Where Cookeville Candidates Stand on the Issues: November 3, 2026 Election
What each candidate on the Cookeville ballot has said, sorted by issue, in their words or a close paraphrase, with the source linked. A candidate with nothing on record is listed as such. This page does not score, rank or recommend anyone.
Election day is November 3, 2026. Last updated October 6, 2026. For every race and candidate, see what's on the ballot in Cookeville.
Immigration
Governor
Misam Abidi (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Marsha Blackburn (Republican)
Public policy: Her campaign lists protecting women’s sports and stopping illegal immigration among its priorities. (Marsha Blackburn campaign website)
U.S. Senate
Marquita Bradshaw (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
Tharon Chandler (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Bill Hagerty (Republican, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Jeremy Dean Hearn (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Robert Jones (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
James William Macon III (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Yoshi D. Matthews (Independent)
Border security: She supports securing the border, enforcing immigration laws, and maintaining a functional legal immigration system. (Yoshi Matthews for U.S. Senate — Issues)
David Sutman, Jr. (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Health care and retirement
U.S. Senate
Marquita Bradshaw (Democratic)
Healthcare: She supports lowering prescription-drug costs, protecting Medicare and Medicaid, and expanding rural healthcare and mental-health services. (VOTE411 candidate questionnaire)
Tharon Chandler (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Bill Hagerty (Republican, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Jeremy Dean Hearn (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Robert Jones (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
James William Macon III (Independent)
Education and health care: He lists improving education and health-care outcomes among his campaign priorities. (James William Macon III — U.S. Senator (Tennessee 2026))
Yoshi D. Matthews (Independent)
Senior property taxes: Matthews proposes a Tennessee-based policy to protect seniors from losing their homes because of property taxes. (Yoshi Matthews for U.S. Senate — Issues)
David Sutman, Jr. (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Tennessee House of Representatives, District 42
Trenton Tyler Strode (Democratic)
Community investment: He proposes investing in workforce training, affordable childcare, rural healthcare, and housing, while returning more state resources to Upper Cumberland communities. (VOTE411)
Ryan D. Williams (Republican, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Schools and education
Governor
Misam Abidi (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Marsha Blackburn (Republican)
Education: She supports expanding Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship program. (Marsha Blackburn campaign website)
U.S. Senate
Marquita Bradshaw (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
Tharon Chandler (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Bill Hagerty (Republican, incumbent)
School choice: He supports expanding school choice and education options, including Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship program. (Bill Hagerty for Senate / Tennessee Senate profile)
Jeremy Dean Hearn (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Robert Jones (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
James William Macon III (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Yoshi D. Matthews (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
David Sutman, Jr. (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Tennessee House of Representatives, District 42
Trenton Tyler Strode (Democratic)
Public education: He says the legislature should fully fund public schools, support teachers, and expand career and technical education, dual enrollment, and apprenticeships. (VOTE411)
Ryan D. Williams (Republican, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Energy and utilities
U.S. Senate
Marquita Bradshaw (Democratic)
Data centers: She supports national data-center standards requiring energy and water-use transparency, environmental and public-health reviews, and local input on siting. (VOTE411 candidate questionnaire)
Tharon Chandler (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Bill Hagerty (Republican, incumbent)
Taxes and energy: He has emphasized lower taxes, energy independence, and secure borders. (Bill Hagerty for Senate / Tennessee Senate profile)
Energy production: He supports expanding U.S. energy production and exports, including liquefied natural gas. (Bill Hagerty for Senate / Tennessee Senate profile)
Jeremy Dean Hearn (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Robert Jones (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
James William Macon III (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Yoshi D. Matthews (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
David Sutman, Jr. (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Tennessee House of Representatives, District 42
Trenton Tyler Strode (Democratic)
Data centers: He supports statewide standards for data centers that ensure transparency about energy and water use, protect local input, and tie incentives to measurable public benefits. (VOTE411)
Ryan D. Williams (Republican, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Elections and government
Governor
Misam Abidi (Independent)
Citizen wealth: His platform proposes a Tennessee Dividend Fund, saying government should help citizens build long-term wealth, not just collect taxes. (Campaign website)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican)
No public statement found in our sources.
U.S. Senate
Marquita Bradshaw (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
Tharon Chandler (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Bill Hagerty (Republican, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Jeremy Dean Hearn (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Robert Jones (Independent)
Public accountability: Jones proposes an Accountability Act using an app or secure website so people can engage with politicians and indicate their views on key issues. (Robert for TN — Issues)
Government transparency: He says he will seek a Public Service Pledge requiring transparency from elected officials. (Robert for TN)
James William Macon III (Independent)
Accountability: Macon says his priorities include government accountability, oversight, and checks and balances. (James William Macon III — U.S. Senator (Tennessee 2026))
Yoshi D. Matthews (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
David Sutman, Jr. (Independent)
Accountability: He supports term limits, greater transparency in government spending and performance standards for elected officials. (David Sutman Jr. for U.S. Senate)
Taxes and spending
U.S. Senate
Marquita Bradshaw (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
Tharon Chandler (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Bill Hagerty (Republican, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Jeremy Dean Hearn (Independent)
National debt: Hearn proposes activating U.S. Fort Knox funds to address the national debt, including what he describes as a $33 trillion debt resolution at the outset. (JDH for US Senate 2026 Campaign)
Robert Jones (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
James William Macon III (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Yoshi D. Matthews (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
David Sutman, Jr. (Independent)
Cost of living: He says he would focus on practical solutions to lower everyday costs, including costs for groceries, housing and fuel. (David Sutman Jr. for U.S. Senate)
Jobs and the economy
Governor
Misam Abidi (Independent)
Workforce skills: He proposes a Tennessee Skills Guarantee so that every student graduates with marketable skills and greater opportunity. (Campaign website)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican)
Economic growth: She says she would pursue continued economic growth for Tennessee. (Marsha Blackburn campaign website)
U.S. Senate
Marquita Bradshaw (Democratic)
Wages and costs: She says Congress should work to raise wages, protect workers’ right to organize, lower everyday costs, and support working families. (VOTE411 candidate questionnaire)
Tharon Chandler (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Bill Hagerty (Republican, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Jeremy Dean Hearn (Independent)
Worker earnings: He proposes drafting an Equal Earnings Act and says workers should receive at least the average salary in their local area. (JDH for US Senate 2026 Campaign)
Robert Jones (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
James William Macon III (Independent)
Economic opportunity: He says he wants to support economic growth, protect homeownership, strengthen agriculture, and reduce poverty. (James William Macon III — U.S. Senator (Tennessee 2026))
Yoshi D. Matthews (Independent)
Basic income: She proposes a universal basic income for eligible Americans to reduce economic insecurity and help families meet rising costs. (Yoshi Matthews for U.S. Senate — Issues)
David Sutman, Jr. (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Other positions
Governor
Misam Abidi (Independent)
Veterans: He says his administration would seek veteran leadership and input when shaping policies affecting veterans. (TNVET candidate questionnaire)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican)
No public statement found in our sources.
U.S. Senate
Marquita Bradshaw (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
Tharon Chandler (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Bill Hagerty (Republican, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Jeremy Dean Hearn (Independent)
Constitution and equality: He lists defending the U.S. Constitution, clarifying history, and restoring equality as campaign priorities. (JDH for US Senate 2026 Campaign)
Robert Jones (Independent)
County outreach: His campaign describes an ALL95 initiative to visit all 95 Tennessee counties. (Robert for TN)
James William Macon III (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Yoshi D. Matthews (Independent)
No public statement found in our sources.
David Sutman, Jr. (Independent)
Constitutional rights: He says he supports constitutional rights, balanced governance and respect for the rule of law. (David Sutman Jr. for U.S. Senate)
Tennessee House of Representatives, District 42
Trenton Tyler Strode (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
Ryan D. Williams (Republican, incumbent)
No responses: The VOTE411 questionnaire lists its questions for Williams but says he has not yet responded; it contains no answers from him to summarize as positions. (VOTE411 / League of Women Voters Education Fund)