Elliot Shukart announces run for Tennessee General Assembly, outlines custody, energy and ethics proposals
June 29, 2026 | Knox County, Tennessee
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Elliot Shukart, a candidate for the Tennessee General Assembly in District 18, announced his campaign and outlined several policy proposals, saying the primary is Aug. 6 and early voting begins July 17.
Shukart said he practiced law for about 25 years and worked closely with government, experience he described as the basis for his platform. "I practiced law for about 25 years and during that time I worked really closely with government," he said.
On family law, Shukart urged changing custody rules and backed presumed 50/50 custody for parents, saying Tennessee's no-fault divorce law (adopted in 1971) has led to prolonged child custody disputes. "Now, five states have adopted presumed custody of 50/50 for each parent," he said, adding that those states, in his account, saw reduced divorce rates.
On economic and energy policy, Shukart described the "petro dollar" as a national vulnerability. "About 50% of the demand for the United States dollar comes from sales of oil overseas," he said, and warned that if foreign actors replaced the dollar's dominant role, it could sharply increase gasoline prices. He urged the state to prepare by saving part of state income in gold and coordinating with the federal government on oil supplies. He also said the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is "50% empty" and proposed considering a strategic grain reserve.
Shukart called for making the attorney general an elected position so the state's chief law-enforcement officer would "speak for the people." "43 states have an elected attorney general," he said, arguing Tennessee's appointed system leaves the office beholden to "government insiders." He also criticized the state ethics board, saying it has filed cases against candidates for judge and that the board's leadership needs replacement.
Shukart closed by reiterating his name and the office he seeks and asking for votes in the upcoming primary.
The primary date and early-voting window were the only procedural dates he provided; he did not specify implementation details, supporting studies, or funding sources for his proposals.
Shukart said he practiced law for about 25 years and worked closely with government, experience he described as the basis for his platform. "I practiced law for about 25 years and during that time I worked really closely with government," he said.
On family law, Shukart urged changing custody rules and backed presumed 50/50 custody for parents, saying Tennessee's no-fault divorce law (adopted in 1971) has led to prolonged child custody disputes. "Now, five states have adopted presumed custody of 50/50 for each parent," he said, adding that those states, in his account, saw reduced divorce rates.
On economic and energy policy, Shukart described the "petro dollar" as a national vulnerability. "About 50% of the demand for the United States dollar comes from sales of oil overseas," he said, and warned that if foreign actors replaced the dollar's dominant role, it could sharply increase gasoline prices. He urged the state to prepare by saving part of state income in gold and coordinating with the federal government on oil supplies. He also said the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is "50% empty" and proposed considering a strategic grain reserve.
Shukart called for making the attorney general an elected position so the state's chief law-enforcement officer would "speak for the people." "43 states have an elected attorney general," he said, arguing Tennessee's appointed system leaves the office beholden to "government insiders." He also criticized the state ethics board, saying it has filed cases against candidates for judge and that the board's leadership needs replacement.
Shukart closed by reiterating his name and the office he seeks and asking for votes in the upcoming primary.
The primary date and early-voting window were the only procedural dates he provided; he did not specify implementation details, supporting studies, or funding sources for his proposals.
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