
Richard M. Briggs
Republican | Tennessee
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Richard M. Briggs
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary and Judicial General
Race
State Senate, Dist., 7
Incumbent
Yes
EDUCATION
Transylvania University, Lexington, KY, BS, 1971-1978
WORK & MILITARY
Army, Colonel, 1974-2012
AFFILIATIONS
East Tennessee Human Resource Agency, Board of Directors, 2022-Present
East Tennessee Development District, Board of Directors, 2022-Present
Tennessee Medical Association, Vice-Chairman, Board of Directors, 2008-2014
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Tennessee State Senate, 2014-2026
Knox County Tennessee Board of Commissioners, 2008-2014
7
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2023-2024
100%
2025
83%, 81%†
2026
81%, 76%†
2020
43%
2023-2024
|100%
2025
|83%, 81%†
2026
|81%, 76%†
2020
|43%
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2018
|60%
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (8)
Mark Green (2023)
Ron DeSantis (2023)
Diana Harshbarger (2020)
Manish "Manny" Sethi (2020)
Jimmy Matlock (2017)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
Sponsored HB 990/SB 1004 which undermined TN's strong pro-life laws by introducing ambiguous language into the legal framework governing abortion exceptions.
Briggs was one of two Republicans who voted against SB0187, which prevents state and local government and subdivisions from forcing, requiring or coercing individuals to take a Covid-19 vaccine.
Briggs voted against SB0765, Tennessee's new Constitutional Carry legislation.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Only two situation: 1) In life-threatening conditions of the mother 2) To preserve the fertility of the mother for future children in instances where the unborn chid has died in the womb or is not viable and continuing the pregnancy would render a mother sterile.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
This includes the life of mothers. All life has value.
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Neutral
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
I generally prefer the free marketplace rather than the government setting a wage scale.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
1) A hotline available to the public and government employees to report waste, fraud, and abuse. 2) Whistleblower protections for government employees 3) In internal audit process to detect waste in government programs
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The government does not promote or favor any religion in determining employment, benefits, or basic human rights. Whenever possible, the government will accommodate religious practices and beliefs.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Disagree
The government must be “religion blind” in providing services. Individuals and private businesses are free to provide or deny services depending on private or personnel beliefs.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Disagree
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes. The United States should maintain support of all democracies worldwide. The relationship with Israel as an ally is especially important for historical and geopolitical reasons in an unstable yet economically important part of the world.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Neutral
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Disagree
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Agree
Agree unless measurable harm is being done to the child.
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Agree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Agree
I understand same sex couples desire for the legal protections granted traditional married couples but I would prefer this be accommodated with a civil agreement rather than changing a thousand years multicultural concept of marriage.
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Neutral
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
My views are those of a traditional mainstream Protestant religion upbringing. I generally keep religious opinions personal and do not attempt to impose them on others. I do hold public officials to higher standard of behavior, honesty, and integrity.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Agree
My agree response needs explaining. I do not know if climate change is man-made (although I expect pollution contributes) but I do know that clean air and clean water are essential to healthy living. I support efforts to reduce pollution of the air and waters.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Nuclear
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
The criminal Justice system exists to maintain public order, protect individual liberties, and uphold the rule of law.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The only restrictions should be mental illness or history of criminal activity (convicted felon) where public safety would be place in danger
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