U.S. House, Tennessee 9th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Tennessee's 9th Congressional District?
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.
Independent
Dennis Clark
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 0 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- NR
- Performance
- NR
Independent
Michelle Davis Head
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 0 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- NR
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Strongest record
Justin J. Pearson
56 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 63
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Brent Taylor
53 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 44
- Qualifications
- 63
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Dennis Clark
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Michelle Davis Head
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Justin J. Pearson
- On the record2026-05-08
Joined U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder and the Tennessee Democratic Party in a federal suit seeking to bar use of the new congressional map in 2026.
Source: Nashville Banner, May 8, 2026
- On the record2026-09
Challenged his opponent to debate in a NewsChannel 5 interview; his opponent declined.
- On the record2023-04-06
The Tennessee House voted 69 to 26 to expel him over a gun-control protest on the House floor; the Shelby County Commission reinstated him on April 12, 2023.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Justin Pearson, Tri-State Defender (AP), April 6, 2023
Brent Taylor
- Unresolved2024-08
District Attorney Fred Agee asked the TBI and Comptroller to investigate whether Taylor posted a man's birth date and Social Security number online, a possible misdemeanor; Taylor said he replaced them with redacted copies.
Where it stands: Complaint sent to the TBI and Comptroller in August 2024; no charge, finding or closure reported as of Oct. 9, 2026.
Sources: Memphis Flyer, Aug. 2024, Action News 5, Aug. 29, 2024
- On the record2026-09
Declined his opponent's debate challenge in a NewsChannel 5 interview.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Dennis Clark. No public record found.
Michelle Davis Head. No public record found.
Justin J. Pearson. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through July 17, 2026, and a 2026 House candidate financial disclosure was filed May 15, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10078397, FEC administrative fines search
Brent Taylor. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through July 17, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Dennis Clark. No public record found.
Michelle Davis Head. No public record found.
Justin J. Pearson. No public record found.
Brent Taylor. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Dennis Clark. No public record found.
Michelle Davis Head. No public record found.
Justin J. Pearson. Has challenged his opponent to debate "anytime, anyplace" and says he has campaigned in all 15 district counties more than once; his opponent declined.
Brent Taylor. Declined his opponent's debate challenge in a NewsChannel 5 interview, saying a debate was not needed; no 2026 general election forum appearance was found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Dennis Clark. No public record found.
Michelle Davis Head. No public record found.
Justin J. Pearson. State representative since 2023. The House expelled him on April 6, 2023 by a 69 to 26 vote and the Shelby County Commission reinstated him April 12; no censure, reprimand or ethics finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Justin Pearson
Brent Taylor. State senator since November 2022 and a former Memphis City Council member. No censure, reprimand or ethics finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Dennis Clark. No public record found.
Michelle Davis Head. No public record found.
Justin J. Pearson. Has held sworn office as a state representative since 2023. No misuse-of-office finding or action to reject certified results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Justin Pearson
Brent Taylor. Has held sworn office as a state senator since 2022 and earlier on the Memphis City Council. No misuse-of-office finding or action to reject certified results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Brent Taylor
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Dennis Clark. No public record found.
Michelle Davis Head. No public record found.
Justin J. Pearson. State representative for District 86 since 2023, elected in a March 2023 special election and re-elected; founder of a nonprofit and a community organizer.
Source: Ballotpedia, Justin Pearson
Brent Taylor. State senator for District 31 since 2022 and a former Memphis City Council member; owner of a funeral home business.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Dennis Clark. No public record found.
Michelle Davis Head. No public record found.
Justin J. Pearson. Publishes specific proposals, including passing the PRO Act, Medicare for All, a federal jobs guarantee and permit-to-carry and background-check laws.
Source: Campaign site, Issues
Brent Taylor. Served on the Senate Judiciary and Government Operations committees and as second vice chair of Transportation and Safety; publishes issue positions in general terms.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Dennis Clark. No public record found.
Michelle Davis Head. No public record found.
Justin J. Pearson. Publishes issue pages and a campaign newsletter and gives extended interviews to local outlets. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Campaign site, Issues, Campaign site, home page, Tri-State Defender, Aug. 19, 2026
Brent Taylor. Publishes issue pages on his campaign site. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Dennis Clark. No public record found.
Michelle Davis Head. No public record found.
Justin J. Pearson. No public record found.
Brent Taylor. No public record found.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Dennis Clark. No public record found.
Michelle Davis Head. No public record found.
Justin J. Pearson. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through July 17, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Brent Taylor. Owns and has run a funeral home business; campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no administrative fine found.
Sources: NewsChannel 5 Nashville, Sept. 2026, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Dennis Clark. No public record found.
Michelle Davis Head. No public record found.
Justin J. Pearson. No public record found.
Brent Taylor. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Dennis Clark. No public record found.
Michelle Davis Head. No public record found.
Justin J. Pearson. No public record found.
Brent Taylor. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Dennis Clark. No public record found.
Michelle Davis Head. No public record found.
Justin J. Pearson. No public record found.
Brent Taylor. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Dennis Clark. No public record found.
Michelle Davis Head. No public record found.
Justin J. Pearson. No public record found.
Brent Taylor. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Dennis Clark. No public record found.
Michelle Davis Head. No public record found.
Justin J. Pearson. No public record found.
Brent Taylor. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Tennessee's 9th Congressional District?
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 is running in Tennessee's 9th Congressional District in 2026?
Dennis Clark (Independent), Michelle Davis Head (Independent), Justin J. Pearson (Democratic), Brent Taylor (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Dennis Clark a good candidate for Congress?
Dennis Clark has public evidence on 0 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Michelle Davis Head a good candidate for Congress?
Michelle Davis Head has public evidence on 0 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Justin J. Pearson a good candidate for Congress?
Justin J. Pearson scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 63 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Brent Taylor a good candidate for Congress?
Brent Taylor scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 44 of 100, qualifications 63 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Tennessee race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Tennessee 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.