Tennessee 6th District
John Rose (R) gave up the seat to run for governor. 4 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.DiscussMike Croley
Democrat · navy veteran, former park ranger and federal fellow
FLiberty Score F45 out of 100 across 5 principles. Graded on what Croley has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Croley.
Raised $117,168 since January 2025: 94% from people, 5% from PACs and other committees, 1% from the party. The filing at FEC.gov
Johnny Garrett
Republican · state representative and House majority whip
ALiberty Score A100 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Garrett has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Garrett.
Raised $3,000,586 since January 2025: 45% from people, 42% the candidate’s own money, 11% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Johnny Garrett. Johnny Garrett: A, 100 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count. Mike Croley: F, 45 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count.
Voting in Tennessee: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Mike Croley, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Croley, so the grade above comes from this list: what Croley has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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Condemned the American bombing of Iran and said talks in Geneva should have been chosen over strikes.
“real strength is the courage to choose diplomacy when the easy path is violence.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Criticising the strikes on the regime and calling for a diplomatic route instead is opposing action against Iran.
-
Questioned sending military aid to Israel while Tennessee hospitals lose funding, without saying whether the aid should stop.
“we are funding a war for a country that guarantees healthcare to its citizens while we are cutting healthcare for our own.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
He frames the spending as a question of priorities but names no cut or condition, so it does not settle the measure.
-
Wrote that the First Amendment means the government cannot punish people for their lawful speech or beliefs.
“the government cannot punish people simply because it dislikes their lawful speech, political beliefs, religious practices, or associations.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing government punishment of lawful speech is the with side of the free speech measure.
-
Listed taxing the wealthy and closing tax loopholes among the steps he wants to lower prices.
“tax the rich fairly and close tax loopholes.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Higher taxes on the wealthy is against liberty on free markets.
-
States on his FAQ page that he believes in ending broad tariffs.
“mike believes in ending broad tariffs”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing broad tariffs is with liberty on free markets.
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Wrote that First Amendment freedoms belong equally to Christians, members of other faiths and people with no religious affiliation.
“those protections do not belong exclusively to republicans, democrats, conservatives, liberals, christians, members of another faith, or people with no religious affiliation.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
The same freedom for believers and non-believers is with liberty on conscience.
-
Called for dramatically reducing funding for the Department of Homeland Security and ICE.
“dramatically scale back funding for dhs and ice to make sure reforms can't be sidestepped”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Cutting back funding for ICE is opposing the agency that enforces deportations.
Johnny Garrett, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Garrett, so the grade above comes from this list: what Garrett has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
Says the United States has a moral obligation to protect Israel.
“the united states has a moral obligation to protect israel and protecting israel protects our interests in the middle east.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Treating Israel as an ally and backing its defence is with liberty on free nations.
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Says that in Congress he will make sure Israel has every available resource to defend itself.
“in congress, johnny will work with president trump to ensure israel has every available resource to defend itself against radical islamic terrorists.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing weapons and resources for Israel is with liberty on free nations.
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Says he will fight to make the 2017 tax cuts permanent and expand them.
“he will always fight to lower taxes and ensure that president trump's 2017 tax cuts are not only permanent, but also expand them further”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A named tax cut is with liberty on free markets.
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Says that as a state representative he passed legislation banning men from competing in women's sports.
“as state representative, johnny passed legislation banning men from competing in women's sports”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping women's sport female is with liberty on equal rights.
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Says a physical border wall is necessary to keep the border secure.
“johnny believes that a physical border wall is a necessity to keep our border secure for years to come.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A border wall is with liberty on borders.
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Says he created a state border czar in the Tennessee House to work with ICE to deport illegal immigrants from the state.
“johnny took action in the tennessee house to implement a state border czar who will work hand in glove with ice to deport all illegal aliens from the volunteer state.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Working with ICE to deport people here illegally is with liberty on borders.
Also on the ballot
Christopher Monday (Independent), Angus Purdy (Independent).
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
Who should win this race, and why?
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Discussion
Tennessee 6th District
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