Justin Lafferty | |
|---|---|
| Member of theTennessee House of Representatives from the 89th district | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Roger Kane |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1971-05-13)May 13, 1971 (age 54) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | 1 |
| Residence | Knoxville, Tennessee |
| Education | University of Tennessee (BS) |
| Website | Official website Campaign website |
Justin Augustus Lafferty (born May 13, 1971) is an American politician from the state ofTennessee. ARepublican, Lafferty has represented the 89th district of theTennessee House of Representatives, based in the western suburbs ofKnoxville, since 2019.[1][2]
In 2018,Roger Kane announced his retirement from the 89th district of theTennessee House of Representatives, and a crowded field formed to replace him. Lafferty, a stay-at-home father and a landlord, was considered a significant underdog against several of his competitors, including formerKnox County sheriff Tim Hutchison and formerstate senatorStacey Campfield. However, Lafferty outpolled both to win the primary with just over 30% of the vote.[3] In the stronglyRepublican suburban seat, Lafferty went on to soundly win the general election overDemocrat Coleen Martinez, 64-36%.[4]
On May 4, 2021, Lafferty made a speech on the Tennessee House floor in defense of theThree-fifths Compromise, a provision of the originalU.S. Constitution resulting from a 1787 agreement between northern and southern states, providing that three-fifths of a state's slave population would be counted for representation in theU.S. House of Representatives. The compromise is regarded as one of the most racist deals among the states during the country's founding. Lafferty inaccurately claimed in his speech that the three-fifths compromise was adopted for "the purpose of ending slavery."[5][6][7]
In 2023, Lafferty supported resolutions toexpel threeDemocratic lawmakers from the legislature for violating decorum rules.[8][9]
Lafferty lives inKnoxville with his wife and daughter.[10]
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