Tennessee Senate District 17 in Tennessee State Senate District 17, Tennessee

2026 Primary Election

• Theodore (butch) Baker — Chaplain in Berry Hill, TN

  Theodore "Butch" Baker is campaigning for the Tennessee State Senate District 17 seat in the 2026 Republican primary election. He brings a unique background to the political arena, having spent over four decades in the music industry. Currently, Baker serves as a chaplain for both the City of Berry Hill and its Police Department. He is challenging long-serving Republican incumbent Mark Pody in what marks Pody's first Republican primary contest. The primary election is scheduled for August 6.

• Mark Pody — Incumbent State Senator in Lebanon, TN

  Mark Pody is a Republican State Senator representing Tennessee's District 17, which includes Davidson and Wilson Counties. He is married to Barbara and they have two daughters. A resident of Lebanon, Pody owns an insurance business, Educators Resource Association. He is a Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant. Pody has a long legislative career, having served in both the Tennessee House and Senate General Assemblies. He is Vice-Chair of the Transportation and Safety Committee and a member of the Education, Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Judiciary Committees. His legislative efforts align with conservative principles, including protecting children from gender-affirming surgeries, banning ESG investments, supporting school choice, and advocating for school safety.

• Joni Cochran — Businesswoman in Lebanon, TN

  Joni Cochran, born in Bellefontaine, Ohio, is a candidate for Tennessee State Senate District 17 as a Democrat. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Louisville and a graduate degree from Strayer University, in addition to a Montessori studies certification. A mother, grandmother, businesswoman, and podcaster, she moved to Wilson County in 2002. She is actively involved in her community, serving on the NAACP Executive Committee and previously on boards for the Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Wilson, and Habitat for Humanity. Cochran is affiliated with several Democratic women's organizations and advocates for preserving farmland, protecting public schools, and defending civil rights.

• Lindsey Patrick-Wright — Librarian in TN

  Lindsey Patrick-Wright is a Democratic candidate for the Tennessee State Senate, representing District 17 in the 2026 primary election. A dedicated mom and librarian, she brings 20 years of experience serving Tennessee communities through public libraries, where she helped families access education, opportunity, and support. Patrick-Wright lives in Wilson County, where she is raising her child and advocating for strong schools, safer communities, and affordability for working families. She emphasizes the importance of community voice and has publicly demanded transparency from the state, particularly regarding issues like the potential for an ICE detention center in Wilson County, stating the county does not want it.