Eddie Mannis Explained

Eddie Mannis
State House:Tennessee
District:18th
Term Start:January 12, 2021
Term End:January 10, 2023
Predecessor:Martin Daniel
Successor:Elaine Davis
Birth Date:14 April 1959
Residence:Knoxville, Tennessee
Party:Republican

Eddie Mannis (born April 14, 1959) is an American former politician, who was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from 2020-2022.[1] He represented the 18th House District as a member of the Tennessee Republican Party.[1]

Mannis, a businessman from Knoxville, previously ran for mayor of the city in the 2019 Knoxville mayoral election, winning the first round but losing the runoff to Indya Kincannon.[2] His victory in the 2020 Republican state house primaries was initially challenged by candidate Gina Oster on the grounds that Mannis had voted in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, but was upheld after Mannis affirmed that he is a moderate Republican and voted crossover solely to prevent Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren from becoming the Democratic nominee.[3]

Alongside Torrey Harris, Mannis was of the first two openly LGBT state representatives elected in Tennessee.[4]

Mannis did not seek a second term to the legislature in 2022.[5]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.wvlt.tv/2020/11/02/the-race-for-tennessee-state-house-district-18-mannis-v-couch/ "Mannis wins race for Tennessee State House District 18"
  2. Tyler Whetstone and Monica Kast, "Indya Kincannon defeats Eddie Mannis to become next Knoxville mayor". Knoxville News Sentinel, November 5, 2019.
  3. Tyler Whetstone, "GOP sticks with Eddie Mannis after fellow candidate questioned his status as a Republican". Knoxville News Sentinel, September 3, 2020.
  4. Hannah McDonald, "Harris, Mannis make history as first LGBTQ legislators elected to Tennessee House". WTVF, November 4, 2020.
  5. Web site: Knoxville state rep. Eddie Mannis announces he won't seek reelection . 5 April 2022 .