{"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":"017","districtgroup":"state_house","id":243,"key":"state_house_017","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":"Andrew Farmer","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nAndrew Ellis Farmer is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 17 [4]. He assumed office on January 8, 2013, succeeding Frank S. Niceley [4]. His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1].\n\nFarmer is seeking re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 17 in the 2026 election cycle [1]. He is listed as a candidate on the ballot for the Republican primary, which is scheduled to take place on August 6, 2026 [1]. As of May 2026, Farmer continues to serve in his current legislative capacity [9].\n\n## Background and education\n\nAndrew Ellis Farmer was born on December 14, 1979 [3][4]. He is a Baptist who attends First Baptist Church in Sevierville, Tennessee [3]. Farmer resides in Sevierville with his wife, Mariah, and their two children [3][8].\n\nFarmer earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from East Tennessee State University in 2003 [5]. He later received a Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan, graduating in 2007 [1][3][5].\n\n## Career\n\nAndrew Ellis Farmer was born on December 14, 1979 [4]. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from East Tennessee State University in 2003 and a Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan, in 2007 [1][3][5]. Farmer is an attorney and businessman who owns Andrew Farmer Law, a firm based in Sevierville, Tennessee, that handles criminal defense, auto accidents, personal injury, and DUI cases [3][7][11]. He states that he has dedicated his career to fighting for Tennesseans as an experienced trial lawyer with over a decade of practice [11].\n\nFarmer is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, the Knoxville Bar Association, the Sevier County Bar Association, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers [3]. He also serves on the board of directors for the Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministry and is a member of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce [3]. Outside of his professional work, he is a Baptist who attends First Baptist Church in Sevierville [3].\n\n## Office history\n\nAndrew Farmer was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2012 and assumed office on January 8, 2013 [4][11]. He represents District 17, succeeding Frank S. Niceley [4]. Members of the Tennessee House serve two-year terms with no term limits, and legislators assume office on the day they are elected in the general election [2]. Farmer has been re-elected to this seat in subsequent cycles, including a victory in the 2024 general election that secured his current term ending on November 3, 2026 [1][9].\n\nAs a state representative, Farmer serves as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and holds membership on the Calendar & Rules Committee, the Health Committee, and the Select Committee on Rules [8]. Within the judiciary structure, he chairs the Civil Justice Subcommittee and serves on the Criminal Justice Subcommittee [8][13]. His legislative responsibilities include drafting and voting on state laws, such as supporting the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act and the Business Protection Act in 2020 [12].\n\nFarmer is currently running for re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives in District 17 as a Republican candidate [1]. He appears on the ballot for the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1]. The outcome of this upcoming election is unknown.\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nRepresentative Andrew Farmer has served in the Tennessee House of Representatives since January 8, 2013 [4]. He currently holds the position of Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and serves on the Calendar & Rules Committee, the Civil Justice Subcommittee, the Criminal Justice Subcommittee, and the Health Committee [8]. His legislative portfolio includes significant involvement in criminal justice and civil justice policy [13].\n\nFarmer\u2019s voting record reflects strong support for conservative social and legal initiatives. He voted in favor of the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act (SB 16/HB 1) and the Business Protection Act (SB 364/HB 563) [12]. He also supported the Human Life Protection Act (SB 1257/HB 1029), legislation addressing indecent exposure in single-sex restrooms (SB 1297/HB 1151), and a conscience provision for child-placing agencies (SB 1304/HB 836) [12]. Additionally, he voted for the School Protection Act (SB 1499/HB 1274) and Governor Lee\u2019s Pro-Life Bill (SB 2196/HB 2263) [12].\n\nOn criminal justice issues, Farmer voted in favor of stripping Memphis and Nashville of their ability to decriminalize certain offenses, aligning with a national organization's criteria for opposing decriminalization efforts [13]. He also supported legislation allowing elective religious courses for credit (SB 1373/HB 307) and single-sex student athletics (SB 1736/HB 1689) [12]. In April 2026, he voted along party lines to pass legislation granting the state attorney general power to audit and seek the removal of the Shelby County district attorney for refusing to prosecute crimes [6].\n\nFarmer has been recognized for his support of term limits. In May 2021, he was honored by U.S. Term Limits for supporting Tennessee\u2019s resolution (HJR8) to limit the terms of members of Congress [14]. He also voted in favor of a joint resolution acknowledging God as the source of the nation's liberties (HJR 17) [12]. Farmer self-describes his legislative approach as writing Tennessee law and bending it \"to my will on behalf of my clients,\" drawing on his background as an attorney [7].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nAndrew Farmer identifies professionally as both an attorney and a businessman [3]. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from East Tennessee State University and a Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School [1]. Outside of his legislative duties, Farmer owns and operates Andrew Farmer Law, a full-service firm in Sevierville that handles criminal defense, auto accidents, personal injury, and DUI cases [7]. He self-describes the practice as having dedicated his career to fighting for Tennesseans, noting over a decade of experience handling various types of cases [11].\n\nFarmer also serves as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee within the Tennessee House Republican Caucus [8]. While he is listed with business interests, specific details regarding family wealth sources, ownership stakes in other entities, or significant financial disclosures are not provided in the available records.\n\n## Family\n\nAndrew Farmer was born on December 14, 1979 [3][4]. He resides in Sevierville with his wife, Mariah, and their two children [3][5][8]. His legislative assistant is identified as Robbie Farmer [10].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [Andrew Farmer - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Andrew_Farmer)\n[2] [Tennessee House of Representatives District 17 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_House_of_Representatives_District_17)\n[3] [Rep. Andrew Farmer - Representatives - TN General Assembly](https://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/archives/108ga/members/h17.html)\n[4] [Andrew Farmer (politician) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Farmer_(politician))\n[5] [Vote Smart | Facts For All](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/138632/andrew-farmer)\n[6] [Tennessee House passes Shelby County district attorney removal bill \u2022 Tennessee Lookout](https://tennesseelookout.com/2026/04/16/tennessee-house-passes-shelby-county-district-attorney-removal-bill/)\n[7] [Andrew Farmer Law | Home](https://www.andrewfarmerlaw.com/)\n[8] [Representative Andrew Farmer \u2014 Tennessee House Republican Caucus](https://tnhousegop.org/members/representative-andrew-farmer/)\n[9] [State Representative Andrew Farmer | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/18144)\n[10] [Tennessee Representative Andrew Farmer - FastDemocracy](https://fastdemocracy.com/bill-search/tn/legislators/TNL000189/)\n[11] [Attorney Profile - Andrew Farmer Law - Sevierville, TN](https://www.andrewfarmerlaw.com/attorney-profile)\n[12] [Rep. Andrew Farmer - Family Action Council of Tennessee](https://scorecard.factennessee.org/representatives/andrew-farmer)\n[13] [Andrew Farmer (R - TN)](https://vote.norml.org/politicians/138632)\n[14] [Rep. Andrew Farmer Honored by Nashville Man Walking Across Country in Support of Term Limits - U.S. Term Limits](https://termlimits.com/rep-andrew-farmer-awarded-term-limits-plaque/)","firstname":"Andrew","lastname":"Farmer","token":"ZFgBigyuly"},"term_end":"2024-12-31","term_start":"2023-01-01"}],"title":"State Representative District 17","type":"legislative","url":"https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H17","whenchanged":"2026-06-19 17:40:13"}