← Back to Roane County, Tennessee: Election on 2026-08-06
Contest for TN House District 41
State House District 41
primary - Partisan - State Representative District 41
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
R. Jason Goodman's biography identifies him as a Democratic candidate for Tennessee House District 41, representing Morgan and Overton counties. The record shows he qualified as the sole Democratic nominee to face incumbent Ed Butler in the November 2026 general election. No controversy or disciplinary history appears in the provided text. Bio does not indicate prior legislative experience or specific constituent advocacy experience.
Republican Primary
1 candidate
Ed Butler's biography shows over twenty years as a small business owner and fire sprinkler contractor, alongside service as a U.S. Navy veteran and community volunteer work on the Adult & Teen Challenge board. These roles suggest familiarity with local economic concerns and constituent values. The record notes no controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate prior legislative drafting experience or cross-partisan coalition-building experience.
Know something about this race we don't?
Submit a contribution →