{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Gino Bulso","chatgptsummary":"Gino Bulso's thirty-eight-year legal career and service as a Tennessee state representative since 2022 demonstrate legislative craft through committee assignments on Judiciary and Education, alongside coalition-building via leadership roles. His biography documents a controversy where his firm received nearly $500,000 in pandemic funding while he advocated for limited government spending. Bio does not indicate direct experience managing district-wide economic development initiatives or extensive cross-partisan negotiation records beyond internal caucus work.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nGino Bulso is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 61, a seat he has held since assuming office on November 8, 2022 [1][4]. His current term concludes on November 3, 2026 [1]. Bulso is seeking re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 61 and appears on the ballot in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1][17].\n\nPrior to this upcoming cycle, Bulso ran in a special election for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District in 2025. He finished third in the Republican primary for that race, receiving 10.9% of the vote behind winner Matt Van Epps [2]. The general election for that congressional seat was held on December 2, 2025 [2].\n\nFor his 2026 state house campaign, Bulso has raised $833,756.18, which includes $750,000 in loans received and $18,972.22 contributed by himself [3]. He describes himself as a pro-life, pro-Second Amendment conservative who advocates for limited government [6]. His campaign platform highlights his support for school safety grants and legislation protecting girls' sports participation [6]. Bulso has engaged in campaign activities such as town halls in Robertson County [8] and has expressed pride in the grassroots effort of his previous congressional bid [9].\n\n## Background and education\n\nGino Bulso was born on December 25, 1961, in Tampa, Florida [4][13]. He was raised in Tampa by his parents, Eugene and Virginia Bulso [5]. Bulso attended local schools in the area, including Tampa Bay Technical Vocational High School [5][13]. His family has Italian heritage, with grandparents who immigrated from Italy; he has noted that they were first cousins [13]. He was raised in a Catholic household [13].\n\nBulso earned a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in philosophy from Cornell College in 1983 [1][4][7]. He subsequently received his Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law in 1986 [1][4][7].\n\n## Career\n\nGino Bulso is an attorney who has practiced law for 38 years [5]. He is the founder and a managing partner of Bulso, PLC, a law firm based in Brentwood, Tennessee [4][5]. During his legal career, Bulso has litigated civil cases in state and federal courts across Tennessee and other states, having been admitted pro hac vice in over twenty different federal district courts [10]. He self-describes as having tried over 150 cases to verdict, recovering multi-million-dollar awards in personal-injury and commercial actions [10]. Notable litigation includes obtaining a jury verdict and judgment on behalf of Nissan North America, Inc., in September 2021, for more than $165 million [10].\n\nBulso earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Cornell College in 1983 and a juris doctor from Emory University School of Law in 1986 [1][4]. His professional background also includes his firm receiving nearly $500,000 through the Paycheck Protection Program during the pandemic [12].\n\n## Office history\n\nGino Bulso first sought elected office in 2018, running for Tennessee House District 61 and finishing second in the Republican primary field of six candidates [15]. He later won election to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 61, assuming office on November 8, 2022, following a general election victory over Bob Ravener [1][12]. His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1]. As a state representative, Bulso serves as the Chairman of the Naming & Designating Committee and holds membership on the Calendar & Rules, Children & Family Affairs, Education, Judiciary, and K-12 subcommittees [11].\n\nIn October 2025, Bulso ran in the special Republican primary for Tennessee\u2019s 7th Congressional District to fill the vacancy left by Mark Green [2]. He finished third in that primary with 10.9% of the vote, behind winner Matt Van Epps and second-place finisher Jody Barrett [2]. Bulso is currently on the ballot for re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1][17].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nGino Bulso serves as the Chairman of the Naming & Designating Committee in the Tennessee House of Representatives [11]. His committee assignments include membership on the Calendar & Rules, Children & Family Affairs, Education, Judiciary, and K-12 subcommittees [11]. Legislative tracking data indicates he holds a lifetime conservative vote score of 84 and an A+ leadership grade from the Tennessee Leadership Rating Committee [14].\n\nBulso identifies as a pro-life, pro-Second Amendment conservative who advocates for limited government [6]. He has highlighted his support for Tennessee\u2019s state grant program funding school resource officers (SROs) in every school and has expressed strong opposition to biological males competing against females in sports [6]. During his tenure, he has also referenced the historical context of marriage laws, noting that his grandparents were first cousins who immigrated from Italy [13].\n\nPrior to his legislative service, Bulso ran for the same House District 61 seat in 2018, where he finished second in a Republican primary field of six candidates [15]. In 2025, he sought the Republican nomination for Tennessee\u2019s 7th Congressional District in a special election triggered by Mark Green\u2019s resignation; he received 10.9% of the vote in the October 7, 2025, primary, finishing behind Matt Van Epps and Jody Barrett [2].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\n\nIn 2018, Bulso ran for Tennessee House District 61 and finished second in a Republican primary field of six candidates [15]. He later won the seat in 2022, succeeding Brandon Ogles [4].\n\nDuring his 2022 campaign for State House District 61, Bulso faced scrutiny after it was revealed that his law firm had received nearly $500,000 in Paycheck Protection Program funds while he advocated for limiting federal spending and invoking the 10th Amendment [12].\n\nIn July 2025, Bulso announced a bid for Tennessee\u2019s 7th Congressional District to replace Mark Green, who resigned from the seat in July 2025 [16]. In the special Republican primary held on October 7, 2025, Bulso finished third with 10.9% of the vote, behind winner Matt Van Epps and second-place finisher Jody Barrett [2]. Following the loss, Bulso thanked supporters for standing for conservative values [9].\n\nBulso\u2019s campaign finance records for his congressional bid show he raised $833,756.18 in total receipts, including $750,000 in loans received and $18,972.22 in candidate contributions [3].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nGino Bulso is a trial lawyer and the founder of Bulso PLC, a law firm based in Brentwood, Tennessee [4][5]. He serves as a managing partner at the firm, which he established after a legal career spanning 38 years [5]. During his practice, Bulso has litigated civil cases across state and federal courts, including being admitted *pro hac vice* in over twenty different federal district courts [10]. He states that he has tried more than 150 cases to verdict, recovering multi-million-dollar awards in personal-injury and commercial actions [10]. Notable litigation includes a September 2021 jury verdict on behalf of Nissan North America, Inc., resulting in a judgment of more than $165 million [10].\n\nBulso\u2019s financial disclosures have highlighted the source of his firm's revenue. In August 2022, it was reported that his former law firm received nearly $500,000 through the Paycheck Protection Program during the pandemic [12]. This funding was noted in the context of his campaign platform advocating for limited government and reduced federal spending [12].\n\nIn addition to his legal practice, Bulso has raised significant funds for his political campaigns. Federal Election Commission data indicates that for his bid for Tennessee\u2019s 7th Congressional District, he received $18,972.72 in candidate contributions and secured $750,000 in loans [3]. The total receipts for that campaign period were reported at $833,756.18 [3].\n\n## Family\n\nGino Bulso was born in Tampa, Florida, to Eugene and Virginia Bulso [5]. He is married to Kathy, whom he has been married to for 36 years as of 2022 [15]. The couple has five children: Andrew, Teresa, Nicholas, Marissa, and Timothy [4][15].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Gino Bulso - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Gino_Bulso)\n[2] [Matt Van Epps defeated 10 other candidates in the special Republican primary for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District - Ballotpedia News](https://news.ballotpedia.org/2025/10/09/matt-van-epps-defeated-10-other-candidates-in-the-special-republican-primary-for-tennessees-7th-congressional-district/)\n[3] [BULSO, GINO - Candidate overview - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H6TN07294/)\n[4] [Gino Bulso - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gino_Bulso)\n[5] [ABOUT - Vote for Gino Bulso](https://votegino.com/about/)\n[6] [Gino Bulso for State Representative | 61st District | Williamson County TN](https://votegino.com/)\n[7] [iVoterGuide - Gino Bulso iVoterGuide Profile](https://ivoterguide.com/candidate/67221/race/15660/election/979)\n[8] [State Representative Gino Bulso on X: \"Thank you Robertson County for such a warm welcome! It was a privilege to sit down with friends and neighbors to talk about the future of our district. Election Day is right around the corner \u2014 thanks for being a part of this campaign for a stronger Tennessee. https://t.co/90EiPsn7ua\" / X](https://x.com/GinoBulso/status/1974553367046447216)\n[9] [State Representative Gino Bulso on X: \"Tonight\u2019s results weren\u2019t what we hoped for, but I\u2019m deeply proud of the campaign we built together. From criss-crossing the 7th District to sharing our message of faith, freedom, and common sense, we stood for our conservative values and love of country. Thank you to my family,\" / X](https://x.com/GinoBulso/status/1975756690889768977)\n[10] [Gino Bulso - Bulso PLC](https://bulso.com/gino-bulso/)\n[11] [Representative Gino Bulso \u2014 Tennessee House Republican Caucus](https://tnhousegop.org/members/representative-gino-bulso/)\n[12] [Anti-federal spending candidate\u2019s firm received $500,000 in pandemic funding \u2022 Tennessee Lookout](https://tennesseelookout.com/2022/08/02/anti-federal-spending-candidates-firm-received-500000-in-pandemic-funding/)\n[13] [Gino Bulso \u2014 Grokipedia](https://grokipedia.com/page/Gino_Bulso)\n[14] [Tennessee House District 61 - Bulso - TLRC](https://tnreportcard.org/representatives/tn-hd61-bulso/)\n[15] [House District 61: Gino Bulso | | williamsonherald.com](https://www.williamsonherald.com/house-district-61-gino-bulso/article_1b723ef2-06bf-11ed-bd5e-67dfddb0a391.html)\n[16] [Gino Bulso Launches 7th Congressional District Bid | Pith in the Wind | Nashville News | nashvillescene.com](https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/pithinthewind/gino-bulso-7th-congressional-district/article_e137c73e-28d4-5c35-8473-48a1edbf2e95.html)\n[17] [Gino Bulso | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/gino-bulso)","firstname":"Gino","lastname":"Bulso","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"k7xXlNhEc3"},"token":"gino_bulso"},{"candidatename":"Becca Ripley","chatgptsummary":"Becca Ripley's biography confirms her residence in District 61 and current candidacy for the Tennessee House of Representatives. The record does not indicate prior legislative experience or specific background in coalition-building and legislative craft required for this role. Bio does not indicate relevant experience in drafting statute or engaging fellow legislators on policy outcomes.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nBecca Ripley, of Brentwood, is the Democratic candidate for Tennessee House of Representatives District 61 (part of Williamson County) in the 2026 election [1]. Republican Gino Bulso, also of Brentwood, is running for the same seat [1]. Ripley met the qualifying deadline of March 10, 2026, at noon, and was confirmed on the Tennessee Secretary of State's official candidate list for District 61 as of March 24, 2026 [1]. The primary election is scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Candidates for Tennessee House of Representatives as of March 24, 2026 | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com/s3fs-public/document/TNHouse_2026.pdf) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20","firstname":"Becca","lastname":"Ripley","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"jyMjETcjdP"},"token":"becca_ripley"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":"061","districtgroup":"state_house","districtgroupname":"State House","districtname":"District 61","job_type":"state_representative","o.office":"state_house_061","office":"state_house_061","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 61","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 61"}