Question 1

Who should I vote for in Tennessee in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Vote for the candidate with the strongest record. This page scores 11 Tennessee races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House and statewide office on the Ballot Standard, 15 qualities of character, qualifications and performance from public records and established reporting, and names the candidate who scores highest in each. Evidence checked October 9, 2026.

Question 2

Who should I vote for in Tennessee Senate?

Accepted Answer

Bill Hagerty has the strongest record in the Tennessee U.S. Senate race. Bill Hagerty scores 55 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Bill Hagerty's highest marks are command of the job and relevant experience. Marquita Bradshaw (6 of 15 criteria), Tharon Chandler (4 of 15 criteria), Andrew Gerena (4 of 15 criteria), Jeremy Dean Hearn (2 of 15 criteria), Robert Jones (4 of 15 criteria), James Macon III (3 of 15 criteria), Yoshi Matthews (4 of 15 criteria), David Sutman Jr. (4 of 15 criteria) and Catherine Whitson (4 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 3

Who should I vote for in Tennessee Governor?

Accepted Answer

Jerri Green has the strongest record in the Tennessee governor's race. Jerri Green and Marsha Blackburn each score 60 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026; Jerri Green ranks first on the tiebreaker, the character score (50 to 44). Jerri Green's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Marsha Blackburn's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Misam Abidi (1 of 15 criteria), Dean Brewer (0 of 15 criteria), Ray Brown (0 of 15 criteria), David Hatley (5 of 15 criteria), Wendell Jackson (2 of 15 criteria), Charles Van Morgan (3 of 15 criteria), Eddie Lee Murphy (0 of 15 criteria), Lauren Pinkston (6 of 15 criteria), Victor Scoggin (4 of 15 criteria), Dave Seeman (3 of 15 criteria), Karl Knox Smithson (0 of 15 criteria), L. Webb Taylor (0 of 15 criteria) and Robert Vick (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 4

Who should I vote for in TN-01?

Accepted Answer

Diana Harshbarger has the strongest record in Tennessee's 1st Congressional District. Diana Harshbarger scores 57 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Diana Harshbarger's highest marks are relevant experience and showing up. Joshua Ray Ashburn (1 of 15 criteria), Richard G. Baker (0 of 15 criteria), Kristi Burke (6 of 15 criteria), Chris Campbell (3 of 15 criteria), Billy Cody (0 of 15 criteria) and Tyler Brice Mitchell McClain (0 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 5

Who should I vote for in TN-02?

Accepted Answer

Tim Burchett has the strongest record in Tennessee's 2nd Congressional District. Tim Burchett scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Tim Burchett's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Michaela Barnett (7 of 15 criteria), Bruce Fine (3 of 15 criteria) and Adam Heimerman (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 6

Who should I vote for in TN-03?

Accepted Answer

Chuck Fleischmann has the strongest record in Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District. Chuck Fleischmann scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Chuck Fleischmann's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Dean Arnold (1 of 15 criteria), Anna Golladay (6 of 15 criteria), Jean Howard-Hill (1 of 15 criteria), Rodney Joe King (4 of 15 criteria), Donnie Lynn Ownby (3 of 15 criteria) and Edward John Roland (0 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 7

Who should I vote for in TN-04?

Accepted Answer

Scott DesJarlais has the strongest record in Tennessee's 4th Congressional District. Scott DesJarlais scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Scott DesJarlais's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Jacob Anders (4 of 15 criteria), Victoria Broderick (7 of 15 criteria) and Clay Faircloth (2 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 8

Who should I vote for in TN-05?

Accepted Answer

Charlie Hatcher has the strongest record in Tennessee's 5th Congressional District. Charlie Hatcher and Chaz Molder each score 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026; Charlie Hatcher ranks first on the tiebreakers (character score, then total points earned). Charlie Hatcher's highest marks are relevant experience and management. Chaz Molder's highest marks are relevant experience and communication. James A. Johnson (0 of 15 criteria) and Micheal O'Leary (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 9

Who should I vote for in TN-06?

Accepted Answer

Johnny Garrett has the strongest record in Tennessee's 6th Congressional District. Johnny Garrett scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Mike Croley at 56, as of October 9, 2026. Johnny Garrett's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Mike Croley's highest marks are command of the job and communication. Chris Monday (2 of 15 criteria) and Angus Purdy (0 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 10

Who should I vote for in TN-07?

Accepted Answer

Matt Van Epps has the strongest record in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District. Matt Van Epps scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Matt Van Epps's highest marks are showing up and relevant experience. Darden Copeland (6 of 15 criteria), Andrew J. Koontz (0 of 15 criteria) and Lowell Reynolds (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 11

Who should I vote for in TN-08?

Accepted Answer

David Kustoff has the strongest record in Tennessee's 8th Congressional District. David Kustoff scores 62 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Heidi Kuhn at 61, as of October 9, 2026. David Kustoff's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Heidi Kuhn's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Adam D. Austill (2 of 15 criteria), Wendell "Wells" Blankenship (0 of 15 criteria), Antonio Futch (0 of 15 criteria), Pamela Moses (1 of 15 criteria), Horace Taylor (4 of 15 criteria) and Henry J. Ward III (0 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Question 12

Who should I vote for in TN-09?

Accepted Answer

Justin J. Pearson has the strongest record in Tennessee's 9th Congressional District. Justin J. Pearson scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Brent Taylor at 53, as of October 9, 2026. Justin J. Pearson's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Brent Taylor's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Dennis Clark (0 of 15 criteria) and Michelle Davis Head (0 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Who should I vote for in Tennessee?

U.S. Senate, Tennessee

Governor of Tennessee

U.S. House, Tennessee 1st Congressional District

U.S. House, Tennessee 2nd Congressional District

U.S. House, Tennessee 3rd Congressional District

U.S. House, Tennessee 4th Congressional District

U.S. House, Tennessee 5th Congressional District

U.S. House, Tennessee 6th Congressional District

U.S. House, Tennessee 7th Congressional District

U.S. House, Tennessee 8th Congressional District

U.S. House, Tennessee 9th Congressional District