Paul Bailey
Tennessee State Senator, District 15 since 2014. Ran in 5 elections between 2002 and 2022, winning 4. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2030.
Tennessee State Senator, District 15Born 1968Businessperson
- In office
- 12 yrs
- Since 2014
- Bills became law
- 90
- 196 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.0%
- Chamber median 0.0%
- With party
- 99%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +47.3
- Won 2018
- 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.
- Commerce and Labor · chair
- Fiscal Review
- Transportation and Safety
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Criminal Offenses · Became law May 2026
General · Became law May 2026
Criminal Offenses · Became law May 2026
Criminal Offenses · Became law May 2026
Firearms and Ammunition · Became law May 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Bailey sits in the Tennessee State Senate
Bailey is closer to the center than 42% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Ed Jackson, Ferrell Haile, Paul Rose
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:02 PM ET
With Bailey’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: Bailey’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Bailey | 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 Bailey 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 15 | Won | — | R+57.4 | — |
| 2022 | Tennessee State Senate, District 15 | Won | — | R+54.0 | — |
| 2018 | Tennessee State Senate, District 15 | Won | R+47.3 | — | — |
| 2014 | Tennessee State Senate, District 15 | Won | R+50.9 | — | — |
| 2014 | Tennessee State Senate, District 15 (primary) | Won | +2.1 | — | — |
| 2002 | Tennessee State Senate, District 15 | Lost | D+17.4 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Seats Bailey has held
- Tennessee State Senate, District 15 · since 2014
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Bailey has run against
- Angela Hedgecough (D) · 2018 election, won
- Betty Vaudt (D) · 2014 election, won
- Charlotte Burks (D) · 2002 election, lost
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)
How we know Bailey
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/8e49fca4-e0d8-4273-adab-265632163d86
- Wikidata Q22958475
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET