← Back to Coffee County, Tennessee: Election on 2026-08-06
Contest for TN House District 47
State House District 47
primary - Partisan - State Representative District 47
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
Mike Stein's biography shows he is a teacher at Coffee County High School and currently serves as a Coffee County Commissioner in District 2. This background suggests familiarity with local education and community concerns relevant to the district. The text does not indicate prior experience in legislative drafting or coalition-building across partisan lines. Bio does not indicate experience in state-level statute amendment or persuasion of fellow legislators.
Republican Primary
1 candidate
Bricken's biography shows relevant experience for District 47 through his tenure as a State Representative since 2018, prior service as a Coffee County Commissioner, and professional background in banking and commerce. He holds committee assignments including Vice Chair of the Commerce Committee, demonstrating legislative craft and local governance familiarity. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience in coalition-building across partisan lines or detailed constituent outreach strategies.
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