About Me
Tennessee born and raised.
Since I was first elected to the Tennessee Senate in 2006, I’ve remained committed to serving not only my constituents but residents across Tennessee through participation and leadership in various committees. In 2017, I became chairman of the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee—an important role to ensure our state remains fiscally sound. I’m also a member of the Commerce and Labor Committee, Health and Welfare Committee and Joint Fiscal Review Committee.
My priority as state senator is improving the quality of life of all Tennesseans. I’m passionate about identifying opportunities to improve economic outcomes and streamline government. I also believe getting a quality education is paramount to helping generations succeed.
I’m focused on elevating literacy in early childhood, so each student has the tools to thrive from a young age. I invite you to learn more about my active role in supporting Tennesseans here.
Giving back to my community is a cornerstone of my life and service as a state senator. I’ve been involved in the Junior Achievement program at Orchard Knob Elementary School, Habitat for Humanity and American Heart Association. I’m the chair of the Douglas Henry State Museum Commission, and I’m a past board member of the Boy Scouts of America Cherokee Council, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and The University of Tennessee National Alumni Association.
I’m a graduate of both The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and The University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences in Memphis. For more than 30 years, I’ve been practicing physical therapy, and I’m the director of sports medicine and therapy services at HCA-Parkridge Medical Center in Chattanooga.
Sen. Watson is recognized as one of the most conservative members in the Tennessee Senate. The American Conservative Union consistently gives Sen. Watson a rating of 85% and above on his conservative voting record. Less than 24% of lawmakers nationwide earn scores above 80%. Sen. Watson is also recognized regularly by the Tennessee Conservative, most recently as a Senate 2022 Top 5 Freedom Caucus Conservative. The Institute for Legislative Analysis most recently recognized Sen. Watson with the “Defender of Limited Government” award for having voting records that overall aligned at least 80% of the time with the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
