David Purkey

David Purkey, a 2026 U.S. Senate candidate in West Virginia, has been the subject of two notable public controversies during his time in Tennessee government. In 2018, while serving as Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Purkey made a 1,000 dollar donation to gubernatorial candidate Bill Lee during an internal investigation into a state trooper who leaked confidential information about Lee's opponent. Purkey later apologized to both campaigns for the breach of confidentiality. Previously, an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation concluded that Purkey, while serving as Hamblen County Mayor, violated state election laws regarding a campaign mailout. The District Attorney declined to prosecute the case, citing potential costs and challenges in seating a jury. Purkey publicly denied involvement in the mailout at the time.