Melissa Browder
ROOTED. READY. PROVEN.
For decades, Melissa Browder has helped people and communities prepare for the future. Now she's ready to help East Tennessee navigate the opportunities ahead.
Raised in Roane County. Lives in Lenoir City.
Former Chair of the Loudon County Republican Party.
Member of the Loudon County GOP Hall of Fame.
Former Adult Education Director at Roane State.
Former leader with Tennessee Economic & Community Development.
Loudon County School Board Member.
Get Growth Right.
East Tennessee is entering a once-in-a-generation period of rapid growth.
The Nuclear Renaissance around Oak Ridge is bringing the biggest economic boom in Tennessee history. Melissa is running for State Representative to help ensure that growth becomes a blessing—not a burden—for the families who call this region home.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3 June 2026
BROWDER LAUNCHES HOUSE CAMPAIGN TO “GET GROWTH RIGHT”
LENOIR CITY, TN- Workforce education leader and former Loudon County Republican Party Chair Melissa Browder announced today that she is seeking the Republican nomination for Tennessee House District 32 in a video message available here: [LINK].
In the video, Browder said her campaign will focus on helping East Tennessee prepare for a “once-in-a-generation period of rapid growth.”
“Will it be a burden, or a blessing? That's the question at the heart of this election,” Browder asserted.
“The Nuclear Renaissance around Oak Ridge is bringing the biggest economic boom in Tennessee history,” Browder said. “The question isn't whether it's coming. The question is whether we're prepared for it.”
Browder believes the region has an opportunity to strengthen local communities if growth is managed responsibly.
“I believe growth should pay for growth,” Browder said. “Growth should keep taxes low while strengthening our schools, improving our roads, supporting public safety, and helping seniors stay in their homes. That's how growth can be a blessing, not a burden for the families who built this region.”
Browder credits her professional background as having prepared her to address the challenges that accompany rapid growth.
“For 27 years, I've served in workforce education and economic opportunity,” Browder said.
“I've helped adults earn GEDs. I've helped single moms earn workforce credentials. I've built programs that offered inmates a fresh start and the dignity of a job. I've worked with employers, educators, and community leaders across East Tennessee to connect people to opportunity and prepare communities for the future.”
A former Chair of the Loudon County Republican Party and member of the Loudon County GOP Hall of Fame, Browder pledges to provide conservative leadership in Nashville.
“Roane County and Loudon County are deeply conservative communities, and make no mistake: I will be a conservative champion,” Browder said. “But voting the right way is only the beginning of what we need in Nashville. The real challenge is building the trust, relationships, and partnerships to turn conservative convictions into conservative accomplishments.”
Closing her announcement, Browder summarized the theme of her campaign:
“Together, we can protect our heritage, prepare for the future, and get growth right.”
The Republican primary for Tennessee House District 32 is scheduled for August 6, 2026.
About Melissa Browder:
Melissa Browder is a workforce education leader, former Chair of the Loudon County Republican Party, and member of the Loudon County GOP Hall of Fame. Raised in Roane County and now a resident of Loudon County, she has spent more than 27 years working in workforce education and economic opportunity, helping adults earn GEDs, supporting workforce credential programs, and building partnerships between employers, educators, and community leaders across East Tennessee. She holds degrees from the University of Tennessee and Tennessee Tech University. Browder is the daughter of a disabled D-Day veteran. Her husband, David Browder, served as President of TCAT, and their son Matthew is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan.
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