{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Steve Southerland","chatgptsummary":"Steve Southerland's biography shows over two decades of Tennessee State Senate service, including leadership roles as Deputy Speaker and committee chair, demonstrating legislative craft and coalition-building experience. His background as a real estate broker and mortgage broker reflects business interests relevant to the district's economic needs. Bio does not indicate prior executive management experience or direct constituent advocacy work outside the legislature.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nSteve Southerland is a Republican member of the Tennessee State Senate representing District 9, which encompasses Cocke County, Greene County, Hamblen County, and parts of Jefferson County [5]. He assumed office on November 8, 2022, after previously serving in the Senate from 2003 to 2022 [1][5]. His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1].\n\nSoutherland is seeking re-election to the Tennessee State Senate for District 9 as a Republican candidate [1][7]. He is listed on the ballot for the Republican primary election scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1]. As of May 2026, the outcome of this upcoming election remains unknown [1].\n\n## Background and education\n\nSteve Southerland was born on March 8, 1955, in Morristown, Tennessee [3][5][7]. He is a Baptist who attends Buffalo Trail Baptist Church [3][7]. Southerland attended Walters State Community College [3][5][7].\n\n## Career\n\nBefore entering public office, Steve Southerland worked as a mortgage broker[1]. He is also a licensed real estate broker and the principal owner of Southerland Real Estate[13]. Southerland attended Walters State Community College[3].\n\nSoutherland has served on the Tennessee Council for Career and Technical Education. He was first appointed to the council in 2018, with his term effective until June 30, 2019[11]. He was subsequently reappointed by Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, with a term continuing through June 30, 2027[14].\n\n## Office history\n\nSteve Southerland served in the Tennessee Senate from January 14, 2003, to November 7, 2022, representing the 1st district [5]. During this tenure, he held leadership roles including Senate Deputy Speaker and Chaplain of the Senate Republican Caucus [3]. He also chaired the Senate Energy and Environment Committee and served as Vice Chair of the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee [3]. In 2018, he was appointed to the Tennessee Council for Career and Technical Education by Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, with his term effective until June 30, 2019 [11].\n\nSoutherland assumed office in the Tennessee State Senate representing District 9 on November 8, 2022, following a victory in the 2022 election [1]. His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1]. He serves as Vice Chair of the Commerce and Labor Committee [7].\n\nPrior to his legislative career, Southerland worked as a mortgage broker [1]. In 2014, he ran for Florida's 2nd Congressional District as an incumbent Republican but lost the general election to Democrat Gwen Graham, receiving 49.3% of the vote [2].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nSteve Southerland has served in the Tennessee State Senate since 2003, representing District 1 from 2003 to 2023 and District 9 since 2023 [5]. He assumed his current term on November 8, 2022, following a victory in the general election that year [1]. During his tenure, he has held significant leadership roles, including serving as Senate Deputy Speaker and Chaplain of the Senate Republican Caucus [3].\n\nSoutherland\u2019s committee assignments have shifted with redistricting and chamber leadership changes. In the 2023-2024 session, he was assigned to the Commerce and Labor Committee [1]. Previously, he served as Vice Chair of the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee and Chair of the Senate Energy and Environment Committee [3]. He also held the position of Second Vice Chair of the Commerce and Labor Committee in earlier years [7].\n\nIn terms of legislative priorities, Southerland has been a consistent supporter of pro-life legislation. The Family Action Council of Tennessee awarded him a perfect score on its 2020 Legislative Scorecard, citing his support for bills such as SB 16/HB 1 (Tennessee Sports Gaming Act), SB 1257/HB 1029 (Human Life Protection Act), and SB 2196/HB 2263 (Governor Lee's Pro-Life Bill) [10]. He has also supported measures related to conscience provisions for child-placing agencies and prohibitions on abortion advocacy in schools [10].\n\nSoutherland has advocated for workforce development, notably being appointed by Lt. Gov. Randy McNally to serve on the Tennessee Council for Career and Technical Education [11]. This council was established to advocate for quality programs that prepare students for postsecondary education and careers [11]. Additionally, he has supported legislation aimed at improving recycling markets, including bills that boost the state's role in connecting recycling programs with private buyers [8].\n\nSoutherland is currently running for re-election to represent District 9 in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1]. As of May 2026, this election has not yet occurred, and its outcome remains unknown [1].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nSteve Southerland\u2019s professional background includes work as a mortgage broker [1]. He self-describes his career experience in this field prior to and during his time in public office [3].\n\nSoutherland resides in Morristown, Tennessee, where he maintains a personal address at 4648 Harbor Drive [4][6]. His financial disclosures are tracked by LegiStorm, which notes the addition of thirty-five new personal financial disclosures for him in its database updates [9]. Specific details regarding his business ownership stakes, family wealth sources, or significant sales of businesses are not provided in the available records.\n\n## Family\n\nSteve Southerland is married to Cheri[3][5][7]. The couple has two children, Mattea and Mara[5][12]. While some sources list only one child, Mattea[3][7], other records confirm the existence of both daughters[5][12].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Steve Southerland (Tennessee) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Steve_Southerland_(Tennessee))\n[2] [Florida's 2nd Congressional District elections, 2014 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Florida's_2nd_Congressional_District_elections,_2014)\n[3] [Senator Steve Southerland - Tennessee General Assembly](https://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/archives/107GA/members/s1.html)\n[4] [Senator Steve Southerland](https://www.capitol.tn.gov//senate/archives/110GA/members/s1.html)\n[5] [Steve Southerland (Tennessee politician) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Southerland_(Tennessee_politician))\n[6] [Vote-USA | Steve Southerland | Currently Elected State Senator District 9, Tennessee](https://vote-usa.org/Intro.aspx?State=TN&Id=TNSoutherlandSteve)\n[7] [Vote Smart | Facts For All](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/48766/steve-southerland)\n[8] [Sen. Steve Southerland Archives \u2022 Tennessee Lookout](https://tennesseelookout.com/tag/sen-steve-southerland/)\n[9] [Tennessee State Sen. Steve Southerland - Biography | LegiStorm](https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/194750/Steve_Southerland.html)\n[10] [Sen. Steve Southerland - Family Action Council of Tennessee](https://scorecard.factennessee.org/senators/steve-southerland)\n[11] [Southerland appointed to council for Career and Technical Education | Local News | citizentribune.com](https://www.citizentribune.com/news/local/southerland-appointed-to-council-for-career-and-technical-education/article_482c30ac-02b8-11e8-a36a-63b9baee585a.html)\n[12] [Steve Southerland (Tennessee politician) - WikiMili, The Best Wikipedia Reader](https://wikimili.com/en/Steve_Southerland_(Tennessee_politician))\n[13] [Steve Southerland | Southerland Real Estate](https://southerlandre.com/about-us/steve-southerland-2/)\n[14] [Sen. Southerland reappointed to Tennessee Council for Career and Technical Education | News | themountainpress.com](https://www.themountainpress.com/news/sen-southerland-reappointed-to-tennessee-council-for-career-and-technical-education/article_ffe2cabe-571c-5652-b84d-54eb46882a17.html)","firstname":"Steve","lastname":"Southerland","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"xxLWSBzieo"},"token":"steve_southerland"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":"009","districtgroup":"state_senate","districtgroupname":"State Senate","districtname":"District 9","job_type":"state_senator","o.office":"state_senate_009","office":"state_senate_009","officedescription":"The Tennessee State Senate is the upper chamber of the state legislature, with 33 members elected from single-member districts to four-year terms. Seats are staggered so roughly half are on the ballot every two years. Senators pass state laws, approve the state budget, confirm gubernatorial appointments, and \u2014 together with the House \u2014 propose constitutional amendments. Candidates must be at least 30 years old, U.S. citizens, Tennessee residents for at least seven years, and district residents for at least one year.","officequalities":"- **Integrity** \u2014 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.\n- **Understanding of the constituency** \u2014 Grasps both the economic-development needs of the district and the day-to-day concerns of individual residents \u2014 safety, healthcare, education, infrastructure.\n- **Persuasion** \u2014 Engages, listens to, and persuades both fellow legislators and constituents. Can change minds and explain votes honestly.\n- **Legislative craft** \u2014 Reads, drafts, and amends statute with care. Understands how specific bill language translates to outcomes, and knows the body of law being modified.\n- **Coalition-building** \u2014 Finds common ground across partisan and factional lines, brokers compromises that hold, and forms working majorities even when consensus is hard to reach.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"State Senate District 9","partisan":1,"pgr":"primary","quantity":null,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-06-01","title":"TN SoS \u2014 Candidates for Tennessee Senate (2026)","url":"https://sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com/s3fs-public/document/TNSenate_2026.pdf"},"title":"TN Senate District 9"}