Ken Yager
Ken Yager (Republican Party) is a member of the Tennessee State Senate, representing District 12. He assumed office in 2008. His current term ends on November 7, 2028.
Yager (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Tennessee State Senate to represent District 12. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Yager received his B.A. and M.A. at the University of Tennessee at Martin. He later received his J.D. from the University of Memphis. He has worked as an assistant broker and an Assistant Professor of History and Law at Roane State Community College.
Committee assignments
2023-2024
Yager was assigned to the following committees:
- Commerce and Labor Committee
- Finance, Ways and Means Committee
- State & Local Government Committee
- Fiscal Review Committee
2021-2022
Yager was assigned to the following committees:
2019-2020
Yager was assigned to the following committees:
- Fiscal Review Committee
- TACIR Committee
- Finance, Ways and Means Committee
- State & Local Government Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Tennessee committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Commerce and Labor |
| • Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| • State & Local Government, Chair |
| • Fiscal Review |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Yager served on the following committees:
| Tennessee committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Commerce and Labor |
| • Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| • State & Local Government, Chair |
| • Fiscal Review |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Yager served on the following committees:
| Tennessee committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Commerce and Labor |
| • State & Local Government, Chair |
| • Fiscal Review |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Yager served on these committees:
| Tennessee committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Fiscal Review |
| • Judiciary |
| • State & Local Government, Chair |
| • Transportation |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Yager served on these committees:
| Tennessee committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Environment, Conservation & Tourism, Vice chair |
| • State & Local Government |
| • Transportation |
| • Fiscal Review |
Noteworthy events
Tax relief exemption
Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and Sen. Yager co-sponsored a bill to raise the standard exemption on the Hall Tax in 2011. Gov. Bill Haslam included the measure in his 2011 budget plan.
The Hall Tax relief included in the budget applies to Tennesseans age 65 and older. Of the individuals who pay the Hall Tax, 48 percent are age 65 and older.
“We tell middle class folks to save and invest for their retirement and then we punish them for it by taxing their nest egg,” said Ramsey. “Working men and women of modest means who have saved wisely should not have to see their hard-earned dollars taxed. This exemption will aid middle class people who live modestly get a break on their hard earned savings.”
“I am delighted Governor Haslam has included Hall Tax relief for senior citizens in his supplemental budget plan,” said Senator Yager. “This was part of my platform when I ran for State Senate; therefore, I am very pleased that it was included in the Governor’s budget. This puts the bill in excellent shape moving into the final days of this legislative session and making this tax relief closer to reality for many senior citizens across Tennessee.”[1]
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: Tennessee State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Tennessee State Senate District 12
Incumbent Ken Yager defeated Charles Hutson II in the general election for Tennessee State Senate District 12 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Ken Yager (R) | 85.6 | 77,286 |
 | Charles Hutson II (Independent)  | 14.4 | 12,954 | |
| Total votes: 90,240 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Curtis Kelly (D)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Tennessee State Senate District 12
Curtis Kelly advanced from the Democratic primary for Tennessee State Senate District 12 on August 1, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Curtis Kelly | 100.0 | 2,933 |
| Total votes: 2,933 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Tennessee State Senate District 12
Incumbent Ken Yager defeated Teena Hedrick in the Republican primary for Tennessee State Senate District 12 on August 1, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ken Yager | 77.3 | 15,662 |
| Teena Hedrick | 22.7 | 4,587 | ||
| Total votes: 20,249 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Yager in this election.
2020
See also: Tennessee State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Tennessee State Senate District 12
Incumbent Ken Yager won election in the general election for Tennessee State Senate District 12 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ken Yager (R) | 100.0 | 69,042 |
| Total votes: 69,042 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Tennessee State Senate District 12
Incumbent Ken Yager advanced from the Republican primary for Tennessee State Senate District 12 on August 6, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ken Yager | 100.0 | 20,408 |
| Total votes: 20,408 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
- See also: Tennessee State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Tennessee State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on August 4, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 7, 2016.
Incumbent Ken Yager ran unopposed in the Tennessee State Senate District 12 general election.[2][3]
| Tennessee State Senate, District 12 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican |  Ken Yager Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Tennessee Secretary of State | ||
Incumbent Ken Yager ran unopposed in the Tennessee State Senate District 12 Republican primary.[4][5]
| Tennessee State Senate, District 12 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Ken Yager Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2012
- See also: Tennessee State Senate elections, 2012
Yager ran in the 2012 election for Tennessee State Senate District 12. Yager ran unopposed in the Republican primary on August 2, 2012. He was unchallenged in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[6]
2008
On Nov. 4, 2008, Yager won election to the 12th District Seat in the Tennessee State Senate, defeating opponents Becky Ruppe (D) and Christopher Fenner (I).[7]
Yager raised $559,620 for his campaign while Ruppe raised $296,786 and Fenner raised $0.[8]
| Tennessee State Senate, District 12 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Ken Yager (R)
|
32,509 | |||
| Becky Ruppe (D) | 27,983 | |||
| Christopher Fenner | 2,954 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Ken Yager did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Ken Yager did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Noteworthy events
DUI arrest, plea agreement (2024-2025)
- See also: Politicians convicted of DUI
On December 3, 2024, Lucas was arrested for driving under the influence in Georgia. Yager was transported to the Glynn County jail and was released after posting bond. [9][10]
Yager was charged with DUI Less Safe Driver, hit and run, and failure to stop at a stop sign.[11]
On August 11, 2025, Yager pleaded no contest to one count of driving under the influence. The remaining charges in the case were dismissed. As part of the plea agreement, Yager was required to attend DUI school and perform 40 hours of community service. [12] Yager was sentenced to 12 months of probation, a fine of $750, and his driver's license was suspended.[13]
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Tennessee scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2024, the Tennessee State Legislature was in session from January 9 to April 25.
|
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2023, the Tennessee State Legislature was in session from January 10 to April 21.
|
2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2022, the Tennessee State Legislature was in session from January 11 to April 28.
|
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2021, the Tennessee State Legislature was in session from January 12 to May 5.
|
2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2020, the Tennessee State Legislature was in session from January 14 to June 19.
|
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2019, the Tennessee General Assembly was in session January 8 through May 2.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2018, the 110th Tennessee General Assembly, second session, was in session January 9 to April 27.
|
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the 110th Tennessee General Assembly, first session, was in session January 10 to May 10.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2016, the 109th Tennessee General Assembly, second year, was in session from January 12 through April 22
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the 109th Tennessee General Assembly, first year, was in session from January 13 through April 22.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the 108th Tennessee General Assembly, second year, was in session from January 14 to April 18.
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the 108th Tennessee General Assembly, first year, was in session from January 8 to April 19.
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the 107th Tennessee General Assembly, second year, was in session from January 10 through May 1.
|
2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2011, the 107th Tennessee General Assembly, first year, was in session from January 11 to May 21.
|
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Yager and his wife, Malinda, have two children. They currently live in Harriman, Tennessee.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Tennessee State Senate District 12 |
Officeholder Tennessee State Senate District 12 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ TNReport, "Ramsey Expects New Hall Tax Relief Exemption for Seniors to Win Approval," May 17, 2011
- ↑ The New York Times, "Election 2016," accessed November 11, 2016
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2016 general election results - Tennessee State Senate," accessed January 19, 2017
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "Candidate Petitions Filed as of April 8, 2016 Noon Qualifying Deadline," accessed April 11, 2016
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "August 4, 2016 Unofficial Election Results," accessed August 4, 2016
- ↑ Tennessee Department of State, "Election Results," accessed April 18, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2008 Tennessee General election results," accessed April 18, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "General Election Results," accessed April 18, 2014
- ↑ People, "Republican Tenn. Lawmaker Urinates During DUI Arrest After Alleged Hit-and-Run While Vacationing," December 6, 2024
- ↑ Tennessee Lookout, "Sen. Ken Yager faces DUI, hit-and-run charges after Georgia arrest," December 4, 2024
- ↑ Tennessee Lookout, "Sen. Ken Yager faces DUI, hit-and-run charges after Georgia arrest," December 4, 2024
- ↑ The Nashville Tennessean, "Tennessee Sen. Ken Yager pleads no contest in Georgia DUI case, other charges dropped," August 11, 2025
- ↑ WLVT 8 (Knoxville, Tennessee), "Tennessee Sen. Ken Yager pleads no contest in Georgia DUI case, faces sentencing," August 11, 2025
- ↑ Tennessee Bar Association, "Nashville Chamber Releases 2015 Legislative Scorecard," accessed November 10, 2015
- ↑ Tennessee Bar Association, "Nashville Chamber Releases 2015 Legislative Scorecard," accessed November 10, 2015
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Tennessee State Senate District 12 2008-Present |
Succeeded by - |
