David Kustoff Bio
David Frank Kustoff (born October 8, 1966) is an American politician and attorney serving as the U.S. Representative for Tennessee’s 8th congressional district. A Republican, he was first elected to the House in 2016 and has continued to represent the district since. Kustoff is also a practicing attorney and has been a prominent figure in Tennessee Republican politics for decades. He is among a small group of Jewish Republicans serving in Congress.
Early Life and Background
David Frank Kustoff was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on October 8, 1966, and raised in the Memphis area. He graduated from White Station High School in 1985 before continuing his education at the University of Memphis, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1989 and was inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa honor society. Kustoff went on to attend the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis, receiving his Juris Doctor in 1992.
While in law school, Kustoff began laying the groundwork for a future in public service and law. His time at the University of Memphis also led him to meet Jim Strickland, a fellow student with whom he would later establish a law practice. Growing up in Memphis shaped Kustoff’s ties to West Tennessee, a region he would eventually come to represent in Washington.
Path to U.S. Politics
Kustoff became active in politics during the 1990s, when he chaired the Republican Party of Shelby County. In that role, he helped organize local party operations and built relationships with state and national Republican figures. In 2002, he was named campaign chair for Lamar Alexander’s Senate campaign, further cementing his standing in Tennessee Republican circles.
Also in 2002, Kustoff made his first run for federal office, seeking the Republican nomination in Tennessee’s 7th congressional district after Representative Ed Bryant announced his departure. He finished second in the primary behind state senator Marsha Blackburn, who won the nomination with about 40 percent of the vote. The experience gave Kustoff valuable insight into running a congressional campaign and sharpened his political skills.
David Kustoff Career
Early Career (2002–2006)
Following his 2002 congressional primary loss, Kustoff returned to his law practice in Memphis and continued building his political resume. He served as George W. Bush’s campaign chair in Tennessee during the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections, working closely with state and national Republican leadership. In December 2002, he publicly criticized Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott after Lott praised Strom Thurmond in a way that Kustoff argued hurt Republican outreach to minority communities.
In 2006, President George W. Bush nominated Kustoff to serve as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. The U.S. Senate confirmed him, and he took office that year. As the top federal prosecutor for West Tennessee, Kustoff led the prosecution of the Operation Tennessee Waltz public corruption case, which resulted in the conviction of state Senator John Ford and others. He also joined Operation Safe Community, a coalition of Memphis leaders and law enforcement officials focused on reducing crime in the region.
U.S. House of Representatives Breakthrough (2016–Present)
In February 2016, Representative Stephen Fincher announced that he would not seek reelection in Tennessee’s 8th congressional district, and Kustoff quickly launched his campaign. He earned an endorsement from former Arkansas Governor and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, who filmed advertisements and campaigned with him across the district. Kustoff won a crowded Republican primary with about 27 percent of the vote, edging out Shelby County Commissioner George Flinn, and went on to defeat Democratic nominee Rickey Hobson, a Delta Air Lines manager from Somerville, in the general election.
Since his first election to the House in 2016, Kustoff has continued to represent Tennessee’s 8th congressional district, which includes most of West Tennessee and a large share of the eastern Memphis suburbs. In 2018, he turned back a well-funded primary challenge from George Flinn, winning renomination with 56 percent of the vote. In December 2020, he was one of 126 Republican members of the House who signed an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit that sought to challenge the 2020 presidential election results; the Supreme Court declined to hear the case.
Notable Events and Milestones
Kustoff’s career has been marked by several notable moments beyond elections. In May 2017, he voted for the American Health Care Act, a decision that drew strong public reaction, including a confrontation at a town hall meeting at the University of Tennessee at Martin. He has taken positions on national security, supporting President Donald Trump’s 2017 executive order on entry from certain Muslim-majority countries, and on social issues, voting against the Respect for Marriage Act in 2022 and against the Equality Act. He continues to serve on House committees in the 119th Congress.
David Kustoff Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Kustoff is married to Roberta Kustoff, who is also a lawyer and works at the Kustoff and Strickland Firm. The couple has two children and lives in Germantown, an eastern suburb of Memphis. Kustoff is Jewish, and along with Max Miller, Randy Fine, and Craig Goldman, he is among the only four Republican Jewish members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Beyond his law practice and congressional duties, Kustoff has served on the board of directors of BankTennessee and as a member of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. His law partner, Jim Strickland, went on to serve as mayor of Memphis starting in 2015, reflecting the deep ties Kustoff maintains with the Memphis legal and civic community.