{"county":null,"description":"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.","district":"016","districtgroup":"state_house","id":231,"key":"state_house_016","lastchangeby":null,"name":null,"next_election":null,"notes":null,"officegroup":"tn_house","partisan":1,"party":null,"qualities":"- **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.","quantity":1,"source":null,"state":"tn","term_end":null,"term_start":null,"term_years":2,"terms":[{"current":0,"description":"","electiondate":"2022-11-08","name":"Michele Carringer","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nMichele Carringer is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 16, having assumed office on November 3, 2020 [1][2]. Her current term concludes on November 3, 2026 [1]. She is seeking re-election to represent District 16 in the upcoming general election [1]. Carringer appears on the ballot for the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1].\n\nDuring the 2026 legislative session, which adjourned sine die following a productive period for the Republican supermajority, Carringer served as Chairlady of the Population Health Subcommittee [11][13]. She participated in legislative activities including discussions on an interim forensic audit of Memphis-Shelby County Schools and celebrations of Tennessee\u2019s agricultural heritage [10][12]. Carringer also encouraged residents to utilize the state\u2019s annual back-to-school sales tax holiday, citing strong fiscal policies as a benefit for families [7].\n\n## Background and education\n\nMichele Carringer was born on February 4, 1962 [2][18]. She is a life-long resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, and describes herself as a native who believes the area is an ideal place to live, work, and raise a family [4][5]. Carringer identifies as a Southern Baptist [13].\n\nCarringer graduated from Central High School in 1980 [1]. She later earned a degree from the University of Tennessee\u2019s College of Communications [13].\n\n## Career\n\nMichele Carringer is a life-long resident of Knoxville, Tennessee [4]. She graduated from Central High School in 1980 and attended the University of Tennessee\u2019s College of Communications [1][13]. Prior to her legislative service, she served on the Knox County Commission, having been elected in August 2016 to represent the Second District [3]. Her tenure on the commission concluded in September 2020 after completing a four-year term, during which she also served as Vice Chairperson of the Commission [3][4]. Carringer previously held a seat on the Knox County Commission from January 2009 through August 2010 [3].\n\nDuring her time in local government, Carringer focused on fiscal conservatism and education funding [4]. She states that she helped vote to keep taxes low, fully fund the school budget, and create the Knox County Employee Insurance Committee [4]. Before her county commission service, she worked as an advertising professional [13].\n\n## Office history\n\nMichele Carringer served on the Knox County Commission, representing Seat 7A from January 2009 through August 2010 [3]. She was subsequently elected to represent the Second District in an August 2016 election, completing a four-year term that concluded in September 2020 [3]. During her tenure as a county commissioner, she served as Vice Chairperson for two years and focused on initiatives such as keeping taxes low, fully funding the school budget, and creating the Knox County Employee Insurance Committee [3][4][5].\n\nCarringer ran for the Tennessee House of Representatives in District 16 in 2020 to succeed retiring Representative Bill Dunn [8][9]. She won the Republican primary on August 6, 2020, defeating Patti Bounds with 58% of the vote [6][17]. She then defeated Democrat Elizabeth Rowland in the general election on November 3, 2020 [9]. Carringer assumed office on January 12, 2021 [2], or alternatively noted as November 3, 2020 in some records [1][15], and her current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1].\n\nAs a state representative, Carringer serves District 16, which includes the Fountain City, Halls, Powell, and Heiskell communities [3]. She holds committee assignments including service on the Social Committees, Departments & Agencies Subcommittee, Health Committee, Population Health Subcommittee (which she chairs), and State & Local Government Committee [13]. In April 2026, she participated in discussions regarding a forensic audit of Memphis-Shelby County Schools that identified significant operational deficiencies [10].\n\nCarringer is currently running for re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 16 [1]. She is on the ballot for the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nMichele Carringer serves in the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 16, a seat she assumed on January 12, 2021, succeeding retiring Speaker Pro Tempore Bill Dunn [2]. During her tenure, she has held several committee assignments, including service on the Social Committees - Departments & Agencies Subcommittee, the Health Committee, and the State & Local Government Committee [13]. Carringer also serves as the Chairlady of the Population Health Subcommittee [13].\n\nCarringer\u2019s legislative priorities have centered on fiscal conservatism, public safety, and education. She has advocated for low taxes and school funding, noting that during her prior service on the Knox County Commission, she helped vote to keep taxes low and fully fund the school budget [4][5]. In the state legislature, she supports expanding educational opportunity through school choice and accountability measures [16]. During the 2026 legislative session, which concluded with the adjournment of the 114th General Assembly, Carringer supported policies aimed at enhancing public safety and driving healthcare reform [11].\n\nOn fiscal policy, Carringer has promoted tax relief initiatives, such as encouraging Tennesseans to utilize the annual back-to-school sales tax holiday to reduce costs for families [7]. She has also engaged in oversight of public institutions, joining House and Senate Republican leaders to review an interim forensic audit of Memphis-Shelby County Schools that identified widespread operational deficiencies and waste [10].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nMichele Carringer\u2019s professional background prior to her legislative career includes service on the Knox County Commission and the Knox County Board of Education [3]. She states that she has spent her life as a resident of Knoxville, focusing on local governance issues such as tax policy and school funding during her tenure on the county commission [4]. Carringer graduated from Central High School in 1980 and attended the University of Tennessee\u2019s College of Communications [1].\n\nSpecific details regarding Carringer\u2019s private business interests, ownership stakes, or the sources of personal wealth are not detailed in the provided source materials. While financial disclosure data is tracked by legislative monitoring services, the specific contents of these disclosures are not included in the available references [14]. Consequently, there is no public information in the provided texts detailing significant sales of businesses or specific asset holdings for Carringer.\n\n## Family\n\nMichele Carringer is married to Michael [2]. They have two children, Christie and Kent [2]. Carringer also has three grandchildren: Emma Grace, Oliva Scarlett, and Jack Michael [13].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Michele Carringer - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Michele_Carringer)\n[2] [Michele Carringer - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michele_Carringer)\n[3] [About - Michele Carringer](http://www.electmichelecarringer.com/about-1.html)\n[4] [Michele Carringer](http://www.electmichelecarringer.com/home.html)\n[5] [Michele Carringer](http://www.electmichelecarringer.com/)\n[6] [News - Michele Carringer](http://www.electmichelecarringer.com/news.html)\n[7] [Rep. Michele Carringer encourages Tennesseans to take advantage of sales tax holiday \u2014 Tennessee House Republican Caucus](https://tnhousegop.org/member-newsroom/2025/07/rep-michele-carringer-encourages-tennesseans-to-take-advantage-of-sales-tax-holiday/)\n[8] [Election 2020: 16th House District Primary | Compass](https://compassknox.com/2020/07/20/election-2020-16th-house-district-primary/)\n[9] [Election 2020: 16th State House District - Compass | Knoxville](https://compassknox.com/2020/10/07/election-2020-16th-state-house-district/)\n[10] [State Rep. Michele Carringer's Capitol Report | April 2, 2026 \u2014 Tennessee House Republican Caucus](https://tnhousegop.org/member-newsroom/2026/04/state-rep-michele-carringers-capitol-report-april-2-2026/)\n[11] [State Rep. Michele Carringer's Capitol Report | April 24, 2026 \u2014 Tennessee House Republican Caucus](https://tnhousegop.org/member-newsroom/2026/04/state-rep-michele-carringers-capitol-report-april-24-2026/)\n[12] [State Rep. Michele Carringer's Capitol Report \u2014 Tennessee House Republican Caucus](https://tnhousegop.org/member-newsroom/2025/03/state-rep-michele-carringers-capitol-report-8/)\n[13] [Representative Michele Carringer \u2014 Tennessee House Republican Caucus](https://tnhousegop.org/members/representative-michele-carringer/)\n[14] [Tennessee State Rep. Michele Carringer - Biography | LegiStorm](https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/386177/Michele_Carringer.html)\n[15] [State Representative Michele Carringer | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/24928)\n[16] [Michele Carringer \u2013 Tennessee Education Heroes](https://tnedheroes.com/carringer/)\n[17] [Michele Carringer wins 16th District Republican primary for Tennessee House | wbir.com](https://www.wbir.com/article/news/politics/elections/tennessee-election-2020-state-house-dist-16/51-98dfec20-31de-481c-9506-2f6ab578421a)\n[18] [Michele Carringer - Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q106596914)","firstname":"Michele","lastname":"Carringer","token":"aQxgvwsbVe"},"term_end":"2024-12-31","term_start":"2023-01-01"}],"title":"State Representative District 16","type":"legislative","url":"https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H16","whenchanged":"2026-06-19 17:40:13"}