Vice President JD Vance endorsed Republican nominee Kenny Cody in the race for Tennessee House District 11.
In a statement distributed by Cody’s campaign, Vance called the Republican nominee a “friend” who would make a “fantastic” state representative for the district, which includes Cocke County and portions of Jefferson and Hamblen counties.
“My friend Kenny Cody will make a fantastic Representative for Tennessee’s 11th State House District,” Vance said. “Kenny knows the working-class issues of Cocke, Jefferson, and Hamblen counties, and as a conservative voice for his home, he will ensure the people of the 11th District are properly heard in Nashville.”
Vance encouraged voters to support Cody (pictured above) in the November 3 general election, saying Cody would “inject some Smoky Mountain conservatism into the halls of the Tennessee State Capitol.”
🚨 HUGE ENDORSEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT🚨:
I am so honored to say that I have earned the endorsement of the Vice President of the United States, @JDVance!
Vice President @JDVance stated, "My friend Kenny Cody will make a fantastic Representative for Tennessee's 11th State House… pic.twitter.com/qdWemFvxKx
— Kenny Cody (@KDCodyTN) August 17, 2026
Cody thanked Vance for the endorsement, calling the vice president a “steadfast leader” who understands Appalachia and the region’s values.
“The families of Cocke, Jefferson, and Hamblen counties work hard, love their neighbors, and expect their representative to fight for them, and that’s exactly what I’ll do in Nashville,” Cody said.
The Tennessee Republican Party also congratulated Cody for receiving Vance’s formal support following his victory in the August 6 Republican primary.
“Congratulations to our Republican Nominee for the 11th State House District, Kenny Cody!” the Tennessee GOP said.
Cody won the Republican nomination with 7,432 votes, or 70.81 percent, defeating challenger Jeff Fancher, who received 3,063 votes, or 29.19 percent, according to final unofficial results published by the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office.
The District 11 seat became open after Republican State Representative Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) announced he would not seek reelection.
Cody previously served as chairman of the Cocke County Republican Party and received President Donald Trump’s endorsement in May. Trump called Cody a “MAGA Warrior” and said he would fight for East Tennessee’s “Mountain Values” in the General Assembly.
Cody will face Democratic nominee Sheila Grooms McMahan, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, in the November 3 general election.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Kenny Cody” by Kenny Cody. Background Photo “Tennessee Capitol” by FaceMePLS. CC BY 2.0.
