← Back to Blount County, Tennessee: Election on 2026-08-06
Contest for TN State House District 20
State House District 20
primary - Partisan - State Representative District 20
About this office
The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the state legislature, with 99 members elected from single-member districts to two-year terms. Representatives pass state laws, originate revenue bills, approve the state budget, and — together with the Senate — confirm gubernatorial appointments and propose constitutional amendments. Candidates must be at least 21 years old, U.S. citizens, Tennessee residents for at least three years, and district residents for at least one year.
Term length: 2 years.
This role calls for
- Integrity — Acts in the interest of constituents and the public good rather than for personal gain, and remains independent of undue influence from donors, lobbyists, and party leadership.
- Understanding of the constituency — Grasps both the economic-development needs of the district and the day-to-day concerns of individual residents — safety, healthcare, education, infrastructure.
- Persuasion — Engages, listens to, and persuades both fellow legislators and constituents. Can change minds and explain votes honestly.
- Legislative craft — Reads, drafts, and amends statute with care. Understands how specific bill language translates to outcomes, and knows the body of law being modified.
- Coalition-building — Finds common ground across partisan and factional lines, brokers compromises that hold, and forms working majorities even when consensus is hard to reach.
Derived from the office's statutory duties and operational reality. Candidate summaries below map each candidate's documented experience to these requirements.
Campaigns
Democratic Primary
1 candidate
Gertz's background as a technical writer and quality auditor suggests skills in legislative craft and reading statute language. Her diverse upbringing across multiple states may support understanding of varied constituent environments. The biography contains no record of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate experience in coalition-building, persuasion, or direct public service.
Republican Primary
1 candidate
Tom Stinnett's biography shows ten years of county commission service and current state legislative experience on Agriculture and Judiciary committees, demonstrating familiarity with local governance and statutory processes. In 2024, a campaign advertisement contested his voting record regarding Blount Memorial Hospital management. Bio does not indicate prior executive leadership experience or specific legislative drafting experience.
Independent
1 candidate
Jeff Coggin's biography shows he is an independent candidate who successfully filed petition signatures to run for Tennessee House of Representatives District 21 in August 2026. The record contains no mention of disciplinary history or controversies. Bio does not indicate legislative craft experience or coalition-building experience.
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