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Tennessee, State House, District 23

Tennessee House of Representatives District 23
Current incumbentMark Cochran Republican Party

Tennessee's twenty-third state house district is represented by Republican Representative Mark Cochran.

Tennessee state representatives represent an average of 64,102 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 57,468 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Tennessee House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Tennessee legislators assume office the 15th of January following the election.

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the Tennessee House of Representatives, a candidate must be:

  • A U.S. citizen
  • 21 years old before the general election
  • A three-year resident of Tennessee before the general election
  • A county resident for 1 year prior to the general election
  • A qualified voter
  • The following situations would eliminate a candidate from qualifying for office:
    • Those who have been convicted of offering or giving a bribe, or of larceny, or any other offense declared infamous by law, unless restored to citizenship in the mode pointed out by law;
    • Those against whom there is a judgment unpaid for any moneys received by them, in any official capacity, due to the United States, to this state, or any county thereof;
    • Those who are defaulters to the treasury at the time of the election, and the election of any such person shall be void;
    • Soldiers, seamen, marines, or airmen in the regular army or navy or air force of the United States; and
    • Members of congress, and persons holding any office of profit or trust under any foreign power, other state of the union, or under the United States.

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$22,667/year$229/day

Vacancies

In Tennessee, there are two ways a vacancy can be filled in the house. When twelve months or more remain in a unfilled term, a special election must be held within the allowable time frame set by law. If less than twelve months remain in the term, the current members of the house must vote on a replacement.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Tennessee House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for August 6, 2020. The filing deadline is April 2, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 23

Mark Cochran (R) defeated Brad Hartley (D) in the general election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 23 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Mark Cochran (R)
80.7
16,395

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Brad Hartley (D)
19.3
3,918

Total votes: 20,313
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 23

Brad Hartley advanced from the Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 23 on August 2, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Brad Hartley (D)
100
1,452

Total votes: 1,452
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 23

Mark Cochran defeated Donald Winder III in the Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 23 on August 2, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Mark Cochran (R)
58.8
6,020

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Donald Winder III (R)
41.2
4,216

Total votes: 10,236

2016

Elections for the Tennessee House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on August 4, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 7, 2016.

Incumbent John W. Forgety defeated Daniel Housley in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 23 general election.

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 23 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png John W. Forgety Incumbent 85.70% 19,998
Independent Daniel Housley 14.30% 3,337
Total Votes 23,335
Source: Tennessee Secretary of State

Incumbent John W. Forgety ran unopposed in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 23 Republican primary.

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 23 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png John W. Forgety Incumbent (unopposed)

2014

Elections for 99 seats in the Tennessee House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 7, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 3, 2014. Incumbent John W. Forgety was unopposed in the Republican primary. Forgety was unopposed in the general election.

2012

Elections for the office of Tennessee House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on August 2, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 5, 2011. Incumbent John W. Forgety (R) defeated Peggy Hall Wall (D) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in the primary.

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 23, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Forgety Incumbent 75.9% 17,039
Democratic Peggy Hall Wall 24.1% 5,424
Total Votes 22,463

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Tennessee House of Representatives District 23 raised a total of $388,083. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $29,853 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Tennessee House of Representatives District 23

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $51,643 2 $25,822
2014 $47,150 1 $47,150
2012 $58,884 2 $29,442
2010 $25,811 1 $25,811
2008 $26,430 1 $26,430
2006 $101,915 2 $50,958
2004 $35,190 1 $35,190
2002 $10,000 1 $10,000
2000 $31,060 2 $15,530
Total $388,083 13 $29,853