Republican · Tennessee's 6th District · 2026
Johnny Garrett
Garrett's early jobs included work at a bank and a funeral home in Goodlettsville.
Biography
Johnny Garrett proposed to his wife, Kara, at his childhood home in Goodlettsville, and they married there too.1 Kara is a registered nurse, and the couple have three children and a miniature Australian shepherd named Layla.1 His early jobs included working at the Bank of Goodlettsville and Cole & Garrett Funeral Homes.1
Garrett earned a business degree at the University of Tennessee and a law degree at Nashville School of Law.2 His legal work includes representing small businesses, advising entrepreneurs and handling probate and estate planning matters.1 He was first elected to the Tennessee House in 2018 and has served as the Republican majority whip.3
His community roles include leading Goodlettsville Little League Baseball and helping found the 100 Club of Sumner County.2 The latter provides immediate financial help to families of first responders who die in service.1 His other community work includes board service with the Volunteer State Community College Foundation and Forward Sumner Economic Partnership.2 Garrett also lists hunting, golf and baseball among his interests.1
Garrett's congressional platform supports President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement agenda, lower taxes, gun rights and American artificial intelligence development.4 He also identifies support for farmers, opposition to abortion and standing with Israel among his positions.4 Garrett faces Democrat Mike Croley and two independents.5
Record and controversies
State campaign money during his congressional campaign
Tennessee Lookout reported in March 2026 that Garrett paid for constituent mailers from his state campaign account while running for Congress, raising questions about the separation of state and federal campaign money.6 The reported payments came from his campaign account, rather than the taxpayer funds that legislators can also use for constituent communications.6 Garrett said he was communicating with constituents, and had similarly described earlier immigration advertising as communicating his support for Trump's policies.6 The cited report does not establish an agency finding that the mailers violated campaign finance law.6
Artificial intelligence in a primary advertisement
WPLN reported in July 2026 that Garrett's campaign used an artificial intelligence image of primary opponent Van Hilleary's campaign bus driving into a swamp without clearly identifying the footage as artificial.7 Hilleary's campaign separately used artificial images of Garrett, so the actions described in the article belong to both campaigns.7 The report discussed Tennessee's disclosure law, noted that Garrett's advertisement did not show Hilleary's face beyond the bus artwork, and said neither campaign answered questions about pursuing legal action.7 At publication, WPLN had found no complaint in the district; that is not a court ruling on whether either advertisement violated the law.7