Tennessee

Tennessee entered the Union on June 1, 1796 as the 16th state. Tennessee became an early trans-Appalachian state and developed a political history marked by frontier settlement, Jacksonian democracy, Civil War division, and later urban and cultural growth. Today its state government is centered in Nashville and operates through a governor and a bicameral General Assembly composed of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Median household income$67,631
Poverty rate14.0%
Median age39.1
GovernorBill Lee (Republican)
Next statewide electionNovember 3, 2026

Government & Representation

Use this section to understand how the state organizes executive authority, legislative power, and federal representation.

Tennessee’s state government is led by an elected governor and a bicameral General Assembly made up of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The state’s institutions connect three grand divisions with distinct regional identities, making statewide coordination and legislative representation especially important.

GovernorBill Lee (Republican)tn.gov

Lieutenant governorwapp.capitol.tn.gov

LegislatureTennessee General Assembly

Legislature structureBicameral

Legislative chambersSenate and House of Representatives

State legislature websitecapitol.tn.gov

Legislative searchwapp.capitol.tn.gov

State constitutioncapitol.tn.gov

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U.S. Senators

Each state elects two U.S. senators to represent it in the Senate.

Senator Bill Hagerty

Tennessee

Republican Party

Bill has served in Congress since 2021.

Senator Marsha Blackburn

Tennessee

Republican Party

Marsha has served in Congress since 2019.

U.S. House delegation

House seats are apportioned by population and organized by congressional district, except for at-large delegations where applicable.

Representative Andrew Ogles

Tennessee District 5

Republican Party

Andrew has served in Congress since 2023.

Representative Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann

Tennessee District 3

Republican Party

Charles has served in Congress since 2011.

Representative David Kustoff

Tennessee District 8

Republican Party

David has served in Congress since 2017.

Representative Diana Harshbarger

Tennessee District 1

Republican Party

Diana has served in Congress since 2021.

Representative John W. Rose

Tennessee District 6

Republican Party

John has served in Congress since 2019.

Representative Matt Van Epps

Tennessee District 7

Republican Party

Matt has served in Congress since 2025.

Representative Scott DesJarlais

Tennessee District 4

Republican Party

Scott has served in Congress since 2011.

Representative Steve Cohen

Tennessee District 9

Democratic Party

Steve has served in Congress since 2007.

Representative Tim Burchett

Tennessee District 2

Republican Party

Tim has served in Congress since 2019.