Michele Carringer
Michele Carringer | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 16th district | |
| Assumed office January 12, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Dunn |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michele McCrary February 4, 1962 |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Michael Carringer |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Tennessee |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
Michele Carringer (née McCrary; born February 4, 1962) is an American politician who serves in the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 16th district as a member of the Republican Party. Before her tenure in the state house, she was a member of the Knox County Commission.
Early life and education
Carringer was born on February 4, 1962, to parents Jack and Irene (née Swain) McCrary. She is one of three siblings.[1] In 1980, she graduated from Central High School where she was on the cheerleading squad.[2] She later attended the University of Tennessee.
Career
Carringer works in advertising.[3] In 2016, she ran and won an election to the Knox County Commission.[4][5] Carringer is a member of the National Rifle Association.[3]
Tennessee House of Representatives (2021–present)
Elections
In 2020, Carringer ran for election to the Tennessee House of Representatives' 16th district, a Knox County district held by retiring member Bill Dunn. She faced and defeated Knox County School Board member Patti Bounds in the Republican primary, before beating Elizabeth Rowland in the general election.[6][7] She was re-elected in 2022 and 2024.[8]
Tenure
In 2023, Carringer signed U.S. Term Limits's pledge to support calling a constitutional convention for term limits on members of the United States Congress.[9]
On March 30, 2023, Democratic representatives Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones, and Justin Pearson violated House decorum rules during a protest following a school shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville. Carringer voted to expel all three representatives for their role in the protest. Jones and Pearson were expelled, while Johnson was not.[10]
In 2024, Carringer sponsored legislation allowing international medical graduates to obtain a temporary license to work and earn money at the hospital while finishing residency.[11] The bill went into effect in January 2025.[12]
In 2025, after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Carringer called for the resignation of Tamar Shirinian, a University of Tennessee professor. Shirinian had commented on a friend's private social media post that "world is better off without [Kirk] in it." Several other Tennessee representatives also called for the firing of university professors critical of Kirk. Six months later, Carringer supported the "Charlie Kirk Act," strengthening free speech protections for professors on college campuses,[13] while also allowing the suspension or expulsion of students walking out or protesting campus events.[14] Carringer denied that her advocacy for the firing of Shirinian and her support for the bill were in conflict.[13]
Committee assignments
Carringer's committee assignments are below:[3]
- Chair, Population Health Subcommittee
- Member, Education Committee of Extraordinary Session
- Member, Health Committee
- Member, Immigration Committee of Extraordinary Session
- Member, State & Local Government Committee
- Member, Departments & Agencies Subcommittee
Personal life
Carringer is married to Michael Carringer. She has two children. She is a Southern Baptist, and attends attends Sevier Heights Church in Knoxville.[3][15]
References
- ↑ "Irene McCrary". www.mynattfh.com. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Michelle Carringer through the years". Knoxville News Sentinel. August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - 1 2 3 4 "Representatives - Tennessee General Assembly". www.capitol.tn.gov. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Inside TN: Michele Carringer, John Fugate, Jennifer Owen, Grand Standefer, Part 3". WBIR. January 18, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Bergin, Mark (August 5, 2016). "3-year-old girl recites Pledge of Allegiance after election". WBIR. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Michele Carringer wins 16th District Republican primary for Tennessee House". WBIR. August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Kast, Monica; McDermott, Brenna (November 3, 2020). "Eddie Mannis, Michele Carringer win Tennessee House of Representative seats". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Riley, Sarah; Feinberg, Allie (November 5, 2024). "Election results: Who won Tennessee House races in Knoxville and Knox County". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Velasco, Donna (March 16, 2023). "Rep. Michele Carringer Receives Plaque for Signing U.S. Term Limits Pledge". U.S. Term Limits. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Ritchey, Julia (April 7, 2023). "Who were the Tennessee House Republicans who voted against expulsion?". WPLN. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Herner, Hannah (July 3, 2024). "New Law Will Allow 'Moonlighting' for International Medical Graduates". Nashville Scene. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Moonlighting: New Opportunity for International Medical Graduates in Tennessee". Med-Challenger. July 12, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - 1 2 Gessner, Tori (April 15, 2026). "Tennessee passes 'Charlie Kirk Act' limiting campus walkouts, protests disruptions". WKRN. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Latham, Angela (July 30, 2026). "Pols vote to protect speech yet urge punishment over Charlie Kirk comments". The Tennessean. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Michele Carringer, candidate for Knox County Commission, 2nd District". Knoxville News Sentinel. July 11, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)