Key Takeaways
John Rose is a farmer and businessman who served as the Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture before being elected to Congress in 2018.
He represents Tennessee’s 6th District, a conservative stronghold in Middle Tennessee that includes the Cumberland Plateau, the city of Cookeville, and the rapidly growing eastern suburbs of Nashville (like Mt. Juliet and Lebanon).
A member of the Financial Services and Agriculture Committees, his legislative work focuses on deregulating community banks, overseeing the cryptocurrency/digital asset market, and shaping the Farm Bill to support Tennessee’s cattle and nursery crop industries.
He achieved unexpected global fame in 2024 when his young son, Guy, made viral funny faces behind him during a C-SPAN broadcast from the House floor.
"He is an eighth-generation farmer who knows the soil of the Upper Cumberland, but he is best known to the internet as the dad who got upstaged by his son on C-SPAN."
John Rose: The Farmer-Executive of the Upper Cumberland
Representative John Rose brings a resume that perfectly bridges the gap between the old and new economies of Tennessee. Born and raised in Cookeville, he is an eighth-generation farmer who still owns and operates the family farm in Temperance Hall, which has been in his family since 1790. However, he is also a tech entrepreneur (he founded a successful IT training company) and a lawyer with a degree from Vanderbilt. This mix of agriculture and business led him to serve as the Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture in the early 2000s, where he managed the state's diverse farming interests.
Elected to Congress in 2018 to replace Diane Black, Rose has established himself as a staunch fiscal conservative. He sits on the House Financial Services Committee, where he is a vocal advocate for the "fintech" industry and crypto innovation, arguing that the U.S. must lead in digital assets to remain the world's financial superpower. Simultaneously, he uses his seat on the Agriculture Committee to protect the interests of Middle Tennessee farmers, particularly regarding cattle regulations and broadband expansion in rural areas.
While he is a serious legislator, Rose became an internet sensation in June 2024. During a speech on the House floor, his 6-year-old son, Guy, sat behind him and mugged for the C-SPAN cameras, sticking out his tongue and making faces. The clip went viral instantly, humanizing Rose as a working dad trying to balance childcare with congressional duties.
District Context: Tennessee 6th (U.S. Census Data)
The "Middle Tennessee" Mix: This district spans the Upper Cumberland region. It includes the rural, mountainous counties of the Cumberland Plateau (like Cumberland and Fentress) and the booming suburban counties east of Nashville (Wilson and Sumner).
Population: ~803,000 (2024 Est.)
Key Cities: Cookeville (home to Tennessee Tech University), Lebanon, Gallatin, and Mt. Juliet.
Economic Drivers:
Agriculture: A top producer of nursery crops, cattle, and poultry.
Logistics & Manufacturing: The I-40 corridor is a major logistics hub (Amazon and Cracker Barrel headquarters are in or near the district).
Education: Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville is a major economic engine for the region.
Politics: A solid Republican district (R+17). While the Nashville suburbs are growing and diversifying, the deep rural roots of the district keep it firmly conservative.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau & Ballotpedia
Sources Used
Official Biography: https://johnrose.house.gov/about
Ballotpedia Profile: https://ballotpedia.org/John_Rose_(Tennessee)
GovTrack.us Legislative Record: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/john_rose/412793
Tennessee Dept of Agriculture: https://www.tn.gov/agriculture.ht...
