RepublicanIn office since Nov 2012

Janice Bowling

Tennessee State Senator, District 16 since 2012. Next on the ballot in 2028.

Tennessee State Senator, District 16

In office
14 yrs
Since 2012
Bills became law
15
101 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed
0.0%
Chamber median 0.0%
With party
96%
On votes splitting the parties
Last margin
+57.7
Won 2024
Next election
2028
Nov 7, 2028

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

  • Government Operations · second vice chair
  • Government Operations · second vice chair
  • Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 101 sponsored · 15 became law
BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw
SB 1748 Motor Vehicles - As enacted, revises law relative to out-of-service orders issued to commercial drivers and…
Motor Vehicles · Became law Jun 2026
SB 468 Safety - As enacted, enacts the "Riley Gaines Women's Safety and Protection Act." - Amends TCA Title 4;…
Safety · Became law May 2026
SB 1747 Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates an offense of recklessly discharging a firearm into the air, ground,…
Criminal Offenses · Became law May 2026
SB 1890 Local Education Agencies - As enacted, requires, beginning with the next adoption of academic standards in…
Local Education Agencies · Became law May 2026
SB 2483 Veterans Services, Dept. of - As enacted, requires the department to conduct a study that includes an…
Dept. of · Became law May 2026

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Bowling sits in the Tennessee State Senate

Bowling is closer to the center than 75% of the chamber's Republicans.

Dem. medianRep. medianBowlingMore liberalMore conservative

Closest: Jessie Seal, Mark Pody, Bobby Harshbarger

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:02 PM ET

With Bowling’s party

  • Votes with the chamber's Republicans96%

Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Tennessee State Senate.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Bowling’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time Bowling was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Elections

Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.

YearRaceResultMargin
2024Tennessee State Senate, District 16WonR+57.7
2020Tennessee State Senate, District 16WonR+52.0
2016Tennessee State Senate, District 16WonR+35.7
2012Tennessee State Senate, District 16WonR+25.9
2004U.S. House, TN-4LostD+11.3
2002U.S. House, TN-4LostD+5.6

Source: 99chambers results archive

Seats Bowling has held

Source: 99chambers results archive

Who Bowling has run against

  • Wayne Steele (D) · 2024 general, won
  • Sheila Younglove (D) · 2020 general, won
  • Mike Winton (D) · 2016 general, won
  • Jim Lewis (D) · 2012 general, won
  • Lincoln Davis (D) · 2004 general, lost
  • Lincoln Davis (D) · 2002 general, lost

Source: 99chambers results archive

How we know Bowling

One person, matched across every source we use.

Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET