Bo Watson
Tennessee State Senator, District 11 since 2006. Ran in 7 elections between 2004 and 2022, winning 7. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2030.
Tennessee State Senator, District 11Born 1960
- In office
- 20 yrs
- Since 2006
- Bills became law
- 36
- 111 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.0%
- Chamber median 0.0%
- With party
- 99%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +5.9
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2030
- Nov 5, 2030
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Finance, Ways and Means · chair
- Pensions · vice chair
- Select Rules · chair
- Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations
- Commerce and Labor
- Fiscal Review
- Health and Welfare
- Ways and Means
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Children · Became law May 2026
Hospitals and Health Care Facilities · Became law May 2026
Education · Became law May 2026
Health Care · Became law May 2026
Public Health · Became law May 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Watson sits in the Tennessee State Senate
Watson is closer to the center than 4% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Brent Taylor, Adam Lowe, Bill Powers
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:02 PM ET
With Watson’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans99%
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: Watson’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Watson | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 2026 | HB 7002: Redistricting, Congressional - As enacted, removes prohibition on changing congressional… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 22–8 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | SB 1493: Computers and Electronic Processing - As enacted, requires TACIR to study artificial… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 26–4 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | HB 1857: Education, Curriculum - As enacted, requires each director of schools for an LEA and each… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 28–5 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | HB 2251: Judges and Chancellors - As enacted, creates a pilot project to provide for criminal… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 28–5 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | HB 2175: Motor Vehicles - As enacted, requires a delivery network company or delivery network… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 19–9 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Watson 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.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tennessee State Senate, District 11 | Won | R+5.9 | R+19.2 | −13.3 |
| 2022 | Tennessee State Senate, District 11 | Won | — | R+16.4 | — |
| 2018 | Tennessee State Senate, District 11 | Won | R+30.3 | — | — |
| 2014 | Tennessee State Senate, District 11 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Tennessee State Senate, District 11 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2010 | Tennessee State Senate, District 11 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2006 | Tennessee State Senate, District 11 | Won | R+27.9 | — | — |
| 2004 | Tennessee House of Representatives, District 31 | Won | R+30.6 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Seats Watson has held
- Tennessee State Senate, District 11 · since 2006
- Tennessee House of Representatives, District 31 · 2004–2006
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Watson has run against
- Democratic (D) · 2026 election, won
- Randall Price (D) · 2018 election, won
- Jim Hall (D) · 2006 election, won
- Ann Gabbert Bates (D) · 2004 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)
How we know Watson
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/86d5ff12-369b-41a4-9626-237425063c1b
- Wikidata Q16193925
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET