Tennessee 9th District

Steve Cohen (D) is not running again. 4 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.

• 

  Justin Pearson

  Democrat · tennessee state representative, activist, democratic nominee

  F

  Liberty Score F

  50 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Pearson has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Pearson.

  Raised $4,009,058 since January 2025: 96% from people, 3% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov

  See each one, with its source
• 

  Brent Taylor

  Republican · tennessee state senator, funeral home owner, republican nominee

  A

  Liberty Score A

  100 out of 100 across 5 principles. Graded on what Taylor has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Taylor.

  Raised $2,832,273 since January 2025: 54% the candidate’s own money, 34% from people, 11% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov

  See each one, with its source

Higher on Liberty Score: Brent Taylor. Brent Taylor: A, 100 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count. Justin Pearson: F, 50 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.

Justin Pearson, on the record

I have no votes in Congress to count for Pearson, so the grade above comes from this list: what Pearson has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.

• October 8, 2025 · InterviewFree nations

  He says the Israeli government is committing genocide against the Palestinian people.

  “Netanyahu's government is committing genocide against the Palestinian people.”

  By the test I use for votes

  FAgainst liberty

  Calling Israel's war genocide is the against side of this measure.

  Source: The Nation, Why Justin Pearson Wants to Unseat a 10-Term Democratic Incumbent in CongressDiscuss this
• October 15, 2026 · StatementFree speech

  He announced a lawsuit against the Memphis City Council over its ban on him from council meetings, saying it violates First Amendment rights.

  “Today we are suing the Memphis City Council and Councilwoman Swearengen Washington in her official capacity as chairwoman of the city council for violating our First Amendment rights”

  By the test I use for votes

  AWith liberty

  Challenging a government ban on a speaker is the with side of the free speech measure.

  Source: WSMV, Justin Pearson files lawsuit after city council banDiscuss this
• October 2026 · His campaign siteFree markets

  His campaign site lists passing Medicare for All as a core issue.

  “Pass Medicare for All.”

  By the test I use for votes

  FAgainst liberty

  Government-run health care for all is against liberty on free markets.

  Source: Justin J. Pearson for U.S. Congress, IssuesDiscuss this
• February 12, 2026 · Vote in the state houseConscience

  In the state house he argued that religion in schools belongs in private schools and objected to public money for private religious schools.

  “If you want to have religion in schools, there are private schools that kids can go to”

  By the test I use for votes

  AWith liberty

  Opposing Ten Commandments displays in public schools by law is the with side of this measure.

  Source: Chalkbeat Tennessee, Tennessee House passes bill allowing Ten Commandments displays in schoolsDiscuss this
• November 14, 2025 · InterviewBorders

  In a television interview he says many people targeted by ICE are not committing crimes.

  “a number of people, particularly, who are being targeted by ICE, are not committing crimes.”

  By the test I use for votes

  ?Not clear either way

  He criticises how ICE is used but names no policy, so the words do not settle a side.

  Source: WKNO Behind the Headlines, Tennessee State Representative Justin J. PearsonDiscuss this

Brent Taylor, on the record

I have no votes in Congress to count for Taylor, so the grade above comes from this list: what Taylor has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.

• August 21, 2026 · InterviewTyranny

  He says he wants the war in Iran taken to completion.

  “i would like to see the war in iran, i would like to see him get that to completion.”

  By the test I use for votes

  AWith liberty

  Backing American action against the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme is the with side of this measure.

  Source: WKNO Behind the Headlines, US House Candidate Brent TaylorDiscuss this
• August 21, 2026 · InterviewTyranny

  He says Iran must not be allowed a nuclear weapon, whatever the cost.

  “whatever the cost is, to ensure that they don't have a nuclear weapon will be far less than if they have a nuclear weapon”

  By the test I use for votes

  AWith liberty

  Pursuing an end to the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme whatever the cost is the with side of this measure.

  Source: WKNO Behind the Headlines, US House Candidate Brent TaylorDiscuss this
• October 2026 · His campaign siteFree markets

  His site says he will cut federal spending and slash burdensome regulations.

  “cutting reckless federal spending, slashing burdensome regulations, and delivering real economic relief”

  By the test I use for votes

  AWith liberty

  Less regulation and less spending is with liberty on free markets.

  Source: Brent Taylor for Tennessee, IssuesDiscuss this
• October 2026 · His campaign siteEqual rights

  His site lists eliminating DEI mandates among his priorities.

  “eliminating DEI mandates, and defending parental rights and traditional values.”

  By the test I use for votes

  AWith liberty

  Ending DEI mandates is the with side of this measure.

  Source: Brent Taylor for Tennessee, IssuesDiscuss this
• October 2026 · His campaign siteDefense

  His site says he will rebuild military readiness, modernize the forces and strengthen the defence industrial base.

  “rebuilding military readiness, modernizing our forces, removing woke ideology from training, strengthening our defense industrial base”

  By the test I use for votes

  AWith liberty

  Funding and equipping the armed forces is the with side of this measure.

  Source: Brent Taylor for Tennessee, IssuesDiscuss this
• August 21, 2026 · InterviewBorders

  He says illegal immigrants need to go back where they came from.

  “the illegal immigrants need to go back to where they came from.”

  By the test I use for votes

  AWith liberty

  Deporting those here illegally is the with side of this measure.

  Source: WKNO Behind the Headlines, US House Candidate Brent TaylorDiscuss this
• October 2026 · His campaign siteBorders

  His site says he will fight to finish the border wall, restore enforcement, deport criminal illegal immigrants and end sanctuary policies.

  “fight to finish the border wall, restore strong enforcement, deport criminal illegal immigrants, end sanctuary policies”

  By the test I use for votes

  AWith liberty

  A wall, enforcement, deportation and ending sanctuary policies are the with side of this measure.

  Source: Brent Taylor for Tennessee, IssuesDiscuss this

Also on the ballot

Dennis Clark (Independent), Michelle Head (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.