{"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":"042","districtgroup":"state_house","id":315,"key":"state_house_042","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":"Ryan Williams","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nRyan Williams is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 42 [1]. He assumed office on January 11, 2011, succeeding Henry Fincher [4]. His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1].\n\nWilliams is seeking re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 42 in the upcoming 2026 cycle [1]. He is listed as a Republican candidate on the ballot for the state house race [5]. The Republican primary election for this seat is scheduled to take place on August 6, 2026 [1].\n\n## Background and education\n\nRyan Williams was born in Kingsport, Tennessee, on June 1, 1973 [4]. He identifies as Baptist and is married with two children [2][3]. Williams earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Carson-Newman College, where he received a soccer scholarship [1][2][3].\n\n## Career\n\nRyan Williams earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Carson-Newman College, where he played soccer on a scholarship [1]. His professional background includes work in construction and business development [1]. He self-describes his occupation as being in construction and business development [2].\n\nWilliams has been involved with the Cookeville/Putnam County Chamber of Commerce and the After Dark Series, and is an alumnus of Carson-Newman soccer [3].\n\n## Office history\n\nRyan Williams served on the City Council of Cookeville and as a Planner Commissioner for the city prior to his election to the state legislature [2][3]. He was first elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2010, assuming office on November 2, 2010, representing District 42 [1]. His tenure began with the 107th General Assembly, where he served as a member of the House Education Committee and the House Health & Human Resources Committee [3].\n\nWilliams continued to represent District 42 during the 108th General Assembly. During this term, he held the position of Vice-Chair of the House Health Committee and remained a member of the House Education Committee [2]. He has been re-elected for subsequent terms, with his current term scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1]. Williams is currently running for re-election in the Republican primary on August 6, 2026 [1].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nDuring his tenure in the Tennessee House of Representatives, Ryan Williams has served on several key committees, including the House Education Committee and the House Health & Human Resources Committee [3]. In subsequent sessions, he continued his service on the House Education Committee while also serving as Vice-Chair of the House Health Committee [2]. His committee work extended to the House Health Subcommittee during his time in the 108th General Assembly [2].\n\nWilliams has held leadership roles within the chamber, having been elected by his colleagues to serve as the Republican Whip in 2016 [4]. He assumed office in January 2011, succeeding Henry Fincher in District 42 [4]. His legislative career spans from the 107th through the 108th General Assemblies [2].\n\nSpecific bill numbers sponsored by Williams are not detailed in the available source materials. However, his policy focus is reflected in his committee assignments and professional background in construction and business development [2]. He has also served as a member of the City Council for Cookeville and as a Planner Commissioner for the city [3].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nRyan Williams self-describes as having a professional background in construction and business development [2]. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Carson-Newman College, where he received a soccer scholarship [1]. His career history includes work in the construction industry and business development roles prior to his entry into public office [3].\n\nWilliams maintains residences in both Nashville and Cookeville, Tennessee. His Nashville address is listed as 425 John Lewis Way North, Suite 612, in the Cordell Hull Building, while his Cookeville residence is located at 1843 Foreman Drive [5]. Specific details regarding family wealth sources, ownership stakes in private enterprises, or significant financial disclosures are not provided in the available records.\n\n## Family\n\nWilliams is married and has two children [2]. He self-describes as Baptist [3].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [Ryan Williams (Tennessee) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ryan_Williams_(Tennessee))\n[2] [Rep. Ryan Williams - Representatives - TN General Assembly](https://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/archives/108ga/members/h42.html)\n[3] [Ryan Williams - Representatives - TN General Assembly](https://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/archives/107GA/members/h42.html)\n[4] [Ryan Williams (American politician) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Williams_(American_politician))\n[5] [Ryan Williams' Political Summary](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/113713/ryan-williams)","firstname":"Ryan","lastname":"Williams","token":"xA07Gi72uS"},"term_end":"2024-12-31","term_start":"2023-01-01"}],"title":"State Representative District 42","type":"legislative","url":"https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H42","whenchanged":"2026-06-19 17:40:13"}