T
eresa Congioloso, a 62‑year‑old real‑estate broker from Dayton, Tennessee, has officially entered the race for the state Senate seat in District 1, currently held by Republican Sen. J. Adam Lowe. Congioloso, who has lived in Rhea County for 34 years, said she is ready to retire from a two‑decade‑long career in real estate and devote herself to public service.
District 1 covers portions of Bradley, McMinn, Meigs and Rhea counties. Congioloso, a native of a town north of Winston‑Salem, North Carolina, told a phone interview that “this is my seat” and that the role feels like a natural extension of her lifelong love of community work.
Her résumé includes 20 years on the Regional Planning Commission, four years on the Economic Development Council board, two years on the Tax Equalization Board, and nine years with the Rotary Club. “These experiences have given me firsthand knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing our communities,” she said in a campaign statement. “I know how to balance communication and negotiations to achieve results that matter.”
Congioloso will seek the GOP nomination in the August 6, 2026 state primaries, challenging incumbent Lowe, who announced his reelection bid on September 19. She praised Lowe as an “amazing speaker” but noted she was unsure of his platform and felt he was not fully listening to constituents. “I don’t pretend to know every issue in Nashville, but I can be a good listener and liaison,” she added, highlighting her negotiation skills.
A key point of difference is the Education Freedom Scholarships program, which allows state funds to cover tuition at private schools. Congioloso opposes diverting money from public schools, arguing that vouchers benefit only a small fraction of families and that public schools need the resources they already lack. “I want to keep the money in public schools because there isn’t enough already,” she said.
Lowe counters that the voucher program is part of the Republican platform and the Trump agenda, claiming it has helped 20,000 families make better educational choices. He says he remains responsive to constituents and that the program will continue to grow.
If elected, Congioloso pledges to focus on issues that matter most to District 1 families—education, strong communities, and safe families. Her platform emphasizes:
* Strengthening public schools and empowering local schools and parents
* Expanding affordable child‑care and elder‑care options
* Protecting faith‑based values, the Second Amendment, and traditional family principles
* Increasing mental‑health resources and addiction‑recovery programs
* Enforcing stricter sentencing for crimes against children, the elderly, drug trafficking, and violent crime
* Addressing affordable housing shortages
* Securing rural hospitals and clinics and expanding broadband access
She acknowledges her lack of political experience but is ready to learn. “I don’t know exactly what to expect, but I know the game starts now,” she said.
The August 6, 2026 primaries will determine the nominees for governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, odd‑numbered Tennessee Senate districts, the Tennessee House, and state executive committees. The general election will be held on November 3, 2026.
