{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Connie Casha","chatgptsummary":"Connie Casha's biography shows extensive experience in education administration and securing state funding for early childhood services, demonstrating legislative craft and understanding of constituent needs regarding healthcare and education. Her role overseeing programs for children with special needs suggests capacity for coalition-building through grant management. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate prior elected office experience or direct persuasion experience in a partisan legislative body.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nConnie Casha is a faculty member at Middle Tennessee State University who is running for the Tennessee House of Representatives District 49 in the Democratic primary [2]. She has established a campaign presence under the name \"Connie Casha for TN HD 49\" to support her bid for the upcoming election [1].\n\n## Background and education\n\nConnie Casha self-describes as a resident of Murfreesboro, Tennessee [1]. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Middle Tennessee State University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the same institution [2]. Additionally, she earned a Specialist in Education degree from Middle Tennessee State University [2].\n\n## Career\n\nConnie Casha serves as the director of early learning programs for the Department of Elementary and Special Education in the College of Education at Middle Tennessee State University [3]. In this capacity, she oversees the Ann Campbell Early Learning Center, a unique preschool operated by the university [3]. The department's early learning programs recently secured over $8.5 million in state funds to provide early intervention services for families with children from birth to age 5 who have identified special needs [5].\n\nCasha is also listed as faculty within the College of Education at Middle Tennessee State University [2]. Her professional profile is associated with the college's administrative team, which includes leadership such as Dean Dr. Neporcha Cone and Associate Dean Dr. Peter Eley [4].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Connie Casha for TN HD 49](https://www.facebook.com/p/Connie-Casha-for-TN-HD-49-61583747490384/)\n[2] [Connie Casha | Faculty | Middle Tennessee State University](https://w1.mtsu.edu/faculty/connie-casha)\n[3] [April \u2018Out of the Blue\u2019 bursts into spring with ACE Learning Center, alumnus\u2019 White House service, student trustee\u2019s ideas](https://mtsunews.com/out-of-the-blue-april-2022/)\n[4] [Our Team \u2013 College of Education](https://education.mtsu.edu/contact/)\n[5] [MTSU Mondays: Grant supports early childhood services, top alumni award honorees named](https://www.yahoo.com/news/mtsu-mondays-grant-supports-early-090331313.html)","firstname":"Connie","lastname":"Casha","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"zV19A0Nuak"},"token":"connie_casha"},{"candidatename":"Mike Sparks","chatgptsummary":"Mike Sparks brings over fifteen years of state legislative service and prior county commission experience to District 49, demonstrating familiarity with committee work on finance and insurance. His background as a real estate professional and business owner reflects local economic understanding, while his long tenure suggests established constituent relationships. In 2017, he faced public criticism for introducing a resolution honoring Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest alongside an African-American legislator. Bio does not indicate experience in drafting complex statute language or building cross-partisan coalitions beyond party lines.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nMike Sparks is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing District 49 [1]. He assumed office in January 2011 after previously serving as a Rutherford County commissioner from 2002 to 2010 [4]. His current term in the state legislature is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1].\n\nSparks is seeking re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 49 in the upcoming 2026 cycle [1]. He is listed as a candidate on the ballot for the Republican primary election scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1]. As an incumbent, he previously defeated Democrat Luis Mata in the general election for this seat in 2024 [11].\n\n## Background and education\n\nMike Sparks was born on January 11, 1967, at Sewart Air Force Base in Smyrna, Tennessee [10]. He spent his early years in a middle-class community within Rutherford County, where his father, Sam Sparks, was a World War II veteran [10]. Sparks identifies as Baptist [3].\n\nSparks attended Middle Tennessee State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 2016 [6]. He also studied at Volunteer State Community College, the Nashville School of Real Estate, and the Dale Carnegie Institute [1]. Additionally, he holds an Associate of Arts degree in Mass Communication from Motlow State Community College and is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) graduate of Volunteer State Community College [8].\n\n## Career\n\nSparks was born on January 11, 1967, at Sewart Air Force Base in Smyrna, Tennessee [10]. He attended Middle Tennessee State University, earning a bachelor\u2019s degree in 2016, and Volunteer State Community College, where he obtained an Associate of Arts in Mass Communication and an EMT certification [1][8]. He also studied at the Nashville School of Real Estate and the Dale Carnegie Institute [1].\n\nProfessionally, Sparks is a business owner and consultant who holds a CCIM commercial real estate designation [8]. He has worked as a realtor and served as an author, entrepreneur, publisher, and radio spokesperson [8]. His community involvement includes membership in the National Federation of Independent Business, the Chamber of Commerce, the Farm Bureau, the NRA, the Smyrna Rotary Club, Gideon's International, and the American Legislative Exchange Council [3]. He has also served on the Motlow College Advisory Board and as a board member for the American Red Cross, Heart of Tennessee Chapter, from 2002 to 2010 [3].\n\n## Office history\n\nSparks served as a member of the Rutherford County Commission from 2002 to 2010 [6]. He previously sought office on the Smyrna Planning Committee during the period of 2001\u20132010 [6].\n\nSparks was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 49 in November 2010 and assumed office in January 2011, succeeding Kent Coleman [1][4][7]. He has been re-elected in subsequent cycles, including defeating Democrat Morgan Woodberry in 2022 by a margin of over 2,000 votes [11] and defeating Democrat Luis Mata in November 2024 by a margin of 3,866 votes [11]. His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1]. As a state representative, he serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee, Finance, Ways, and Means Committee, Insurance Committee, Private Acts Committee, and TennCare Subcommittee [8].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nRep. Mike Sparks has served in the Tennessee House of Representatives since January 2011 [1][4]. He previously served as a Rutherford County commissioner from 2002 to 2010 [6]. As an incumbent, he is running for re-election to represent District 49 in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1].\n\nSparks holds several committee assignments within the chamber, including membership on the Appropriations Subcommittee, the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee, the Insurance Committee, the Private Acts Committee, and the TennCare Subcommittee [8]. He is also a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council [3].\n\nHis legislative record includes voting against SB 16/HB 1, which sought to legalize sports gaming, and supporting SB 364/HB 563, known as the Business Protection Act [9]. Sparks voted in favor of SB 1257/HB 1029 (Human Life Protection Act), SB 1297/HB 1151 (Indecent Exposure Law in Single-Sex Restrooms), and SB 1304/HB 836 (Conscience Provision for Child-Placing Agencies) [9]. He also supported SB 1373/HB 307, which allowed elective religious courses for credit, and SB 1499/HB 1274, the School Protection Act [9].\n\nSparks voted for SB 1736/HB 1689 regarding single-sex student athletics, SB 2196/HB 2263 (Governor Lee's Pro-Life Bill), and SB 2465/HB 2568 concerning chemical abortion reversal information [9]. He also voted for HJR 17, which acknowledged God as the source of liberties [9].\n\nDuring his tenure, Sparks has sponsored legislation that prohibits children from accessing certain materials, though specific bill numbers for these sponsored acts are not detailed in the provided sources [11]. In 2017, he introduced a resolution recognizing Sampson Keeble, the first African-American elected to the state House, and Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, arguing that society should highlight their struggles and accomplishments rather than vilify them [5].\n\nSparks has received endorsements from conservative organizations, though specific names are not listed in the provided text [6]. He is a member of the Smyrna Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Farm Bureau, and the NRA [3].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\n\nRep. Mike Sparks faced public criticism in 2017 for introducing a resolution that honored both Sampson Keeble, the first African-American elected to the state House, and Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest [5]. The *Murfreesboro Post* reported that Sparks stated he felt society was \"vilifying certain folks in history\" and sought to highlight their struggles and accomplishments [5].\n\nSparks has been involved in disputes regarding his political endorsements, which are documented on Ballotpedia [2]. Specific instances of withdrawn or contested endorsements are not detailed in the provided source materials [2].\n\nIn 2024, Sparks defeated Democrat Luis Mata in a close race for Tennessee\u2019s 49th District seat, winning by a margin of 3,866 votes [11]. This victory followed his 2022 win over Democrat Morgan Woodberry by a margin of over 2,000 votes [11].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nMike Sparks identifies himself as a business owner, realtor, and business consultant [3]. His professional background includes work as an entrepreneur, publisher, and radio spokesperson, with specific credentials in commercial real estate as a CCIM [8]. He holds degrees from Middle Tennessee State University and Motlow State Community College, along with certifications from the Nashville School of Real Estate and Volunteer State Community College [1][3][8].\n\nSparks has described his wealth sources through his various business ventures, including roles in real estate and media [8]. Specific details regarding his ownership stakes, sales of businesses, or significant financial-disclosure facts are not provided in the available source material.\n\n## Family\n\nSparks married Felicia Sparks in 1990 [4]. The couple has two sons and two grandchildren [8]. His father, Sam Sparks, was a World War II veteran who met his mother, Patricia Flynn, during military service in England [10].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Mike Sparks (Tennessee) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mike_Sparks_(Tennessee))\n[2] [Endorsements by Mike Sparks](https://ballotpedia.org/Endorsements_by_Mike_Sparks)\n[3] [Rep. Mike Sparks - Representatives - TN General Assembly](https://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/archives/107GA/members/h49.html)\n[4] [Mike Sparks - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Sparks)\n[5] [Rep. Mike Sparks to introduce resolution recognizing state\u2019s \u2018rich and vast history\u2019 \u2013 Rutherford County Tennessee Historical Society](https://rutherfordtnhistory.org/sparks-to-introduce-resolution-recognizing-states-rich-and-vast-history/)\n[6] [iVoterGuide - Mike Sparks iVoterGuide Profile](https://ivoterguide.com/candidate/1268/race/15676/election/979)\n[7] [State Representative Mike Sparks | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/6547)\n[8] [Representative Mike Sparks \u2014 Tennessee House Republican Caucus](https://tnhousegop.org/members/representative-mike-sparks/)\n[9] [Rep. Mike Sparks - Family Action Council of Tennessee](https://scorecard.factennessee.org/representatives/mike-sparks)\n[10] [Mike Sparks \u2014 Grokipedia](https://grokipedia.com/page/Mike_Sparks)\n[11] [Sparks defeats Mata in close race for Tennessee\u2019s 49th District](https://mtsusidelines.com/2024/11/05/sparks-defeats-mata-in-close-race-for-tennessees-49th-district/)","firstname":"Mike","lastname":"Sparks","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"9dih2xzgmZ"},"token":"mike_sparks"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":"049","districtgroup":"state_house","districtgroupname":"State House","districtname":"District 49","job_type":"state_representative","o.office":"state_house_049","office":"state_house_049","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 49","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 49"}