{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Jake McCalmon","chatgptsummary":"Jake McCalmon's biography shows over ten years of business ownership and current service on legislative committees including Calendar & Rules and Transportation, demonstrating familiarity with statute drafting and constituent economic concerns. The record notes no controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate prior experience in coalition-building across partisan lines or direct experience in healthcare policy administration.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nJake McCalmon is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 63, having assumed office on November 8, 2022 [1]. His current term concludes on November 3, 2026 [1]. McCalmon is seeking re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 63 as a Republican candidate [1]. He appears on the ballot for the Republican primary election scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1].\n\nMcCalmon has secured endorsements for his 2026 campaign, including support from U.S. Representative Mark Green [9]. In his campaign messaging, McCalmon emphasizes his background as a businessman and his commitment to maintaining Williamson County\u2019s conservative, pro-business, and low-tax environment [4]. He states that Tennessee\u2019s policies have made the county an ideal location for growing businesses and raising families, and he aims to preserve these conditions through state-level leadership [8].\n\n## Background and education\n\nJake McCalmon was born on April 6, 1986 [3][10]. He is a resident of Franklin in Williamson County, Tennessee, where he lives with his wife, Rachelle, and their three daughters, Amelia, Della, and Emmersyn [4][5][7]. McCalmon identifies as Baptist and attends the Rolling Hills Community Church in Franklin [7].\n\nMcCalmon earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Brandman University, which is now known as the University of Massachusetts Global [1][3][5][7].\n\n## Career\n\nJake McCalmon earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Brandman University, which is now known as the University of Massachusetts Global [1][3]. He has described himself as a semi-retired former small business owner and an independent consultant [5][7]. His professional background includes over ten years of experience as a businessman and entrepreneur [8].\n\nMcCalmon resides in Williamson County with his wife, Rachelle, and their three daughters [4][5]. He is a member of the Baptist faith and attends Rolling Hills Community Church in Franklin [7].\n\n## Office history\n\nJake McCalmon has held elected office in the Tennessee House of Representatives since November 8, 2022 [1]. He represents District 63, a seat he assumed following his election to succeed Glen Casada [3]. Under Tennessee law, members of the state House serve two-year terms without term limits [2]. McCalmon\u2019s current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1]. During his tenure, he has served on the Calendar & Rules Committee and the Public Service Subcommittee within the State & Local Government Committee, as well as the Transportation Committee and its subcommittee [7].\n\nMcCalmon previously ran for the Tennessee House of Representatives in District 63 in the 2022 election cycle, winning the Republican primary and the general election to take office in 2023 [1][3]. He is currently seeking re-election to this same seat in the upcoming Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1]. There are no records of prior elected or appointed offices held by McCalmon in the available sources, nor are there documented losses in other public office races.\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nRepresentative Jake McCalmon serves on the Calendar & Rules Committee, the Public Service Subcommittee of the State & Local Government Committee, and the Transportation Committee [7]. His legislative record includes support for HB 0045, a law that increased criminal penalties for child abuse by raising the classification from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony for specific offenses against children aged nine to 17 [12].\n\nIn his first term, McCalmon secured $400,000 in state funding to support re-entry, workforce, and housing initiatives for human trafficking survivors, with funds administered to the nonprofit Thistle Farms [11]. He has also signed a commitment to oppose tax increases on behalf of Tennessee taxpayers [14].\n\nMcCalmon\u2019s policy positions emphasize maintaining Williamson County as a conservative, pro-business, and low-tax destination [4]. He attributes the county's economic success to Tennessee\u2019s conservative policies and argues that heavy-handed government burdens private citizens [8]. His voting record reflects these priorities, with a 75% lifetime vote score from the Tennessee Legislative Research Council and an 88% lifetime rating from CPAC [6][13].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nJake McCalmon is a former small business owner who founded and owned Bull [1]. He describes himself as semi-retired from his business ventures [7]. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Brandman University, which is now known as the University of Massachusetts Global [1][3].\n\nMcCalmon identifies his occupation as an independent consultant [5]. He has characterized his professional experience as spanning over ten years in business and entrepreneurship [8]. While he cites his background in business as a primary qualification for office, specific details regarding his ownership stakes, the sales of his businesses, or significant financial disclosure figures are not provided in the available source material.\n\n## Family\n\nJake McCalmon is married to Rachelle McCalmon [3][4][7]. The couple resides in Williamson County, where they raise their three daughters: Amelia, Della, and Emmersyn [4][5]. His grandfather was Willis Johnson [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Jake McCalmon - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jake_McCalmon)\n[2] [Tennessee House of Representatives District 63 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_House_of_Representatives_District_63)\n[3] [Jake McCalmon - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_McCalmon)\n[4] [Jake McCalmon - State Representative - House District 63](https://votejakemccalmon.com/)\n[5] [State Representative, House District 63: Jake McCalmon | | williamsonherald.com](https://www.williamsonherald.com/state-representative-house-district-63-jake-mccalmon/article_7810b0f6-8ff4-11ef-826e-a3e861076f39.html)\n[6] [Tennessee House District 63 - McCalmon - TLRC](https://tnreportcard.org/representatives/tn-hd63-mccalmon/)\n[7] [Representative Jake McCalmon \u2014 Tennessee House Republican Caucus](https://tnhousegop.org/members/representative-jake-mccalmon/)\n[8] [McCalmon announces run for state House District 63 seat | Local News | williamsonherald.com](https://www.williamsonherald.com/news/local_news/mccalmon-announces-run-for-state-house-district-63-seat/article_c98e2044-8ed5-11ec-9e42-e39ce0dd4a7e.html)\n[9] [House District 63 candidate McCalmon endorsed by Rep. Mark Green | Local News | williamsonherald.com](https://www.williamsonherald.com/news/local_news/house-district-63-candidate-mccalmon-endorsed-by-rep-mark-green/article_f86b0af8-0847-11ed-aff5-3ff3d200e382.html)\n[10] [Jake McCalmon - Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q117353894)\n[11] [Rep. Jake McCalmon secures $400K to support human trafficking survivors | Local News | williamsonherald.com](https://www.williamsonherald.com/news/local_news/rep-jake-mccalmon-secures-400k-to-support-human-trafficking-survivors/article_a9c140ad-a30b-49e1-a694-96c91f2c4d97.html)\n[12] [Jake McCalmon Archives - Tennessee Star](https://tennesseestar.com/tag/jake-mccalmon/)\n[13] [Jake McCalmon \u2014 State Representative from Tennessee \u2014 88% Lifetime CPAC Rating](https://www.cpac.org/bio/tn-jake-mccalmon)\n[14] [Jake McCalmon Makes Important Commitment To Tennessee Taxpayers - Americans for Tax Reform](https://atr.org/jake-mccalmon-makes-important-commitment-to-tennessee-taxpayers/)","firstname":"Jake","lastname":"McCalmon","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"dV7FubLx6s"},"token":"jake_mccalmon"},{"candidatename":"Laura Andreson","chatgptsummary":"Laura Andreson's biography shows over two decades of medical practice in District 63 and advocacy through litigation regarding reproductive health laws. She has served on a state medical association board but lost two prior elections for this seat. Bio does not indicate legislative craft experience or coalition-building experience.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nLaura Andreson is a Democratic candidate running for election to the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 63 [1]. She is on the ballot in the Democratic primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1]. The district covers eastern Williamson County [9].\n\nAndreson officially announced her candidacy in 2024, marking her second attempt to win the seat held by incumbent Republican Representative Jake McCalmon [11]. She previously ran as a Democrat for District 63 in 2024 but was defeated by McCalmon [11]. In this cycle, she has secured endorsements from District 55 State Representative John Ray Clemmons and District 56 State Representative Bob Freeman [11].\n\nA Franklin-based obstetrician-gynecologist, Andreson states that her campaign is motivated by the need to address and reform Tennessee\u2019s stringent abortion laws [6]. She describes her platform as being built on compassion, expertise, and a commitment to women's health [9]. Her professional background includes graduating from Sawyer High School and earning a D.O. from Des Moines University in 2002, followed by a residency at the University of Minnesota in 2006 [1]. She has over two decades of experience as an OB-GYN [2].\n\n## Background and education\n\nLaura Andreson was born in Mohall, North Dakota [1]. She graduated from Sawyer High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science from the University of North Dakota [1][10]. She subsequently attended Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she received her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree in 2002 [1][10]. Andreson completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Minnesota in 2006 [1][10].\n\nAndreson self-describes as a mother who has been married to her husband, Kent, for 25 years and has two sons aged 16 and 18 [10].\n\n## Career\n\nLaura Andreson is a physician and osteopathic medical doctor who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology[1]. She earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from Des Moines University in 2002 and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Minnesota in 2006[1][8]. Her medical practice is located in Franklin, Tennessee, where she has worked for over two decades[2]. During this time, she has delivered thousands of babies and supported families with complex pelvic health conditions, including urinary incontinence and chronic pelvic pain[2][7].\n\nAndreson holds professional licenses as a physician and osteopathic medical doctor[1]. She serves as a board member for the Tennessee Medical Association[10]. In addition to her clinical work, she has been involved in advocacy regarding reproductive health; she sued the state of Tennessee over its abortion ban, citing the urgent need to address and reform stringent abortion laws[4][6].\n\nAndreson states that she is a mother of two sons and has been married for 25 years[10]. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science from the University of North Dakota[10].\n\n## Office history\n\nLaura Andreson has not previously held elected or appointed public office [10]. She is a first-time political candidate who announced her candidacy for the Tennessee House of Representatives District 63 in the 2024 election cycle [6][9]. In that race, she ran as a Democrat against incumbent Republican Representative Jake McCalmon but was defeated [5][11].\n\nAndreson is currently running for election to the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 63 as a Democrat in the upcoming August 6, 2026, primary [1]. This marks her second attempt to win the seat held by incumbent state Rep. Jake McCalmon [11].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nLaura Andreson has not previously held public office [10]. As a first-time candidate in 2024, she ran for Tennessee House District 63 as a Democrat but lost to incumbent Republican Rep. Jake McCalmon [5][9]. She subsequently announced her candidacy again for the same seat in the 2026 election cycle [11].\n\nAndreson\u2019s legislative priorities are centered on reproductive health and rights, motivated by her professional experience as an OB-GYN and her legal challenges to Tennessee's abortion restrictions [4][6]. Her campaign platform emphasizes compassion and expertise in addressing the health needs of Tennessee women [9]. She has stated that she is stepping into politics to reform the state's stringent abortion laws [6][9].\n\nAndreson received endorsements from District 55 State Rep. John Ray Clemmons and District 56 State Rep. Bob Freeman during her 2026 campaign launch [11]. She has not yet served in the Tennessee House of Representatives, so she has no current legislative record, sponsored bills, or committee assignments to cite for this term [1][10].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\n\nLaura Andreson challenged incumbent Republican Representative Jake McCalmon in the 2024 general election for Tennessee House District 63 [5]. She lost that race to McCalmon [11]. In the 2026 cycle, she is running as a Democrat to unseat McCalmon again [4][11].\n\nAndreson\u2019s political entry was motivated by her opposition to Tennessee\u2019s abortion restrictions, which she described as \"stringent\" and urgent to reform [6][9]. She has sued the state of Tennessee over its abortion ban, a legal action cited in campaign materials promoting her candidacy [4]. Her platform is self-described as being built on compassion and medical expertise regarding women's health [9].\n\nAndreson received endorsements from District 55 State Representative John Ray Clemmons and District 56 State Representative Bob Freeman for the 2026 primary [11]. Clemmons introduced her to Democratic donors in Franklin, describing her as one of his personal heroes [11]. The Blue Voter Guide also lists her as a candidate with endorsements from pro-democracy organizations [3].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nLaura Andreson is a physician and obstetrician-gynecologist who has practiced in Franklin, Tennessee, for over two decades [2]. She earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Des Moines University in 2002 and completed her residency at the University of Minnesota in 2006 [1]. Her medical practice focuses on complex pelvic health conditions, including urinary incontinence and chronic pelvic pain [7]. Andreson self-describes as having delivered thousands of babies and supported families through various challenges during her career [2].\n\nPublic financial disclosure documents for her candidacy do not detail specific business ownership stakes or a distinct source of family wealth separate from her medical profession. Andreson states that she is married to her husband, Kent, and they have two sons aged 16 and 18 [10]. Her campaign narrative emphasizes her professional experience and community connection rather than independent business ventures or investment portfolios [6].\n\n## Family\n\nAndreson states that she has been married to her husband, Kent, for 25 years as of November 2024 [10]. The couple has two sons, aged 16 and 18 at that time [10]. Her campaign materials describe her as a mother who draws on her experience supporting families through her medical practice [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Laura Andreson - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Laura_Andreson)\n[2] [Dr. Laura Andreson for TN House 63](https://lauraandresonfortn.com/)\n[3] [Endorsements for Laura Andreson - Tennessee Democratic Party Candidate](https://bluevoterguide.org/TN/candidate_Laura_Andreson/548346)\n[4] [New Blue Tennessee on X: \"\u201cDr. Laura Andreson, a Franklin OB-GYN who has sued Tennessee over its abortion ban, will challenge incumbent (r) Rep. Jake McCalmon for House District 63, running as a Democrat\u201d Let\u2019s give our power back to the people, especially women! Give Dr Anderson a follow/donation/vote\" / X](https://x.com/NewBlueTenn/status/1791831888102875304)\n[5] [Franklin OBGYN Laura Andreson... - Nolensville Home Page](https://www.facebook.com/NolensvilleHomePage/posts/franklin-obgyn-laura-andreson-running-for-district-63-state-house-seatdemocrat-a/1381672689441793/)\n[6] [Dr. Laura Andreson announces candidacy for Tennessee House of Representatives District 63 | Local News | williamsonherald.com](https://www.williamsonherald.com/news/local_news/dr-laura-andreson-announces-candidacy-for-tennessee-house-of-representatives-district-63/article_aca5b0de-03e3-11ef-b3e2-27f86ae9c34d.html)\n[7] [Dr. Laura Andreson, DO, Obstetrics & Gynecology | Franklin, TN | WebMD](https://doctor.webmd.com/doctor/laura-andreson-d33de140-3a21-4c91-a878-c6ec9c216d82-overview)\n[8] [Dr. Laura Andreson, DO \u2013 Franklin, TN | Obstetrics & Gynecology on Doximity](https://www.doximity.com/pub/laura-andreson-do)\n[9] [Franklin OBGYN Laura Andreson Running for District 63 State House Seat | News | williamsonscene.com](https://www.williamsonscene.com/news/franklin-obgyn-laura-andreson-running-for-district-63-state-house-seat/article_f2de98d2-33cb-11ef-99a7-8b2cfc44e111.html)\n[10] [State Representative, House District 63: : Laura Andreson | | williamsonherald.com](https://www.williamsonherald.com/state-representative-house-district-63-laura-andreson/article_d4ab8b50-90b3-11ef-b5ef-e32c24bc6911.html)\n[11] [Laura Andreson to Run for State House District 63 Seat in 2026 | News | williamsonscene.com](https://www.williamsonscene.com/news/laura-andreson-to-run-for-state-house-district-63-seat-in-2026/article_49dedc5c-82b4-4682-af08-94543889977a.html)","firstname":"Laura","lastname":"Andreson","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"6Yqcm66Wsv"},"token":"laura_andreson"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":"063","districtgroup":"state_house","districtgroupname":"State House","districtname":"District 63","job_type":"state_representative","o.office":"state_house_063","office":"state_house_063","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 63","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 63"}