{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Kirk Haston","chatgptsummary":"Kirk Haston's biography shows relevant experience for District 72 through eighteen years as a School Health Coordinator and current leadership on the House Education Committee. He has served in the Tennessee House since 2018, chairing subcommittees and sponsoring legislation on education and social issues. The record contains no controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience in drafting complex statutes or building cross-partisan coalitions.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nKirk Haston is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 72, which includes Henderson, Chester, Decatur, and Perry Counties [1][5]. He assumed office on November 6, 2018, and his current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1][9]. Haston serves as the Vice-Chair of the House Education Committee and was reappointed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton to chair the House K-12 Subcommittee for the 114th General Assembly in February 2025 [4][10].\n\nHaston is seeking re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 72 in the 2026 cycle [1]. He is listed as a candidate on the ballot for the Republican primary election scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1][9].\n\n## Background and education\n\nKirk Haston was born in Lobelville, Tennessee, on March 10, 1979 [3]. He attended Perry County High School in Lobelville [3]. Haston self-describes as a member of the Church of Christ [8].\n\nHaston earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from Indiana University in 2002 [8]. He later obtained a Master of Arts and Education from Cumberland University in 2012 [8].\n\n## Career\n\nKirk Haston was born in Lobelville, Tennessee, on March 10, 1979 [3]. He attended Perry County High School in Lobelville before playing college basketball at Indiana University from 1998 to 2001 [3]. In the 2001 NBA draft, he was selected as the 16th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets [3]. His professional playing career spanned from 2001 to 2005, including stints with the Charlotte Hornets (2001\u20132002), the New Orleans Hornets (2002\u20132003), and the Florida Flame (2004\u20132005) [3].\n\nHaston earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from Indiana University in 2002 and a Master of Arts in Education from Cumberland University in 2012 [8]. Following his athletic career, he worked in Perry County Schools for 18 years, serving as the School Health Coordinator [10]. He self-describes as a member of the Church of Christ [8].\n\n## Office history\n\nKirk Haston was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 72 in November 2018 and assumed office on November 6, 2018 [1][5]. He serves two-year terms with no term limits [2]. His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1][9]. Haston represents District 72, which includes Henderson, Chester, Decatur, and Perry Counties [4].\n\nDuring his tenure, Haston has served as Vice-Chair of the House Education Committee [4]. He also holds the position of Chairman of the K-12 Subcommittee, a role he was reappointed to by House Speaker Cameron Sexton for the 114th General Assembly in February 2025 [10].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nKirk Haston has served in the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 72 since assuming office on November 6, 2018 [1]. During his tenure, he has held significant leadership roles within the chamber\u2019s committee structure. He serves as the Vice-Chair of the House Education Committee and was reappointed by Speaker Cameron Sexton to chair the House K-12 Subcommittee for the 114th General Assembly [4][10]. Haston also holds the position of Chairman of the K-12 Subcommittee within the Tennessee House Republican Caucus [8].\n\nHaston\u2019s legislative record includes sponsorship and support for several key pieces of legislation. He supported SB 16/HB 1, known as the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act, and SB 364/HB 563, the Business Protection Act [7]. His voting record also reflects support for SB 1257/HB 1029 (Human Life Protection Act), SB 1297/HB 1151 (Indecent Exposure Law in Single-Sex Restrooms), and SB 1304/HB 836 (Conscience Provision for Child-Placing Agencies) [7]. Additionally, he backed SB 1373/HB 307 regarding elective religious courses for credit, SB 1499/HB 1274 (School Protection Act), and SB 1736/HB 1689 concerning single-sex student athletics [7].\n\nOn social and constitutional issues, Haston supported SB 2196/HB 2263, referred to as Governor Lee's Pro-Life Bill, as well as SB 2465/HB 2568 on chemical abortion reversal information [7]. He also voted in favor of HJR 17, which acknowledges God as the source of liberties [7]. Haston\u2019s policy focus is heavily influenced by his professional background; he has worked in Perry County Schools for 18 years and currently serves as a School Health Coordinator [10].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nKirk Haston\u2019s professional career is rooted in education rather than private business ownership or investment holdings. He has worked for Perry County Schools for 18 years and currently serves as the School Health Coordinator [10]. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from Indiana University, completed in 2002, and a Master\u2019s in Arts and Education from Cumberland University in 2012 [8].\n\nPrior to his career in education, Haston played professional basketball. He was selected in the first round (16th overall) of the 2001 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets and played for the Charlotte Hornets (2001\u20132002), New Orleans Hornets (2002\u20132003), and Florida Flame (2004\u20132005) [3].\n\nPublic financial disclosure records are tracked for state representatives, but specific details regarding Haston\u2019s personal wealth sources, business ownership stakes, or significant asset sales are not provided in the available biographical summaries [6]. His self-reported professional identity centers on his long-term role within Perry County Schools and his community involvement with organizations such as the Southwest Human Resource Agency and the Perry County Health Council [10].\n\n## Family\n\nHaston is married to Kasey and has three children: Kenner, Kooper, and Kyler [8]. He describes himself as a devoted husband and father at home [10].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Kirk Haston - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Kirk_Haston)\n[2] [Tennessee House of Representatives District 72 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_House_of_Representatives_District_72)\n[3] [Kirk Haston - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirk_Haston)\n[4] [HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE | We Are Watching - Tennessee](https://wearewatchingtn.wordpress.com/education-committee/)\n[5] [State Representative Kirk Haston | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/LegislatorDetail/22958)\n[6] [Tennessee State Rep. Kirk Haston - Biography | LegiStorm](https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/307804/Kirk_Haston.html)\n[7] [Rep. Kirk Haston - Family Action Council of Tennessee](https://scorecard.factennessee.org/representatives/kirk-haston)\n[8] [Representative Kirk Haston \u2014 Tennessee House Republican Caucus](https://tnhousegop.org/members/representative-kirk-haston/)\n[9] [Kirk Haston | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/kirk-haston)\n[10] [State Rep. Kirk Haston reappointed to chair K-12 Subcommittee \u2014 Tennessee House Republican Caucus](https://tnhousegop.org/press-releases/2025/02/state-rep-kirk-haston-reappointed-to-chair-k-12-subcommittee/)","firstname":"Kirk","lastname":"Haston","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"AFd2diPRwb"},"token":"kirk_haston"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":"072","districtgroup":"state_house","districtgroupname":"State House","districtname":"District 72","job_type":"state_representative","o.office":"state_house_072","office":"state_house_072","officedescription":"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 \u2014 together with the Senate \u2014 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.","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":2,"officetitle":"State Representative District 72","partisan":1,"pgr":"primary","quantity":null,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-06-01","title":"TN SoS \u2014 Candidates for Tennessee House of Representatives (2026)","url":"https://sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com/s3fs-public/document/TNHouse_2026.pdf"},"title":"TN House District 72"}