Susan Lynn was born on April 26 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She attended and graduated from Bishop Dunn Memorial School and Mount St. Mary's Academy. She graduated high school from Newburgh Free Academy in Newburgh, NY. She completed her BS in economics at Tennessee State University. Lynn's father was an investment banker working for the prestigious Allen & Co in New York City. Lynn'S mother was an interior decorator. Lynn has one brother, a PHd in Chemical Engineering, and one sister who is a CPA.
Electoral History
2002 Lynn's first race for elected office. She ran in a four-way Republican Primary, winning with 50.2% of the vote. In the General election, she faced Democratic nominee Danny Farmer, whom she defeated with 62.9% of the vote. 2004 In her first re-election campaign, Lynn was challenged in the Republican Primary by Tom Wood. She defeated him by a margin of two to one. She was unopposed in the General Election. 2006 In 2006, Lynn was unopposed for both the Republican Primary and the General election. 2008 Lynn ran unopposed in the 2008 primary, then faced Democratic nominee Ken Wilkinson in the General election, which she won with 74.4% of the vote. Appointed Chairman of the House Government Operations Committee by Speaker Kent Williams. 2010 In 2010, Lynn would face the greatest ethical decision of her political career. Upon the announced retirement of the 17th district state Senator, Lynn filed to run for state Senate instead of running again her state House seat. However, ten months later, the retiring state Senator had a sudden change of heart, and in a surprise move re-entered the Senate race. Now Lynn had to decide if she would do the same to the candidates who had entered the race for her House seat or if she would stay in the Senate race as she had announced. Lynn stayed in the race saying "I cannot do to my constituents what is being done to me." Following a three-way Republican primary, the incumbent won re-election with 48.3% of the vote. Lynn finished second with 42.4%. 2012 To regain her former seat, Lynn had to face Linda Elam, former mayor of Mt. Juliet who had been serving in the General Assembly since Lynn's departure in 2010. She dispatched Elam with a margin of 67.6% to 32.4%. She was then unopposed in the General Election. Appointed Chairman of the House Consumer & Human Resources Subcommittee by Speaker Beth Harwell. 2014 Lynn ran unopposed in the primary, then defeated the Democratic challenger, Jesse McLevain, with 76.6% of the vote. Reappointed Chairman of the House Consumer & Human Resources Subcommittee by Speaker Beth Harwell. 2016 Lynn ran unopposed in the primary, then defeated the Democratic challenger, Trisha Farmer, with 69.2% of the vote. Reappointed Chairman of the House Consumer & Human Resources Subcommittee by Speaker Beth Harwell. 2018 In 2018, Lynn faced Aaron Shane in the Republican primary, whom she defeated with 65.7% of the Republican vote. She defeated Democrat Jordan Cole in the General Election, with 68.3% of the vote. Appointed Chairman of the House Finance, Ways & Means Committee by Speaker Glen Casada. Reappointed Chairman of the House Finance, Ways & Means Committee by Speaker Cameron Sexton.
Notable Legislative Initiatives
In 2019, Susan Lynn was reappointed as Chairman of the Tennessee House Finance, Ways & Means Committee by Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton. Lynn was first named to chair the committee by Speaker of the House Glen Casada. Lynn holds the distinction of being the first woman to ever chair the Finance, Ways & Means Committee in either the state of Tennessee House or Senate. She is also one of a handful of legislators known to believe in the Q Anon conspiracy theory. In March 2018, a bill requiring Tennessee schools to prominently display the national motto sponsored by Rep. Susan Lynn passed the state House with 81 of the 99 members voting in favor of it. In 2019, Lynn passed the Human Life Protection Act - a pro-life piece of legislation that would trigger in the event that the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision is overturned. On June 9, 2020, Lynn voted as a member of the House Naming, Designating, & Private Acts Committee against removal of a bust honoring Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard Nathan Bedford Forrest from the Tennessee State Capitol building.
Personal life
Lynn is the Financial Controller for a real estate holding company in Mt. Juliet. Susan Lynn has a husband, Michael, and two children and six grandchildren. She is a Southern Baptist. Lynn and her husband own an insurance agency in Mt. Juliet, TN.
