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Federal
U.S. Senate
Democratic primary
Name: Marquita Bradshaw
Age: 50
Professional experience: Environmental justice chair, Sierra Club, Tennessee
Campaign website: marquitabradshaw.com
Education: Bachelor’s in journalism and communication from the University of Memphis
Political experience: Democratic nominee, U.S. Senate, 2020
Bio: Bradshaw, a native of Memphis, started her political activism as a child concerned about pollution from a nearby contaminated military base. After years of working with advocacy groups like the AFL-CIO and the Sierra Club, Bradshaw upset party favorite and Nashville attorney James Mackler to become the Democratic nominee for Tennessee’s other Senate seat in 2020. While Bradshaw was the first woman of color to earn a party nomination for statewide office in Tennessee, she lost to Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty in the general election.
Name: Lola Denise Brown
Age: 67
Professional experience: Not available
Campaign website: LolaDenise Brown for United States Senator on Facebook
Education: Bachelor’s in behavioral science from American Baptist College
Political experience: First-time candidate
Bio: Not available
Rep. Gloria Johnson speaks at a rally against a bill allowing teachers to carry firearms in schools
Name: Gloria Johnson
Age: 62
Professional experience: Teacher, consultant
Campaign website: votegloriajohnson.com
Education: Bachelor’s in special education and teaching from the University of Tennessee
Political experience: Representative, Tennessee House of Representatives, 2012-2014 and 2018-present
Bio: Johnson is a former teacher from Denver who has represented the Knoxville area in the 13th and 90th districts of the Tennessee House. After the Covenant School shooting in 2023, Johnson and fellow Representatives Justin Pearson and Justin Jones — later nicknamed the “Tennessee Three” — led a gun control protest in the House, which resulted in Jones and Pearson being expelled by their Republican colleagues. Johnson kept her seat by the margin of a single vote.
Name: Civil Miller-Watkins
Age: 58
Professional experience: Middle school math teacher
Campaign website: civilforsenate.com
Education: Bachelor’s in sociology and social work, master’s degree in education from the University of Tennessee, Martin
Political experience: Former Fayette County School Board member, secretary of the Tennessee Democratic County Chairs Association
Bio: After losing the Democratic primary for District 94 in 2016, Miller-Watkins won the uncontested District 26 Democratic nomination for Tennessee state Senate in 2020 but lost to Republican Sen. Page Walley in the general election. She is married to Charles Watkins Sr. They have eight children and 10 grandchildren.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn
Republican primary
Name: Marsha Blackburn
Age: 72
Professional experience: Politician
Campaign website: marshablackburn.com
Education: Bachelor’s in home economics from Mississippi State University
Political experience: Incumbent (since 2019), U.S. House of Representatives (2003-2018), Tennessee state Senate (1998-2003)
Bio: Blackburn got involved in politics as a founder of the Williamson County Young Republicans after moving to Tennessee from her native Mississippi. She was first elected to the Tennessee state Senate in 1998, and has held elected office for more than 25 years. After four terms as a member of Congress, Blackburn was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2018. Blackburn was among the 147 Republican lawmakers who voted against certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 election win and has been endorsed by Donald Trump. She and her husband Chuck Blackburn have two children and three grandchildren.
Name: Tres Wittum
Age: 37
Professional experience: Analyst for the Tennessee state Senate
Campaign website: treswittum.com
Education: Bachelor’s in media and communications from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
Political experience: Campaign chief for Tennessee state Sen. Bo Watson, Davidson
County Chairman
Bio: Wittum has been involved in politics since he was state chairman of the Tennessee College Republicans while a student at UT Chattanooga. After graduation, he worked as a policy and research analyst in the Tennessee state Senate for six years before launching his political career. In 2022, Wittum ran for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, coming in last in a 10-person Republican primary election won by Rep. Andy Ogles.
Independents
Name: William Tharon Chandler
Age: 56
Professional experience: Farmer
Campaign website: N/A
Education: Bachelor’s in German and economics from Memphis State University
Political experience: Perennial candidate
Bio: Chandler is a farmer in Lawrenceburg with a history of seeking statewide office as both an independent and a Democratic candidate. Chandler has run for U.S. House four times in Tennessee since 2002 and once in Missouri in 2008. In 2016, Chandler ran as a Democrat against Marsha Blackburn for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House. He ran for Tennessee’s other U.S. Senate seat in 2020.
Name: Pamela Moses
Age: 46
Professional experience: Not available
Campaign website:
Education: Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee
Political experience: Candidate for mayor of Memphis
Bio: Moses is a Black Lives Matter activist and one-time Memphis mayoral candidate. Moses was convicted of voter fraud in 2021 for voting in several elections as a convicted felon, but the conviction was later reversed. Moses’ case caught national attention and she later sued the state and Shelby County District Attorney for emotional damages for what some considered a political prosecution. In 2018, Moses founded Stand Up America, a neighborhood preservation organization.
Name: Hastina Robinson
Age: 53
Professional experience: Emergency medical technician
Campaign website: vote4hastina.com
Education: Not available
Political experience: Former candidate for state Senate
Bio: Robinson ran as an independent candidate for Tennessee state Senate District 33 but lost to Democratic Rep. London Lamar.
5th Congressional District
Democratic primary
Name: Maryam Abolfazli
Maryam Abolfazli
Age: 45
Occupation: Former executive director of Rise and Shine Tennessee
Campaign website: maryamforcongress.com
Education: Bachelor’s in international relations from Oglethorpe University, master’s in public affairs from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs
Political experience: Chair, Metro Human Relations Commission
Bio: Abolfazli is running to represent Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. A single mom and second-generation immigrant, Abolfazli in 2023 organized a rally for gun safety after the Covenant School shooting, leading to the formation of Rise and Shine Tennessee. Her career includes work with the U.N. in Afghanistan, the World Bank and various nonprofits. Named one of the Scene’s 2023 Nashvillians of the Year, Abolfazli lives in Bellevue with her son, Auden.
Andy Ogles, left, faces a primary challenge from Courtney Johnston
Republican primary
Name: Andy Ogles
Age: 53
Occupation: Former Maury County mayor and executive with Americans for Prosperity and the Laffer Center
Campaign website: andyogles.com
Education: B.S. in Liberal Studies from Middle Tennessee State UniversityPolitical experience: Former Maury County mayor
Bio: A Middle Tennessee native, Ogles was involved in politics in his work with Americans for Prosperity and the Laffer Center earlier in his career. He ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2002, state Senate in 2006 and U.S. Senate (briefly) in 2017. In 2018, he defeated the incumbent mayor of Maury County and served in that role until his election to Congress in 2022. His biography has been the source of debate and controversy, as NewsChannel 5 and other outlets have reported on false or exaggerated claims made by Ogles, including about his work and education history.
Name: Courtney Johnston
Age: 45
Occupation: Real estate agent, Synergy Realty
Campaign website: johnstonforcongress.com
Education: Bachelor’s degree in finance from Louisiana State University
Political experience: District 26 Metro
councilmember
Bio: Johnston, a real estate agent with experience in finance and the food and beverage industry, defeated an incumbent to win her Metro Council seat in 2019, and was reelected unopposed in 2023. She was raised in Louisiana and has lived in Middle Tennessee for two decades. Her career includes stints in residential real estate, health care and executive search consulting, catering and debt reorganization.
6th Congressional District
Democratic primary
Name: Lore Bergman
Age: Unknown
Occupation: Activist
Campaign website: lorebergman.org
Education: Unknown
Political experience: None
Bio: Lore Bergman is a first-generation immigrant, who on her website touts her experiences as exactly what the country needs to combat the “MAGA views” that she says John Rose is contributing to. Her policies cover a large swath of progressive issues, such as affordable housing, Medicare, resources for people with disabilities, banning assault weapons, lower drug prices and women’s reproductive health.
Name: Clay Faircloth
Age: 59
Occupation: Pastor and career coach
Campaign website: fairclothforcongress.com
Education: Master’s in counseling from Trevecca University
Political experience: Ran for this seat in 2022
Bio: Faircloth was born and raised in Middle Tennessee, east of Nashville. He left his job at a Nissan plant in Smyrna after just a few years to pursue being a pastor. He also works at the American Job Center of Middle Tennessee as a career coach. He’s running as a Democrat, and a campaign video on his website largely focuses on Republican legislators’ attacks on abortion and LGBTQ rights.
Name: Cyril Focht
Age: 29
Occupation: Instructor at Tennessee Tech
Campaign website: vote4focht.us
Education: Master’s in computational media, University of California, Santa Cruz; bachelor’s from Tennessee Tech
Political experience: Activism
Bio: Focht was born and raised in Cookeville. He has a deep interest in technology, which comes through on his campaign website’s policy page, which focuses solely on tech issues. His big initiatives include getting social media under control, putting oversight over artificial intelligence and expanding broadband access in rural areas.
Republican primary
Name: John Rose
Age: 59
Occupation: Incumbent District 6 Representative, founder of Transcender Corp., farmer
Campaign website: johnrose.com
Education: Master of science in agricultural economics from Purdue University, law degree from Vanderbilt University
Political experience: Served as the state agriculture commissioner
Bio: Rose grew up in Cookeville and now lives there with his wife and two sons. He got his start as a businessman involved in the tech industry while also running his family farm. He is currently in his third term as a Republican in the House of Representatives. Rose is best known for controversy surrounding how he met his wife. At the time that they met, she was 17 and he was 41. They married four years later.
7th Congressional District
Megan Barry
Democratic primary
Name: Megan Barry
Age: 60
Professional experience: Corporate consultant
Campaign website: meganbarryforcongress.com
Education: Bachelor’s in elementary education from Baker University, MBA from Vanderbilt University
Political experience: Mayor of Nashville (2015-2018), Metro councilmember (2007-2015)
Bio: Barry moved to Nashville to attend Vanderbilt University, worked as a corporate ethics and compliance consultant and was elected to the Metro Council in 2007, where she served until becoming the city’s first female mayor in 2015. In 2018, Barry resigned from office after having an affair with the head of her security detail and pleading guilty to felony theft for misuse of city funds related to the affair. Since her 22-year-old son died of a drug overdose in 2017, Barry has advocated for people struggling with substance use disorder. She is married to Vanderbilt professor Bruce Barry.
Republican primary
U.S. Rep. Mark Green
Name: Mark Green
Age: 59
Professional experience: Founder and CEO of Align MD
Campaign website: markgreentn.com
Education: Bachelor’s in business management from the United States Military Academy, master’s from the University of Southern California and medical degree from Wright State University
Political experience: Incumbent (since 2019), District 22 Tennessee state Senate (2013-2018)
Bio: Green served in the U.S. Army for nearly 20 years, including as a special operations flight surgeon in Afghanistan and Iraq. After leaving the Army in 2006, Green founded Align MD, an emergency room staffing company. Green was elected to the Tennessee state Senate in 2013 and represented the Clarksville area until he was elected to U.S. Congress in 2018. In 2017, then-President Donald Trump nominated Green to be U.S. Army Secretary, but Green withdrew his nomination amid backlash against his comments about transgender and nonbinary people. Green is married to Camilla Joy Guenther, and the couple have two adult children. In February, Green said he would not seek reelection before changing his mind two weeks later.
State
Senate
District 20
Democratic primary
Name: Heidi Campbell
Age: 55
Occupation: District 20 Tennessee state senator, music business executive
Campaign website: voteheidicampbell.com
Education: Bachelor’s from Sarah Lawrence College, MBA from Vanderbilt University
Political experience: Former vice mayor and mayor of Oak Hill; incumbent District 20 senator
Bio: In 2020, Campbell flipped the Tennessee state Senate’s District 20 seat from red to blue. Campbell has a long history of politics in Tennessee, starting as the Oak Hill mayor. She ran for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District in 2022, earning 89,000 votes but ultimately losing to now-Rep. Andy Ogles. In 2023, she ran for mayor of Nashville, finishing fifth. A progressive, Campbell says her focus will be on reproductive rights, cannabis decriminalization, transit and comprehensive gun reform.
Republican primary
Name: Wyatt Rampy
Age: 56
Occupation: President of Poplar Realty Co.
Campaign website: wyattrampy.com
Education: Lipscomb University
Political experience: Ran for state House in 2022
Bio: Rampy is the president and founder of Poplar Realty in Bellevue. He got his start in banking, originally with Sovran Bank and then Bankers Trust. He lost in the Republican primary for the District 59 House seat to Michelle Foreman two years ago. He is an elder at Bellevue Church of Christ and serves on the boards of the Bellevue Community Foundation, Nashville Christian School, God’s Word for Warriors and World Christian Broadcasting. He lives in Bellevue with his wife Wendy. They have four children.
House
District 50
Democratic primary
Name: Bo Mitchell
Age: 54
Occupation: Self-employed
Campaign website: votebo.com
Education: Bachelor’s in political science from Lipscomb University, JD from Nashville School of Law
Political experience: House District 50 representative, District 35 Metro councilmember
Bio: Mitchell is the incumbent House member from District 50, which includes Charlotte Park, Bellevue, part of Goodlettsville, Joelton, White’s Creek and Scottsboro. First elected in 2012, Mitchell has served on the insurance and health committees in the past two legislative sessions. Before his election, Mitchell served on the Metro Council. He is involved in numerous county organizations: Bellevue Family YMCA, FiftyForward J.L. Turner Center and Tennessee Conservation Voters.
Republican primary
Name: Jennifer Frensley Webb
Age: 57
Occupation: Contractor, Bull Enterprises
Campaign website: jenniferfrensleywebb.com
Education: Bachelor’s in marketing from Belmont University
Political experience: District 10 Metro
councilmember
Bio: Webb’s political career began with a 2023 upset of incumbent Metro Councilmember Zach Young for the District 10 seat. A lifelong resident of Goodlettsville, Webb credits her career in her family’s automotive business at Bob Frensley Ford. In 2019, Webb sold the business and started a construction company with her husband and her two sons. Her qualifying petition has been challenged by Mitchell, her November opponent. After the Davidson County Election Commission upheld the validity of signatures on her petition, Mitchell appealed the decision to Chancery Court.
Rep. Aftyn Behn speaks on the House floor, April 24, 2024
District 51
Democratic primary
Name: Aftyn Behn
Age: 33
Occupation: Former campaign director for national political group Rural Organizing
Campaign website: aftynbehn.com
Education: Master’s in social work, University of Texas
Political experience: House District 51 representative, longtime community organizer
Bio: In 2023, Behn won a special election over former Metro Councilmember Anthony Davis for the 51st District seat following the death of Bill Beck. She’s the first woman to represent her district in more than 50 years. Behn is formerly the campaign director for Rural Organizing, overseeing the group’s electoral strategy and execution and shaping the political and policy landscape impacting small towns and rural communities. Previously, she worked at the Indivisible Project. Originally from East Tennessee, she organized with the Tennessee Justice Center in 2017 during the national Medicaid and Affordable Care Act congressional fights.
District 52
Democratic primary
Name: Justin Jones
Age: 28
Occupation: Independent activist (prior to taking office)
Campaign website: justinjonestn.com
Education: Bachelor’s in political science from Fisk University, Master of Divinity in theological studies from Vanderbilt University (tentative)
Political experience: House District 52 representative
Bio: Justin Jones is a native of Oakland, Calif, and the son of a Filipina mother and African American father. Jones is known for his activism, notably campaigning for the removal of a Nathan Bedford Forrest bust from the Tennessee State Capitol in 2019. Jones has also been involved in numerous protests, including a 62-day sit-in at Legislative Plaza. Along with fellow Democratic Reps. Justin Pearson and Gloria Johnson, Jones — who was briefly expelled from his seat by the Republican supermajority — is one of the “Tennessee Three.”
Republican primary
Name: Laura Nelson
Age: 54
Occupation: Not available
Campaign website: lauranelsontn52.com
Education: Not available
Political experience: Former vice chair of the Davidson County Republican Party
Bio: Nelson will square off with Jones for a second time after she ran against him in the 2023 special election following Jones’ expulsion from the state legislature. She lost handily in heavily Democratic District 52. She previously served in a leadership role with the Davidson County Republican Party. Nelson filed a challenge against Jones’ qualifying petition, arguing that he did not have enough valid signatures. The Davidson County Election Commission voted 3-1 (with one abstention) that Jones did produce the 25 signatures necessary to qualify.
District 53
Democratic primary
Name: Jason Powell
Age: 46
Occupation: Director of business development, Freeman Webb
Campaign website: powellfortennessee.com
Education: Bachelor’s from the University of Colorado, MBA from the University of Memphis, MPA from Tennessee State University
Political experience: District 53
representative
Bio: Powell has held the District 53 seat since 2012. He has a background in real estate and is a director at Freeman Webb, the company run by District 56 Rep. Bob Freeman. He was the Democratic floor leader for the 109th Tennessee General Assembly and has been the Democratic whip for the 111th and 112th General Assemblies. Powell sponsored legislation to prohibit corporal punishment in public schools (HB 1965).
Republican primary
Name: Yog Nepal
Age: Not available
Occupation: Owner, Titans Home Care
Campaign website: x.com/yog_nepal
Education: Master’s from Ashworth College
Political experience: Not available
Bio: According to a post on his social media, Nepal grew up a Bhutanese refugee camp in Nepal before relocating to the U.S. at age 20. He moved to Nashville in 2008 and has been the owner of Titans Home Care since 2021, though the business is currently listed as administratively dissolved by the Secretary of State’s office.
District 54
Democratic primary
Name: Vincent Dixie
Age: 50
Occupation: Small business owner, A Way Out Bonding and Bail U Out Bonding
Campaign website: dixie4tn.com
Education: Bachelor’s in accounting, MBA from Tennessee State University
Political experience: District 54
representative
Bio: Democrat Vincent Dixie has been serving in District 54 since 2018, focusing on health, education and justice reform. An alumnus of Metro Nashville Public Schools, Dixie went on to own Bail U Out Bonding and A Way Out Bonding, with offices in six Middle Tennessee counties. Dixie was previously an internal auditor for HCA and Ardent Health Services. He is an active member of St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He is running unopposed.
District 55
Democratic primary
Name: John Ray Clemmons
Age: 47
Occupation: Attorney
Campaign website: johnrayfortennessee.com
Education: Bachelor’s from Columbia University, JD from the University of Memphis
Political experience: District 55
representative
Bio: Clemmons has held the District 55 seat since 2015, when he upset incumbent Gary Odom. He served as the Democratic Caucus Chair in the 113th Tennessee General Assembly and sponsored legislation to exempt the sale of fruits and vegetables from the food retail sales tax (HB 409). Clemmons has three sons with his wife Tamara, and is a partner at the law firm Clemmons & Clemons in Nashville. He is running unopposed.
District 56
Democratic primary
Name: Bob Freeman
Age: 49
Occupation: President of Freeman Webb Company
Campaign website: votebobfreeman.com
Education: Bachelor’s from MTSU, master’s in sustainability from Lipscomb University
Political experience: District 56 representative, chairman of the board at Tennessee Environmental Council
Bio: Serving in District 56 since 2018, Freeman is the son of Bill Freeman, a noted real estate executive and fundraiser for both the Tennessee and national Democratic parties. Bill Freeman is also owner of FW Publishing, the Scene’s parent company. Before entering politics, Bob Freeman co-founded Freeman Applegate Partners, an energy consulting firm. He prioritizes education, infrastructure and bipartisanship.
Name: Nick Forster-Benson
Age: 21
Occupation: Student at Vanderbilt University
Campaign website: nick4nashville.com
Education: Studying economics and quantitative social science at Vanderbilt University
Political experience: Intern, Illinois 10th Congressional District Democrats; research assistant, Vanderbilt ROCCA lab; leader at Vandy Votes
Bio: Forster-Benson is a current student at Vanderbilt. A native Tennessean, he says his biggest priorities are tackling Tennessee’s housing, health care and hunger crises. He interned with the Tennessee Department of Treasury and the Federal Reserve.
Rep. Harold Love in January 2024
District 58
Democratic primary
Name: Harold Love Jr.
Age: 51
Occupation: Pastor of Lee Chapel AME Church
Campaign website: haroldlovejr.com
Education: Bachelor’s from Tennessee State University; master’s in theological studies from Vanderbilt University; Ph.D. in public policy from Tennessee State University
Political experience: District 58 representative; assistant minority leader, state House of Representatives; president-elect of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators
Bio: Love is unopposed for reelection to the District 58 seat. A 33rd degree mason, he is the youngest child of the late Rep. Harold M. Love Sr. and Mary Y. Love. In 1999, he was ordained by the A.M.E. Church and has served in an assortment of pastoral roles ever since. Love has served on several key committees, and his wife Leah Dupree Love is an attorney and owner of Dupree Consulting.
District 59
Democratic primary
Name: Caleb Hemmer
Age: 42
Occupation: Health care executive
Campaign website: calebhemmer.com
Education: Bachelor’s from University of Tennessee, MBA from Tennessee Tech University
Political experience: District 59
representative
Bio: Hemmer is unopposed for the District 59 seat. He works in health care at Longevity Health Plans. In the House, he has served on the Health Committee, the Population Health Subcommittee and the Insurance Committee and Subcommittee. Hemmer was an aide to former Gov. Phil Bredesen and was also an executive in the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. He served as commissioner on the Metro Fair Board for seven years.
District 60
Democratic primary
Tyler Brasher and Shaundelle Brooks face off in the House District 60 Democratic primary
Name: Tyler Brasher
Age: 34
Occupation: Director at Gibbins Advisors
Campaign website: tylerfortn.com
Education: Bachelor’s from University of Tennessee, Martin
Political experience: Member of Metro Nashville’s Participatory Budgeting Steering Committee, member of Metro Nashville’s Health and Educational Facilities Board, Hermitage Community Advisory Board
Bio: A ninth-generation Tennessean who moved to Nashville eight years ago, Brasher has worked in health care finance his entire career. Since moving to the city, he’s been active in a number of volunteer Metro boards and was named to the Health and Educational Facilities Board by Mayor Freddie O’Connell. He’s been endorsed by Nashville’s firefighters union, the Service Employees International Union, Moms Demand Action, Rep. Bo Mitchell and seven current Metro councilmembers.
Name: Shaundelle Brooks
Age: 54
Occupation: Probation/parole officer
Campaign website: brooksforstatehouse.com
Education: Bachelor’s from John Jay College (CUNY), master’s from Tennessee State University
Political experience: Independent gun reform advocate
Bio: Brooks was thrust into the spotlight after the loss of her son, Akilah Dasilva, in the 2018 Waffle House shooting. A parole officer by day, she’s been a vocal advocate for reforming gun control laws and has spoken out in favor of red-flag laws, expanded background checks, waiting periods and a ban on assault weapons. She’s been endorsed by Rep. Gloria Johnson, Rep. Vincent Dixie, the Equity Alliance, state Sen. Heidi Campbell, District Attorney Glenn Funk, and four current or former Metro councilmembers.
Republican primary
Name: Chad Bobo
Age: 48
Occupation: Benefits manager
Campaign website: chadbobo.com
Education: Bachelor’s from University of Mississippi, master’s from University of Phoenix
Political experience: Staff for Cameron Sexton
Bio: A former constituent services staffer for state House Speaker Cameron Sexton, Bobo grew up in Mississippi and came to Tennessee in 2015. Bobo says his top issues are jobs, education, transportation and family values. He’s been endorsed by both Gov. Bill Lee and the Nashville chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police.
Name: Christopher Huff
Age: 50
Occupation: FedEx driver
Campaign website: vote4huff.com
Education: Not available
Political experience: Not available
Bio: Born and raised in Hermitage, Huff calls himself a “proud pro-Second Amendment candidate” and lists the issue first on his campaign site while also emphasizing his faith. He was the 2022 Republican nominee, losing to Darren Jernigan by 20 percent. He has been endorsed by Tennessee Right to Life and believes life begins at conception.
Davidson County
4th Circuit Court
Name: Stephanie Williams
Age: 50
Occupation: Family law mediator, Thompson Burton
Campaign website: stephanie4judge.com
Education: Bachelor’s from Trevecca College, JD from University of Tennessee
Political experience: Special master, 4th Circuit Court (appointed)
Bio: Williams is running unopposed for Circuit Court judge. She worked as a special master in the 4th Circuit Court, the judgeship she is running for, for nine years. Williams worked as an attorney in Tennessee for about eight years and is currently a family law mediator and adjunct professor at MTSU and the Nashville School of Law. Williams has lived in Nashville for 35 years and raised her two children, now adults, as a single mother while commuting to Knoxville for law school.
Property Assessor
Name: Vivian Wilhoite
Age: 61
Campaign website: Not available
Education: Bachelor’s from Tennessee State University
Political experience: Metro Council, 2003-2011; candidate for mayor in 2023
Bio: Incumbent Vivian Wilhoite is a Democrat running unopposed for Nashville Property Assessor. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, she says her office prioritizes “appraising all taxable properties to achieve fair and equitable values.” Wilhoite is originally from Gulfport, Miss., and is married.
Metro Nashville Public Schools board
District 1
Name: Demytris Savage-Short
Age: 46
Occupation: LPN at Vanderbilt Medical Center
Campaign website:
Education: Degree from Tennessee College of Applied Technology
Political experience: Advocated for opt-out forms to be made available for students during COVID
Bio: Savage-Short is a Republican running for the District 1 school board seat on a platform of increased parental authority in children’s education. She is passionate about preserving Judeo-Christian values and focusing on “education rather than indoctrination.”
Name: Robert Taylor
Age: 46
Occupation: Instructor and program coordinator at Meharry Medical College
Campaign website: taylorforschools.com
Education: Bachelor’s from Fisk University, master’s from Bowie State
Political experience: Ran for same seat four years ago
Bio: Robert Taylor founded the New Life Center, a nonprofit “dedicated to strengthening families,” according to his website. He is also a church administrator at Word of Life Christian Center International. Taylor’s platform is built around what he calls “FAST” — family engagement, accountability, student focus and teacher support. He says he would like educators’ voices to play a more significant role in student discipline.
With early voting now open, see our coverage of state and federal primary matchups, the Nashville Banner’s extensive ballot guide and more
