{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Scott Cepicky","chatgptsummary":"Scott Cepicky's biography shows relevant experience as a Tennessee House member since 2019, serving on Education and Insurance committees while chairing the Education Instruction Subcommittee. He has sponsored legislation on education policy and Second Amendment protections. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience in coalition-building across partisan lines or drafting complex statute language beyond committee assignments.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nScott Cepicky serves as a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 64, having assumed office on November 6, 2018 [1][3]. His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1]. Cepicky is seeking re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 64 and appears on the ballot for the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1].\n\n## Background and education\n\nScott Cepicky was born on July 29, 1966 [8]. He self-describes as having a middle-class upbringing in the Midwest with values rooted in hard work and family [5]. He attended Vianney High School in Missouri [3][8].\n\nCepicky earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he studied history [3][10]. While at the university, he received dual athletic scholarships for football and baseball [5][10]. He was a four-year letterman in football and a two-time All-Big Ten member in baseball [10].\n\nRegarding his religious affiliation, Cepicky and his family are members of First Family Baptist Church in Columbia, Tennessee [5].\n\n## Career\n\nScott Cepicky attended Vianney High School in Missouri before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Wisconsin\u2013Madison [3][5]. He received dual athletic scholarships for football and baseball during his time at the university [5][10]. His collegiate athletic career included being a four-year letterman, an honorable mention All-American in football, and a two-time All-Big Ten member in baseball [10].\n\nFollowing college, Cepicky was signed as a punter by the Cincinnati Bengals and was also drafted by the Chicago White Sox to play professional baseball, according to his campaign biography [5]. He later established himself as a cattle rancher in Middle Tennessee [8]. Cepicky states that he worked his way through college with these athletic scholarships and settled in Northern Maury County with his wife, Teresa, where they raised their two children [5][10].\n\n## Office history\n\nScott Cepicky was first elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in November 2018, assuming office on January 8, 2019, to represent District 64 [1][3]. He succeeded Sheila Butt in the seat [3]. As a member of the Republican Party, he serves two-year terms without term limits [2]. His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1].\n\nDuring his tenure, Cepicky has held various committee assignments. In the 2019\u20132020 session, he served on committees including Education Administration and Insurance [1]. For the 2021\u20132022 session, he was assigned to the Education Committee and the Education Instruction Subcommittee [1]. By the 2023\u20132024 session, he had become the Chairman of the Education Instruction Subcommittee and served on the Education Administration Subcommittee and the TennCare Subcommittee [1][8].\n\nCepicky has run for re-election in prior cycles. He announced his intention to seek re-election in 2020, stating that he loved his job and had not regretted his decision to run [6]. He was subsequently elected to a second term in the November 2020 general election, continuing his representation of District 64 [4].\n\nIn addition to his legislative service, Cepicky has held other public roles. He served as a member of the Maury County Republican Party Executive Committee [1].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nScott Cepicky serves as Chairman of the Education Instruction Subcommittee within the Tennessee House Republican Caucus [8]. His committee assignments during the 2019\u20132020 legislative session included the Education Administration Subcommittee, the Education Committee, and the Insurance Committee [1]. In subsequent terms, he retained his role on the Education Administration Subcommittee while also serving on the Education Committee, the Education Instruction Subcommittee, and the TennCare Subcommittee [1].\n\nCepicky has sponsored legislation related to education policy, including proposals to change public education frameworks [9]. He has received recognition for his conservative voting record, including an award from the Family Action Council of Tennessee [9]. His legislative history includes support for or sponsorship of several measures tracked by the Family Action Council, such as 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 single-sex restroom laws, SB 1304/HB 836 concerning conscience provisions for child-placing agencies, and SB 1373/HB 307 allowing elective religious courses for credit [7].\n\nFurther legislative actions attributed to Cepicky include support for SB 1499/HB 1274 (School Protection Act), SB 1736/HB 1689 on single-sex student athletics, and SB 2196/HB 2263 (Governor Lee's Pro-Life Bill) [7]. He also backed SB 2465/HB 2568 regarding chemical abortion reversal information and HJR 17, which acknowledges God as the source of liberties [7]. Cepicky has publicly stated that he will never support legislation that infringes upon Second Amendment rights, framing such protections as essential for maintaining freedom from government control [11].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nScott Cepicky identifies himself as a cattle rancher [8]. He states that he worked his way through college with the help of an athletic scholarship for both football and baseball at the University of Wisconsin-Madison [5][10]. His professional background includes being signed as a punter by the Cincinnati Bengals and drafted by the Chicago White Sox to play professional baseball [5].\n\nSpecific details regarding his business ownership stakes, sales of businesses, or significant financial-disclosure facts are not provided in the available sources.\n\n## Family\n\nScott Cepicky is married to Teresa Cepicky, and they have two children [3][8]. The family resides in Northern Maury County [5]. They are members of First Family Baptist Church in Columbia, Tennessee [5].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Scott Cepicky - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Scott_Cepicky)\n[2] [Tennessee House of Representatives District 64 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_House_of_Representatives_District_64)\n[3] [Scott Cepicky - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Cepicky)\n[4] [Vote-USA | Scott E. Cepicky | Currently Elected State Representative District 64, Tennessee](https://vote-usa.org/Intro.aspx?State=TN&Id=TNCepickyScottE)\n[5] [What is Scott Cepicky all about?](https://www.scottcepicky.com/meet-scott)\n[6] [Cepicky says he\u2019s running for re-election](https://www.scottcepicky.com/post/cepicky-says-he-s-running-for-re-election)\n[7] [Rep. Scott Cepicky - Family Action Council of Tennessee](https://scorecard.factennessee.org/representatives/scott-cepicky)\n[8] [Representative Scott Cepicky \u2014 Tennessee House Republican Caucus](https://tnhousegop.org/members/representative-scott-cepicky/)\n[9] [Scott Cepicky for State Representative TN 64th](https://www.scottcepicky.com/)\n[10] [New Website - ALL in One | Rep Scott Cepicky](https://www.scottcepicky.com/new-website-all-in-one)\n[11] [Issues - Scott Cepicky for State Representative TN 64th](https://www.scottcepicky.com/issues)","firstname":"Scott","lastname":"Cepicky","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"njund65F1F"},"token":"scott_cepicky"},{"candidatename":"Craig D'Apolito","chatgptsummary":"Craig D'Apolito is a Democratic candidate for Tennessee House District 64, having filed from Columbia and secured qualification by the Secretary of State in March 2026. The biography confirms his candidacy against incumbent Scott Cepicky but contains no details regarding his professional background, legislative history, or specific actions demonstrating integrity, constituent understanding, persuasion skills, legislative craft, or coalition-building abilities. Bio does not indicate prior elected office experience or committee service experience.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nCraig D'Apolito is a Democratic candidate for the Tennessee House of Representatives, District 64 (Maury County), in the 2026 primary election scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1]. He filed from Columbia, Tennessee, and was confirmed as a qualified candidate by the Tennessee Secretary of State as of March 24, 2026 [1]. He faces Republican incumbent Scott Cepicky, of Culleoka, in the district [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Tennessee House candidate list, as of March 24, 2026 (Tennessee Secretary of State)](https://sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com/s3fs-public/document/TNHouse_2026.pdf) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20","firstname":"Craig","lastname":"D'Apolito","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"qvLduUdOGs"},"token":"craig_d_apolito"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":"064","districtgroup":"state_house","districtgroupname":"State House","districtname":"District 64","job_type":"state_representative","o.office":"state_house_064","office":"state_house_064","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 64","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 64"}