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Tennessee, State House, District 61

Tennessee House of Representatives District 61
Current incumbentBrandon Ogles Republican Party

Tennessee's sixty-first state house district is represented by Republican Representative Brandon Ogles.

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 61

Brandon Ogles (R) defeated Rebecca Purington (D) in the general election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 61 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Brandon Ogles (R)
65.4
21,885

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Rebecca Purington (D)
34.6
11,555

Total votes: 33,440
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 61

Rebecca Purington advanced from the Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 61 on August 2, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Rebecca Purington (D)
100
3,416

Total votes: 3,416
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 61

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 61 on August 2, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Brandon Ogles (R)
35.5
3,913

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Gino Bulso (R)
24.3
2,685

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Jeff Ford (R)
17.0
1,876

Rebecca Ann Burke (R)
14.5
1,604

Robert Hullett (R)
6.4
709

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Terrence A. Smith (R)
2.3
250

Total votes: 11,037

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 Charles Sargent, Jr. ran unopposed in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 61 general election.

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 61 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Charles Sargent, Jr. Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Tennessee Secretary of State


Incumbent Charles Sargent, Jr. defeated Steve Gawrys and Terrence A. Smith in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 61 Republican primary.

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 61 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Charles Sargent, Jr. Incumbent 65.56% 3,636
Republican Steve Gawrys 31.32% 1,737
Republican Terrence A. Smith 3.12% 173
Total Votes 5,546

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 Charles Sargent, Jr. defeated Steve Gawrys in the Republican primary. Sargent was unopposed in the general election.

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 61 Republican Primary, 2014

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngCharles Sargent, Jr. Incumbent 51.5% 4,404
Steve Gawrys 48.5% 4,149
Total Votes 8,553

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 Charles Sargent, Jr. (R) was unopposed in the general election and defeated Rob Hathaway in the Republican primary.

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 61 Republican Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngCharles Sargent, Jr. Incumbent 61.8% 3,050
Rob Hathaway 38.2% 1,888
Total Votes 4,938

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Tennessee House of Representatives District 61 raised a total of $1,401,593. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $100,114 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Tennessee House of Representatives District 61

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $390,232 3 $130,077
2014 $376,653 2 $188,327
2012 $310,076 2 $155,038
2010 $75,775 1 $75,775
2008 $106,115 2 $53,058
2006 $61,279 1 $61,279
2004 $57,877 1 $57,877
2002 $9,423 1 $9,423
2000 $14,163 1 $14,163
Total $1,401,593 14 $100,114