 BBBTV12](https://www.bbbtv12.com/2024/04/backus-files-petition-as-candidate-for-tennessee-house-district-33/)\n[11] [Backus announces she's a candidate for Tennesseee House District 33 - AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/backus-announces-shes-candidate-tennesseee-131249851.html)\n[12] [Backus announces she's a candidate for Tennesseee House District 33](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/backus-announces-shes-candidate-tennesseee-131249831.html)\n[13] [Anne Backus 2026 Campaign Kickoff \u2014 Anderson County Democratic Party](https://www.andersoncountydemocraticparty.com/events/backuskickoff-25)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_033","county":"Anderson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"TN House District 33"},{"contest":"tn_exec_committeewoman_5","county":"Anderson","county_count":3,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"TN State Executive Committeewoman District 5"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Anne","fullname":"Anne Backus","lastname":"Backus","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_033","contest_title":"TN House District 33","county":"Anderson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house_033","office_title":"State Representative District 33","party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"D","primary":{"contest":"state_house_033","contest_title":"TN House District 33","county":"Anderson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house_033","office_title":"State Representative District 33","party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"state_house_033","office_title":"State Representative District 33","state":"TN","terms":[]},{"campaigns":[{"contest":"tn_exec_committeewoman_5","contest_title":"TN State Executive Committeewoman District 5","county":"Anderson","county_count":3,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"tn_exec_committeewoman_5","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"D","primary":{"contest":"tn_exec_committeewoman_5","contest_title":"TN State Executive Committeewoman District 5","county":"Anderson","county_count":3,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"tn_exec_committeewoman_5","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"tn_exec_committeewoman_5","office_title":"TN State Executive Committeewoman District 5","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Anne Backus is a Democratic candidate running for Tennessee House District 33 in the 2026 election, citing her background as a retired Y-12 project manager and community volunteer.","terms":[],"token":"zr8TvVnoAi"}