{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Chris Hurt","chatgptsummary":"Chris Hurt's biography shows over six years of service in the Tennessee House, including committee assignments on Agriculture, Transportation, and Education Administration, alongside sponsored legislation on gaming and business protections. The record notes no disciplinary actions or controversies requiring disclosure. Bio does not indicate prior experience as a lobbyist or experience in federal legislative drafting.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nChris Hurt is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 82, having assumed office on November 6, 2018 [2][9]. His current term concludes on November 3, 2026 [2]. The district he represents includes parts of Lauderdale, Haywood, and Crockett counties [1], though redistricting will expand the boundaries to include all of Lauderdale and Crockett counties along with portions of Gibson and Obion counties [4].\n\nHurt is seeking re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 82 in the upcoming 2026 cycle [2][11]. He is listed as a candidate on the ballot for the Republican primary election scheduled for August 6, 2026 [2][11]. As an incumbent, Hurt continues to serve on several legislative committees, including the Transportation Committee and the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee [4].\n\nDuring his tenure, Hurt has sponsored various pieces of legislation, including Tennessee House Joint Resolution 807 regarding professional achievements for Joan Smith, which was signed into law in May 2025 [8]. He has also been active on issues such as sports gaming and business protections, with legislative scorecards noting his support for measures like the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act and the Business Protection Act [7]. In recent public statements, Hurt has highlighted local concerns, such as faculty resignations at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center's Occupational Therapy program [6].\n\n## Background and education\n\nChris Hurt was born on July 5, 1972 [1][5]. He resides in Halls, Tennessee [5]. Hurt identifies as Baptist and is married to Dawn; they have five children [5].\n\nHurt earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness from Lambuth University between 1992 and 1995 [5].\n\n## Career\n\nBefore entering politics, Chris Hurt worked as a real estate broker [3]. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness from Lambuth University, which he attended between 1992 and 1995 [5].\n\nHurt is a resident of Halls, Tennessee, where he maintains a home office at 514 West Tigrett Street [5]. He identifies as a Baptist and has five children with his wife, Dawn [5].\n\n## Office history\n\nChris Hurt was first elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2018, assuming office on November 6, 2018 [2][9]. He represents District 82, which includes parts of Lauderdale, Haywood, and Crockett counties [1][4]. During his tenure, he has served as a Republican member of the chamber [9]. In his first term, Hurt served as the assistant majority whip for the Republican Caucus [4].\n\nCommittee assignments have varied during his service. For the 2023\u20132024 session, Hurt was assigned to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the Education Administration Committee, and the State Government Committee [2]. His campaign materials also note service on the Transportation Committee and the Ag and Natural Resources Committee [4].\n\nHurt has run for other offices in addition to his current state house seat. He is listed as a candidate for the Tennessee State Senate, District 82, in 2020 [5]. Vote Smart records also list him as a candidate for the Tennessee State House of Representatives, District 82, in both 2024 and 2026 [5]. He is currently on the ballot for re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing District 82, in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [2][11].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nDuring his tenure in the Tennessee House of Representatives, Hurt has served on several key committees. In the 2023-2024 session, he was assigned to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the Education Administration Committee, and the State Government Committee [2]. More recently, his committee assignments have included the Transportation Committee, alongside Agriculture and Natural Resources [4].\n\nHurt has sponsored legislation addressing local interests and broader policy issues. In February 2026, he sponsored Tennessee House Joint Resolution 807, a memorial for Joan Smith, which was signed into law by the Governor in May 2025 [8]. He also sponsored Tennessee House Bill 1423, which provides for foal-related provisions in Lauderdale County subject to local approval; this bill was also signed into law in May 2025 [8].\n\nOn major policy votes, Hurt supported the Global Entities Ban (SB 263), which prohibits state and local government entities from enforcing mandates from the World Health Organization, United Nations, or World Economic Forum [12]. He voted in favor of SB 207, which creates a $25 million Farmland Preservation Fund managed by the Department of Agriculture [12]. Hurt also supported HB 1237, which ends the ability of state regulatory and health agencies to require race-based membership for licensing or certification [12].\n\nAccording to the Family Action Council of Tennessee, Hurt\u2019s legislative record includes support for SB 16/HB 1 (Tennessee Sports Gaming Act), SB 364/HB 563 (Business Protection Act), and SB 1257/HB 1029 (Human Life Protection Act) [7]. He also supported SB 1297/HB 1151 regarding indecent exposure laws in single-sex restrooms, SB 1304/HB 836 concerning conscience provisions for child-placing agencies, and SB 1373/HB 307 allowing elective religious courses for credit [7]. His record includes support for SB 1499/HB 1274 (School Protection Act), SB 1736/HB 1689 (Single-Sex Student Athletics), and SB 2196/HB 2263 (Governor Lee's Pro-Life Bill) [7]. He also supported SB 2465/HB 2568, which mandates chemical abortion reversal information, and HJR 17, acknowledging God as the source of liberties [7].\n\nHurt has been involved in public discussions regarding administrative issues at state institutions. He stated that multiple faculty members in the Occupational Therapy program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) resigned due to leadership failures and the behavior of one professor [6].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\n\nIn October 2023, Representative Hurt alleged that the behavior of a single professor and the subsequent inaction by University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) leadership contributed to the resignation of five faculty members from the Occupational Therapy program [6]. Hurt stated that his sister, a former chair of the program, brought the issue to his attention, noting that less than 10 faculty members remained at that time [6].\n\nDuring the 2025 legislative session, Hurt sponsored and voted for Tennessee House Joint Resolution 807, which banned state and local government entities from enforcing or recognizing mandates from the World Health Organization, United Nations, or World Economic Forum [12]. He also supported legislation ending the ability of state regulatory and health agencies to require race-based membership in professional organizations [12].\n\nHurt has received a perfect score from the Family Action Council of Tennessee for his legislative record, including votes on bills such as the Human Life Protection Act and the Single-Sex Student Athletics bill [7]. The Freedom Index also recorded his support for HB1237, which prohibited race-based membership requirements for state regulatory and health agencies [12].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nChris Hurt works as a real estate broker [3]. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness from Lambuth University, which he completed between 1992 and 1995 [5]. His professional background is rooted in the real estate industry, a field in which he has been active prior to and during his legislative service [3].\n\nSpecific details regarding his family wealth source, ownership stakes in businesses, or the sales of any enterprises are not provided in the available records. While financial disclosures are tracked by legislative monitoring services such as LegiStorm, the specific contents of Hurt\u2019s personal financial disclosure reports are not included in the sourced material [10]. Consequently, no further details on his net worth or specific business holdings can be confirmed from these sources.\n\n## Family\n\nChris Hurt is married to Dawn [5]. The couple has five children [5].\n\n## Sources\n[1] (source #1 not in master list)\n[2] [Chris Hurt (Tennessee) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Chris_Hurt_(Tennessee))\n[3] [Chris Hurt - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Hurt)\n[4] [Home - Chris Hurt](https://chrishurtfortn.com/)\n[5] [Vote Smart | Facts For All](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/182507/chris-hurt)\n[6] [Years of complaints and inaction led to multiple resignations in one UTHSC department, state rep. says | News | fox13memphis.com](https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/years-of-complaints-and-inaction-led-to-multiple-resignations-in-one-uthsc-department-state-rep/article_bbc1f4b8-7617-4d0e-9862-14a804d0fe2b.html)\n[7] [Rep. Chris Hurt - Family Action Council of Tennessee](https://scorecard.factennessee.org/representatives/chris-hurt)\n[8] [Chris Hurt - Tennessee Representative Republican - Bill Sponsor](https://www.billsponsor.com/politicians/7046/chris-hurt)\n[9] [State Representative Chris Hurt | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/22961)\n[10] [Tennessee State Rep. Chris Hurt - Biography | LegiStorm](https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/307807/Chris_Hurt.html)\n[11] [Chris Hurt | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/chris-hurt)\n[12] [Chris Hurt - Tennessee Legislative Scorecard](https://thefreedomindex.org/tn/legislator/20348/)","firstname":"Chris","lastname":"Hurt","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"yEaNO6itMj"},"token":"chris_hurt"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":"082","districtgroup":"state_house","districtgroupname":"State House","districtname":"District 82","job_type":"state_representative","o.office":"state_house_082","office":"state_house_082","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 82","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 82"}