Incumbent state Sen. J. Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun, has announced his intention to seek reelection in 2026.
Lowe holds the District 1 seat and represents Bradley, McMinn, Meigs and Rhea counties. He announced his candidacy at a September fundraising event in McMinn County before more than 100 campaign supporters and staff, along with special speakers Gov. Bill Lee, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson of Williamson County, according to a campaign statement issued Wednesday. Local government officials also attended.
Lee, Jacobs and Johnson are all fellow Republicans.
“Sen. Lowe has quickly proven to be one of the most respected and effective senators in the Tennessee Senate,” Lee was quoted as saying at the September event. “Very few senators have the access Adam has, and it is because his reputation is that of being thoughtful and productive.”
Johnson echoed Lee, saying Lowe loves his district and is a “tireless advocate for the conservative values of East Tennessee.”
“We, as a Senate, could not have done the things we have, like ban trans surgeries in kids or expand parental rights, without him,” Johnson said in the statement.
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Jacobs said Lowe “is the guy I send things to when I want an intelligent analysis.”
“He is in the weeds on things that matter to people, working hard to make sure any decision is the right decision,” Jacobs said.
Lowe, 44, included a brief comment from his September announcement.
“I kept every promise I made on the campaign trail three years ago, and I will continue to keep my promises to the families I represent,” he said. “I promised to support President Trump’s agenda by expanding parents’ rights with regard to their children’s education, fighting illegal immigration and dismantling DEI, and I have helped do those things. If elected again, I will continue to battle toxic ideologies, promote conservative policies and protect our families.”
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Lowe outlined several items he said were “the greatest accomplishments” of his first term, including supporting laws to tackle illegal immigration, banning gender-affirming care for minors, passing business tax cuts, passing the Tennessee Food Freedom Act and reducing regulation in construction, among others.
Lowe will face newcomer Teresa Congioloso, a Republican real estate professional from Dayton, Tennessee, who announced her candidacy Sept. 23.
Lowe, a former small business owner, college professor of public policy and author, according to the statement, will be on the Republican primary ballot in August 2026. More campaign information can be found on social media or by visiting loweforsenate.com.
STATE PRIMARY ELECTIONS
Primary elections are Aug. 6, 2026, for governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, odd-numbered Tennessee Senate districts, the Tennessee House, and Republican and Democratic state executive committees, according to the state election office. State and federal elections are Nov. 3, 2026.
Candidates in primary races on the August 2026 ballot have until Jan. 9 to pick up petitions, and the qualifying deadline is March 10 for primary and independent candidates running on the August primary ballot.
Contact Southeast Tennessee reporter Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.