{{short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Tyler McCaughn | office = Member of the Mississippi Senate from the 31st district | birth_name = Tyler McCaughn | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|7|14}} | birth_place = Morton, Mississippi, U.S. | term_start = January 7, 2020 | party = Republican Party | alma_mater = Jones County Junior College<br>University of Mississippi<br>Mississippi College School of Law | occupation = Attorney, cattle farmer, businessman | website = http://tylermccaughn.com/ | predecessor1 = Terry C. Burton | image = Tyler McCaughn.jpg }} '''Tyler McCaughn''' (born July 14, 1982) is an American politician serving in the Mississippi State Senate from the 31st district since 2020.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Tyler McCaughn|url=https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/members/senate/mccaughn.xml|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-16|website=billstatus.ls.state.ms.us}}</ref>
== Early life and education == McCaughn was born in Morton, Mississippi, where he attended Morton High School.<ref name=":0" /> He attended Jones County Junior College, graduated from the University of Mississippi, and got his Juris Doctor degree from the Mississippi College School of Law.<ref name=":0" />
== Career == McCaughn is the owner of several farming-based businesses and a professional limited liability company as an attorney.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Tyler McCaughn {{!}} for State Senate 31|url=http://tylermccaughn.com/|access-date=2020-10-16|language=en-US}}</ref> He served as the former attorney for the town of Hickory, Mississippi; a former municipal judge for the town of Decatur, Mississippi; a former adjunct professor at East Central Community College; and a former attorney for Mississippi Regional Housing Authority V.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|url=http://votesmart.org/|access-date=2020-10-16|website=Vote Smart}}</ref> He is licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in Mississippi.<ref>{{Cite web|title=J. Tyler McCaughn – Land Title Association of Mississippi|url=https://ltams.org/person/tyler-mccaughn/|access-date=2020-10-16|website=ltams.org}}</ref>
Following outcry over his third DUI arrest, State Senator Terry C. Burton did not seek reelection for the 31st district.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bologna|first=Giacomo|title=Following 3rd DUI arrest, Terry Burton resigning from leadership, won't seek re-election|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/08/state-senate-president-pro-tem-terry-burton-arrested-suspicion-driving-drunk-resigning-retiring/2514593002/|access-date=2020-10-16|website=The Clarion-Ledger|language=en-US}}</ref> McCaughn competed in the Republican primary for the district, securing 73.3% of the vote and 68.3% of the vote in the general election; he assumed office on January 7, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tyler McCaughn|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Tyler_McCaughn|access-date=2020-10-16|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}</ref>
As of 2020, he is vice-chair for the Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Committee and is a member on the following others: Agriculture; Appropriations; County Affairs; Environment Prot, Cons and Water Res; Forestry; Judiciary, Division A; Judiciary, Division B; and Municipalities.<ref name=":0" />
== Political positions == He has called for infrastructure improvements to increase industry and has advocated for lawmakers working together.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kelly|first=Erin|date=4 January 2020|title=New East Mississippi lawmakers to focus on economic development, infrastructure|url=https://www.meridianstar.com/news/local_news/new-east-mississippi-lawmakers-to-focus-on-economic-development-infrastructure/article_571569be-c46e-5357-ad3c-91048b03ddd9.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-16|website=Meridian Star|language=en}}</ref>
He voted against changing the state flag in 2020, although stating that he was "conflicted."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kelly|first=Erin|date=29 June 2020|title=Lawmakers cite unity after changing flag|url=https://www.meridianstar.com/news/local_news/lawmakers-cite-unity-after-changing-flag/article_695e1d04-6106-5399-b532-cd26e287827d.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-16|website=Meridian Star|language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life == McCaughn is a member of the Newton Rotary Club and is an Eagle Scout.<ref name=":1" /> He is a board member for the Choctaw Council, Boy Scouts of America.<ref name=":2" /> He is of United Methodist faith.<ref name=":0" />
== References == {{reflist}}{{Mississippi State Senators}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCaughn, Tyler}} Category:Living people Category:Republican Party Mississippi state senators Category:21st-century members of the Mississippi Legislature Category:Jones County Junior College alumni Category:University of Mississippi alumni Category:Mississippi College School of Law alumni Category:Municipal judges in the United States Category:People from Morton, Mississippi Category:1982 births Category:2024 United States presidential electors