Robert D. Tuke is a Marine who served America, a Democratic soldier who has worked hard for others in Tennessee politics and, now, a candidate for the United States Senate.

Robert D. Tuke is the former Chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party, having served from July 1, 2005 through January 13, 2007. In addition, he served as Treasurer of the Tennessee Democratic Party January through June of 2005, and Co-Chair of the Kerry/Edwards Campaign in Tennessee in 2004. He also headed Veterans for Kerry in the State in 2003 - 2004. He was a Trustee of the national Kerry/Edwards campaign as well. He was the Delegation Whip of the Tennessee Delegation at the Democratic National Convention in 2004.

Most recently, Tuke was the Tennessee Political Director for Obama for America.

He is a partner in the law firm of Trauger & Tuke in Nashville, Tennessee. He represents Meharry Medical College, among other clients, and is an Adjunct Professor at Vanderbilt University School of Law, where he teaches Professional and Ethical Considerations in Corporate Practice.

He has been honored as a "Fellow" of both the Tennessee Bar Foundation and the Nashville Bar Foundation. He also is a Past President and Trustee of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. He is listed in Best Lawyers in America and Who's Who in American Law. He is listed in Super Lawyers of Tennessee.

Mr. Tuke received his education from the University of Virginia on a Navy ROTC Scholarship (B.A., with distinction, 1969) and Vanderbilt University (J.D., 1976), where he was Order of the Coif, Editor-in-Chief of the Vanderbilt Law Review, and a Patrick Wilson Merit Scholar. Mr. Tuke was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 1976 and the United States Supreme Court in 1986. He also is admitted to practice before the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Sixth and Federal Circuits, and before the United States Court of International Trade.

He was an active duty Marine officer from 1969-1973 and served in Vietnam in 1971, where he was awarded a personal Cross of Gallantry in combat by the Republic of Vietnam, among other decorations. He has been a strong Democrat all his adult life, and he has supported many Democratic candidates for office, through both fundraising and organizational leadership.

Mr. Tuke is married to Susan Cummins Tuke and they have two grown children: Andrew and Sarah, all good Democrats!

Show full bio

Hide full bio