State

State Senator, 7th District

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state senator votes on Tennessee laws and the state budget in the General Assembly.

Candidates Compare by issue

Bryan Langan

Democratic

Stay-at-home father; former plumber · Knoxville

The gist

Proposes ending sales tax on groceries and some clothing.
Proposes term limits for Tennessee legislators and judges.
Supports campaign finance reform to curb corporate money.
Supports nonpartisan, community-based legislative districts.
Supports expanding Medicaid and raising the minimum wage.
Supports legalizing and taxing cannabis sales.

More about Bryan

View sources (2)

Proposes ending sales tax on groceries and some clothing.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Tennessee Senate District 7 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“my plan includes ending the sales tax on all groceries, clothing under $50 and shoes under $100.”
Proposes term limits for Tennessee legislators and judges.
Langan for Tennessee: Tennessee Senate District 7
Campaign website · Langan for Tennessee · langan4tn.com
“It is time we implement term limits for all Senators, Representatives and Judges in Tennessee”
Supports campaign finance reform to curb corporate money.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Tennessee Senate District 7 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Campaign finance reform to get the influence of corporate and special interest money out of our elections.”
Supports nonpartisan, community-based legislative districts.
Langan for Tennessee: Tennessee Senate District 7
Campaign website · Langan for Tennessee · langan4tn.com
“we must commit to non-partisan districts that strive to keep our communities together.”
Supports expanding Medicaid and raising the minimum wage.
Langan for Tennessee: Tennessee Senate District 7
Campaign website · Langan for Tennessee · langan4tn.com
“expanding Medicaid, expanding pre-K, raising the minimum wage, repealing the 2018 ban on affordable housing requirements”
Supports legalizing and taxing cannabis sales.
Langan for Tennessee: Tennessee Senate District 7
Campaign website · Langan for Tennessee · langan4tn.com
“Legalize and Tax the Sale of Cannabis: Use revenue to fund infrastructure and education”

Richard M. Briggs

RepublicanIncumbent

State senator; physician · Knoxville

The gist

Proposes cutting taxes and regulation to ease living costs.
Pledges to address congestion on interstates and main roads.
Supports expanding health care access for the uninsured.
Opposes abortion, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide.
Sponsored law requiring E-Verify checks by all government employers.In office
Sponsored law regulating and taxing hemp-derived cannabinoid products.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Richard

View sources (3)

Proposes cutting taxes and regulation to ease living costs.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Tennessee Senate District 7 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“cut taxes to put more money in our citizens’ pockets”
Pledges to address congestion on interstates and main roads.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Tennessee Senate District 7 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Traffic congestion on our interstate highways and main roads has become a quality of life issue.”
Supports expanding health care access for the uninsured.
Issues - Dr. Richard Briggs, Tennessee Senate
Campaign website · Briggs for Senate · briggsforsenate.com
“He has worked tirelessly to improve access to health care for the uninsured and for Tennesseans in underserved areas.”
Opposes abortion, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide.
Issues - Dr. Richard Briggs, Tennessee Senate
Campaign website · Briggs for Senate · briggsforsenate.com
“co-sponsored the Tennessee Human Life Protection Act for the protection of the unborn and also opposes euthanasia and physician assisted suicide”
Sponsored law requiring E-Verify checks by all government employers.
Legislation sponsored by Senator Richard Briggs, 114th General Assembly
Government record · Tennessee General Assembly · Bills Sponsored: SB1922 · wapp.capitol.tn.gov
“all state and local governmental employers to verify the work authorization status of each prospective employee through the federal E-Verify program”
Sponsored law regulating and taxing hemp-derived cannabinoid products.
Legislation sponsored by Senator Richard Briggs, 114th General Assembly
Government record · Tennessee General Assembly · Bills Sponsored: SB1413 · wapp.capitol.tn.gov
“provides for the regulation of the manufacturing, supplying, wholesale distribution, and retail sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 6 issues covered in this race.