Dr. Michaela Barnett Announces Candidacy for Congress

Knoxville TN, September 27, 2025

News Summary

Dr. Michaela Barnett, executive director of Blue Tennessee, has announced her candidacy for Congress, aiming to represent Tennessee’s 2nd Congressional District. With a background in science and business, Barnett focuses on improving representation for East Tennessee and addressing concerns about current policies. She has experience in federal policymaking through a year-long fellowship in Congress. Meanwhile, current Congressman Tim Burchett prepares for re-election, even as changes in the gubernatorial race may influence the political landscape.

KNOXVILLE, TN

Dr. Michaela Barnett, the executive director of Blue Tennessee, announced her candidacy for Congress on Thursday, aiming to represent Tennessee’s 2nd Congressional District in the House of Representatives. Currently, this seat is held by Republican Representative Tim Burchett.

Tennessee’s 2nd Congressional District covers several counties including Claiborne, Grainger, Knox, Loudon, and Union. Barnett, who is also a scientist and the owner of KnoxFill, a sustainable product refill business, is campaigning on a platform of hope and better representation for East Tennessee.

In her campaign launch, Barnett emphasized her recent “hands-on policy work” in Washington, alongside her scientific expertise and entrepreneurial experience. She expressed concern about the current representation of East Tennesseans in Washington D.C. and believes they deserve better. Barnett’s experiences include a year-long policy fellowship in Congress, which has provided her firsthand knowledge of the “dysfunction in Washington” and insights into federal policymaking.

Tim Burchett’s campaign manager, Thomas McAfee, has confirmed that Burchett will run for re-election in 2026. Since first being elected to Congress in 2019, Burchett has successfully retained his seat, most recently in 2024 when he received over 69% of the vote—his highest margin of victory in a general election. McAfee also noted that existing data continues to favor Burchett’s campaign for the upcoming election cycle.

The outcome of the Tennessee gubernatorial race could influence the representation of East Tennessee. Senator Marsha Blackburn is running for governor, which could result in a vacancy in her Senate seat if she wins. A special election would then be established to select her successor, during which the governor can appoint an interim senator. Burchett has expressed an interest in moving to a Senate seat should Blackburn win, indicating he would feel honored to do so while recognizing the complexities involved.

In recent news, Burchett garnered media attention for his support of the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ and his call for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Notably, the 2nd Congressional District seat has been held by a Republican since at least 1909, solidifying the GOP’s long-standing influence in the area.

Key Facts

• Candidate Name: Dr. Michaela Barnett
• Current Office Holder: Republican Rep. Tim Burchett
• Campaign Focus: Better representation for East Tennessee
• Experience: Federal policymaking and a year-long policy fellowship in Congress
• District Composition: Claiborne, Grainger, Knox, Loudon, and Union counties
• Burchett’s Election History: Elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2024 with over 69% of the vote
• Potential Changes: TN gubernatorial race affecting Senate representation

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Additional Resources

• WBIR: Democrat Enters Race for East Tennessee Congressional Seat
• Tennessee Lookout: Democrats Hopes Fail in Tennessee House
• Tennessean: Tennessee Election 2024 Incumbents Win
• News Channel 5: Voter’s Guide for Gloria Johnson
• Des Moines Register: Iowa Democrat Challenges Joni Ernst
• Wikipedia: Tennessee Congressional Districts
• Google Search: Tennessee congressional districts
• Google Scholar: Tennessee politics
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Politics of Tennessee
• Google News: Tennessee congressional race

Author: STAFF HERE KNOXVILLE WRITER

The KNOXVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREKnoxville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Knoxville, Knox County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Dogwood Arts Festival, Big Ears Festival, and Knoxville Asian Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership and United Way of Greater Knoxville, plus leading businesses in healthcare, education, and energy that power the local economy such as Covenant Health, University of Tennessee, and Tennessee Valley Authority. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREChattanooga.com, HEREMemphis.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.