TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jan 28, 2026

Cade Cothren, the former chief of staff to ex-Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada who was charged, convicted and later pardoned by President Donald Trump in a federal fraud and bribery case, told the Nashville Post on Tuesday that he intends to seek the House District 71 seat. The seat is currently held by Rep. Kip Capley, R-Summertown. Cothren and Casada were previously charged with federal crimes and went to trial in 2025. “I am seriously considering a run for state representative because our government has been taken over by insiders who protect themselves and punish anyone who refuses to fall in line,” Cothren told the publication, adding that he has pulled a petition related to the effort. The Tennessean reports that the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance fined Cothren $80,000 last week for eight violations tied to his Faith Family Freedom Fund political action committee, saying he misled the public and violated campaign finance rules. Cothren must pay the penalty by March 10 or he will be barred from running for office.