← Back to Macon County, Tennessee: Election on 2026-08-06
Contest for TN House District 38
State House District 38
primary - Partisan - State Representative District 38
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
McMillan's biography shows a focus on local decision-making and opposition to external corporate control, addressing constituency concerns about development in rural counties. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate legislative craft experience or coalition-building experience.
Republican Primary
1 candidate
Kelly T. Keisling's long tenure since 2010 and committee leadership in insurance and banking demonstrate legislative craft and constituent understanding for District 38. His chairmanship of the Insurance Subcommittee indicates experience drafting statute and building coalitions within the General Assembly. The biography contains no record of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate prior executive management experience or direct law enforcement experience.
Know something about this race we don't?
Submit a contribution →