Johnny Garrett Emerges as Frontrunner in Tennessee’s 6th District After John Rose Launches Governor Bid

State Rep. Johnny Garrett emerges as early frontrunner as GOP contenders line up to replace Rose

With Congressman John Rose pursuing a 2026 run for governor, Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District is suddenly one of the most closely watched Republican contests in the state. The exit of a well-funded incumbent has set off a scramble among GOP hopefuls eager to represent one of the party’s safest seats — and State Rep. Johnny Garrett of Goodlettsville has quickly positioned himself at the front of the pack.

Rose’s run for governor reshapes the field

Rose, a businessman and farmer who has represented the 6th District since 2019, announced earlier this year that he would enter the Republican primary for governor.

His decision to leave Congress creates an open-seat race for the 6th District, a region stretching from the northern suburbs of Nashville through Sumner, Wilson, Macon, and surrounding rural counties. The district has voted overwhelmingly Republican in recent cycles — Rose won reelection with 68 percent of the vote in 2024 — making the GOP primary the de facto general election.

Johnny Garrett enters with momentum

Among those vying to succeed Rose, State Rep. Johnny Garrett entered early and decisively. A practicing attorney and two-term legislator representing District 45, Garrett currently serves as the Tennessee House Republican Majority Whip. Since first winning election in 2018, he has cultivated a reputation as a reliable conservative with strong ties to party leadership and grassroots activists alike.

In July, Garrett announced his campaign for Congress, backed by early endorsements from prominent Tennessee Republicans, including Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs — better known to wrestling fans as “Kane.” Jacobs praised Garrett as a “fighter for President Trump’s America First agenda.” Media personality Clay Travis also voiced support, citing a long personal friendship.

Fundraising numbers underscore Garrett’s status as the early favorite. According to his campaign’s October 15 release, Garrett raised more than $725,000 in the third quarter of 2025 — a formidable haul for an open-seat race still more than a year away. That total suggests he is consolidating donor networks across Middle Tennessee and building a professional operation capable of competing statewide.

Garrett has already previewed his policy priorities. In July, he said the first bill he would introduce in Congress would seek to make Tennessee’s state-level ban on gender-affirming procedures for minors a federal law — a stance that firmly aligns him with social conservatives and the current priorities of the Tennessee GOP.

A crowded Republican field

Garrett’s early success has not cleared the field. Several other Republicans have joined the race, creating a competitive primary that could test factional loyalties within the party.

Van Hilleary, a former congressman who represented Tennessee’s 4th District from 1995 to 2003, announced his bid shortly after Rose’s departure. A longtime figure in Tennessee Republican politics and Rose’s former chief of staff, Hilleary enters the race with significant name recognition and experience in both Congress and statewide campaigns — including a gubernatorial run in 2002. His campaign, framed as an effort to give “President Trump backup in Washington,” reported raising $607,640.89 in its first filing. According to a press release, Hilleary received contributions from all 18 counties in the 6th District, which his campaign described as evidence of “strong grassroots energy.” The filing underscores his potential to mount a serious challenge to State Rep. Johnny Garrett in what is expected to be a competitive and closely watched Republican primary as national Republicans fight to retain their narrow House majority.

Dale Braden, a healthcare IT executive, has also declared his candidacy, joining a field that includes businessman Joe Reid, insurance professional Brad Gaines (father of collegiate swimmer and activist Riley Gaines), and retired Marine veteran Jon Henry.

At this stage, the 6th District GOP contest appears to center on Garrett and Hilleary — a matchup pitting generational contrast against institutional familiarity. Garrett represents the new wave of Tennessee Republicans rising through the state legislature; Hilleary offers a link to the party’s past congressional leadership and traditional establishment network.

The 6th District’s political terrain

Tennessee’s 6th District has long been a Republican stronghold, its boundaries encompassing both affluent Nashville suburbs and deeply conservative rural counties. In the 2024 election, Rose defeated Democrat Randal Cooper 68 to 30 percent. Two years earlier, he won 66 percent, reflecting the GOP’s dominance across Middle Tennessee even as suburban counties like Wilson and Sumner continue to grow rapidly.

The district’s composition — part commuter belt, part farmland — makes it emblematic of the state’s broader Republican coalition: socially conservative, pro-Trump, and attentive to local economic and agricultural issues. As a result, the Republican primary will likely be decided by the candidate who can best appeal to both suburban conservatives and rural voters motivated by cultural issues and loyalty to President Trump.

What to watch heading into 2026

With the general election almost certain to favor Republicans, the key question is which candidate can consolidate the GOP base without alienating neighboring constituencies. Garrett’s advantages are clear: he enters with legislative experience, deep local ties, strong fundraising, and visible endorsements. Hilleary brings federal experience, an older voter base that remembers his previous service, and connections within national Republican circles.

Several dynamics could shape the race:

• Trump’s influence. An endorsement from the President could effectively determine the winner. Both Garrett and Hilleary have publicly aligned themselves with the MAGA movement, but the campaign’s messaging and personal relationships may carry weight.
• Fundraising and organization. Garrett’s early financial edge allows him to dominate early advertising and ground operations. Sustaining that pace through next year will test his campaign network.
• Turnout and regional balance. Rural voters in counties like Macon, Smith, and DeKalb have historically favored more populist candidates, while Sumner and Wilson’s suburban precincts tend to reward disciplined organization and name recognition.
• Potential missteps. In a safe Republican district, primary voters can be unforgiving of perceived moderate positions or scandal. How each candidate manages scrutiny will be crucial.

For now, the race remains Garrett’s to lose. His fundraising haul, endorsements, and legislative record have made him the early favorite in what could become Tennessee’s most expensive congressional primary of 2026. Yet as Rose’s departure reshuffles the state’s political map — and as the governor’s race draws massive attention — the 6th District contest offers a preview of the Republican Party’s next generation of leadership in Middle Tennessee.