Kelly Keisling
2010 - Present
2026
14
Kelly Keisling (Republican Party) is a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing District 38. He assumed office in 2010. His current term ends on November 3, 2026.
Keisling (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 38. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Keisling attended Belmont University. He worked in insurance before assuming office. From 1994-1998, he served as the County Executive in Pickett County.
Committee assignments
2023-2024
Keisling was assigned to the following committees:
- Calendar and Rules Committee
- Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
- Senate Government Operations Committee
- State Government Committee, Chair
- Government Operations Committee
2021-2022
Keisling was assigned to the following committees:
2019-2020
Keisling was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
- Calendar and Rules Committee
- State Government Committee, Chair
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Tennessee committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Insurance and Banking |
| • Transportation |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Keisling served on the following committees:
| Tennessee committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Insurance and Banking |
| • Transportation |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Keisling served on the following committees:
| Tennessee committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Insurance and Banking, Vice chair |
| • Transportation |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Keisling served on these committees:
| Tennessee committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Agriculture |
| • Transportation |
Endorsements
Presidential preference
2016 presidential endorsement
✓ Keisling endorsed Ted Cruz for the Republican primary in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.[1]
- See also: Endorsements for Ted Cruz
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 38
Incumbent Kelly Keisling defeated Alexander Armor in the general election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 38 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kelly Keisling (R) | 88.8 | 24,775 |
 | Alexander Armor (Independent)  | 11.2 | 3,126 | |
| Total votes: 27,901 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 38
Incumbent Kelly Keisling advanced from the Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 38 on August 1, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kelly Keisling | 100.0 | 4,641 |
| Total votes: 4,641 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Keisling in this election.
2022
See also: Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 38
Incumbent Kelly Keisling won election in the general election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 38 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kelly Keisling (R) | 100.0 | 13,006 |
| Total votes: 13,006 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 38
Incumbent Kelly Keisling advanced from the Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 38 on August 4, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kelly Keisling | 100.0 | 9,734 |
| Total votes: 9,734 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2020
See also: Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 38
Incumbent Kelly Keisling defeated Carol Veneá Abney in the general election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 38 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kelly Keisling (R) | 85.6 | 22,177 |
 | Carol Veneá Abney (D) | 14.4 | 3,724 | |
| Total votes: 25,901 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 38
Carol Veneá Abney advanced from the Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 38 on August 6, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Carol Veneá Abney | 100.0 | 836 |
| Total votes: 836 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Watch the Candidate Conversation for this race!
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 38
Incumbent Kelly Keisling advanced from the Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 38 on August 6, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kelly Keisling | 100.0 | 6,726 |
| Total votes: 6,726 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
See also: Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2018
General election
General election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 38
Incumbent Kelly Keisling defeated Carol Veneá Abney in the general election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 38 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kelly Keisling (R) | 80.6 | 15,258 |
| Carol Veneá Abney (D) | 19.4 | 3,667 | |
| Total votes: 18,925 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 38
Carol Veneá Abney advanced from the Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 38 on August 2, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Carol Veneá Abney | 100.0 | 2,135 |
| Total votes: 2,135 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 38
Incumbent Kelly Keisling advanced from the Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 38 on August 2, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kelly Keisling | 100.0 | 11,321 |
| Total votes: 11,321 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
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 Kelly Keisling defeated F. Mike Campbell in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 38 general election.[2][3]
| Tennessee House of Representatives, District 38 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Kelly Keisling Incumbent |
81.56% | 16,988 | |
| Democratic | F. Mike Campbell | 18.44% | 3,841 | |
| Total Votes | 20,829 | |||
| Source: Tennessee Secretary of State | ||||
F. Mike Campbell ran unopposed in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 38 Democratic primary.[4][5]
| Tennessee House of Representatives, District 38 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | F. Mike Campbell (unopposed) | |
Incumbent Kelly Keisling defeated Joey A. Zachary in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 38 Republican primary.[4][5]
| Tennessee House of Representatives, District 38 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Kelly Keisling Incumbent |
66.10% | 4,743 | |
| Republican | Joey A. Zachary | 33.90% | 2,433 | |
| Total Votes | 7,176 | |||
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 Kelly Keisling was unopposed in the Republican primary. Keisling was unopposed in the general election.[6][7]
2012
Keisling won re-election in the 2012 election for Tennessee House of Representatives, District 38. Keisling ran unopposed in the August 2 primary election and defeated David R. Harper (D) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[8][9]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kelly Keisling Incumbent |
71.8% | 14,190 | |
| Democratic | David Harper | 28.2% | 5,578 | |
| Total Votes | 19,768 | |||
2010
Keisling defeated Democrat Leslie Winningham in the general election on November 2, 2010. Keisling was unopposed in the August 5 primary.[10][11]
| Tennessee House of Representatives, District 38 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Kelly Keisling (R)
|
7,965 | |||
| Leslie Winningham (D) | 6,141 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kelly Keisling did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Kelly Keisling did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Kelly Keisling did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Tennessee scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2023, the Tennessee State Legislature was in session from January 10 to April 21.
|
2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2022, the Tennessee State Legislature was in session from January 11 to April 28.
|
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2021, the Tennessee State Legislature was in session from January 12 to May 5.
|
2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2020, the Tennessee State Legislature was in session from January 14 to June 19.
|
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2019, the Tennessee General Assembly was in session January 8 through May 2.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2018, the 110th Tennessee General Assembly, second session, was in session January 9 to April 27.
|
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the 110th Tennessee General Assembly, first session, was in session January 10 to May 10.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2016, the 109th Tennessee General Assembly, second year, was in session from January 12 through April 22
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the 109th Tennessee General Assembly, first year, was in session from January 13 through April 22.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the 108th Tennessee General Assembly, second year, was in session from January 14 to April 18.
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the 108th Tennessee General Assembly, first year, was in session from January 8 to April 19.
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the 107th Tennessee General Assembly, second year, was in session from January 10 through May 1.
|
2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2011, the 107th Tennessee General Assembly, first year, was in session from January 11 to May 21.
|
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Keisling and his wife, Janet, have three children. They currently reside in Byrdstown, Tennessee.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Tennessee House of Representatives District 38 |
Officeholder Tennessee House of Representatives District 38 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ The Tennessean "Ted Cruz expands Tennessee leadership team," October 22, 2015
- ↑ The New York Times, "Election 2016," accessed November 11, 2016
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2016 general election results - Tennessee House of Representatives," accessed January 19, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Candidate Petitions Filed as of April 8, 2016 Noon Qualifying Deadline," accessed April 11, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Tennessee Secretary of State, "August 4, 2016 Unofficial Election Results," accessed August 4, 2016
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "August 7, 2014 Election Results," accessed September 11, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "Petitions Filed for State Senate and State House of Representatives," accessed April 5, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2012 List of Candidates," accessed April 18, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Department of State, "Election Results," accessed April 18, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2010 Primary Election Official Results," accessed April 18, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2010 Tennessee General election results," accessed April 18, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Bar Association, "Nashville Chamber Releases 2015 Legislative Scorecard," accessed November 10, 2015
- ↑ Tennessee Bar Association, "Nashville Chamber Releases 2015 Legislative Scorecard," accessed November 10, 2015
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Tennessee House of Representatives District 38 2010-Present |
Succeeded by - |
