William Francis Hagerty IV is an American politician, businessman, and diplomat serving as Tennessee's junior United States senator since 2021. A Republican, he previously served as the 30th U.S. ambassador to Japan from 2017 to 2019 under President Donald Trump.
Hagerty built his early career in management consulting and private equity, later co-founding Hagerty Peterson & Company. In Tennessee state government, he served as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (2011–2014), working on major recruitment and investment efforts tied to the state's manufacturing and automotive base. He also led the Nashville MLS Steering Committee, which helped secure a Major League Soccer franchise for Nashville.
Trump nominated Hagerty as ambassador to Japan in 2017; the Senate confirmed him with a large bipartisan vote, and he was sworn in later that year. He resigned in 2019 to run for the Senate seat being vacated by Lamar Alexander, won the 2020 election, and took office in January 2021.
In the Senate, Hagerty brands himself as a conservative focused on trade, supply chains, China competition, and finance/tech regulation. In 2025, he drafted and championed the GENIUS Act, signed into law as the first major federal cryptocurrency law, creating a regulatory framework for stablecoins.
Mainstream Conservative
Committee Assignments
Achievements
- Served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan (2017–2019), strengthening high-level diplomatic and security engagement.
- Led Tennessee economic development efforts as ECD commissioner (2011–2014), tied to major investment and jobs messaging.
- Helped spearhead the push that brought Major League Soccer to Nashville.
- Senate work focused on trade, China competition, and finance / technology policy.
- Authored and championed the GENIUS Act (signed 2025), establishing a federal stablecoin regulatory framework.
Controversies
- Drew criticism around 2021 procedural tactics that delayed the final vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill.
- Reported STOCK Act disclosure violation related to late reporting of stock transactions in dependent children’s trusts.
- Scrutiny over private equity background and corporate network, with opponents arguing it shapes his policy priorities.
- Criticized for close alignment with Trump-era political positioning and rhetoric.
- Recurring debate over his hawkish framing on national security and foreign policy.
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackstone Group | $85,600 | $85,600 | $0 |
| HCA Inc | $75,920 | $68,420 | $7,500 |
| State of Tennessee | $73,025 | $73,025 | $0 |
| Apollo Global Management | $71,650 | $71,650 | $0 |
| Rogers Group Investments | $71,400 | $71,400 | $0 |
Amounts shown reflect organization-linked giving; most funds listed here are from individual donors or aligned PACs.
Recent Elections
2020 Margin R +16.2%
2024 Margin R +20.1%