Julia Hurley (politician)

Hurley defeated 18-year Democratic incumbent Dennis Ferguson in 2010 by a vote of 8,833 to 7,834.

In the General Assembly in 2012, Hurley joined with Tennessee Senator Stacey Campfield in sponsoring successful Drug Testing for TANF legislation, commonly known as drug testing for welfare.^[6] Hurley opposed Amendment No. 6 to HB2725 by Rep. Johnny Shaw that would have established drug testing of the elected members of the Tennessee General Assembly.^[7]

Hurley sought re-election in 2012, but lost the August 2, 2012, Republican primary to Kent Calfee. Calfee received 4,609 votes to Hurley's 3,704 votes.^[8] He went on to win the general election in November 2012.^[9] Since leaving the state legislature, Hurley has contributed some columns to the Knoxville News Sentinel.^[10]

Hurley went on to be elected to the Tennessee State Executive Committee in 2014, serving in State Senate District five until 2018. Hurley was unopposed and received 5,670 votes.^[11] Hurley proposed a State Party rules change that was adopted in 2018.^[12]

In 2018, Hurley defeated 32-year Democratic Incumbent, Earlena Maples for Loudon County Commission District 2, Seat A, winning with 643 votes against Maples with 615.^[13] In 2020, she announced moving out of the Loudon County, which led to legal actions aiming to remove her from office.^[14] The case was dismissed in December 2021.^[15]

During her legislation, Hurley sponsored 36 bills and co-sponsored 121 bills,^[16] being Victims' Rights (HB0396)^[17] and Education (HB2229)^[18] the most important bills.

Hurley is the mother of one child, a daughter, who was born circa 1997, when Hurley was a teenager. Hurley opposes abortion and has stated that she "was faced with the choice of abortion or birth" and "chose life".^[19]