TN 2026 Ballot Guide

Races · Tennessee House of Representatives

Tennessee House, District 13

2 candidates on the ballot · Last verified October 13, 2026 · Official candidate list

Candidates

Party is shown as printed on the official ballot. Candidates are listed in the order of the Secretary of State's certified candidate list.

Compare platforms

Each cell paraphrases what the candidate says they will do, from their own campaign materials, questionnaires, or interviews. Rows are shared issue categories; only categories at least one candidate addressed are shown.

IssueRobert Stevens
Republican		Brett Windrow
Democratic
Taxes & spendingReduce the sales tax on groceries, cap how much local governments can raise property taxes without a public referendum, and limit growth in the state budget.[1]Repeal the grocery tax, oppose new tax breaks for corporations, and change the tax structure to benefit working people.[2] [3] [4]
Cost of living & housingNo stated positionEncourage more dense housing in Nashville, partner with developers on homes under $250,000, and stop converting farms and green space into subdivisions.[2] [3]
EducationSponsored a 2024 law requiring school safety training for substitute teachers and barring districts from hiring substitutes whose license was revoked in another state.[1] [5]Repeal the voucher program and redirect the money to public schools; hire more teachers, raise pay, lower class sizes, and use proven interventions like free breakfast.[2] [3]
Health careNo stated positionExpand TennCare to workers without employer plans, let TennCare offer low-cost plans on the private market, open more hospitals, protect access to contraception and IVF, and require workplace accommodations for pregnant women.[2]
Public safety & justiceSupports severe punishments, including lengthy prison sentences, for violent offenders; sponsored the 2026 James Bardsley, Jr. Life Protection Act setting a minimum one-year sentence, served in full, for qualifying fatal hit-and-run cases.[1] [6]Increase funding for investigators focused on violent offenses and support at-risk youth to reduce violence long-term.[2]
ImmigrationHas co-sponsored and supported bills to crack down on illegal immigration in Tennessee and says public resources should prioritize citizens.[1]No stated position
Infrastructure & energyNo stated positionFund infrastructure for growth, support overburdened local governments, add transit options into Nashville to ease the load on I-24, oppose toll roads, and keep Nashville's trash out of Rutherford County.[2] [3]
FirearmsKeep Second Amendment protections as they are and oppose efforts to reduce the right to bear arms.[1]Honor the right to carry responsibly, with reasonable regulations.[2]
AbortionBelieves life begins at conception; supports legal protection for the unborn and promoting adoption.[1]No stated position
Government & electionsSponsored a 2025 law requiring the state to recertify county and city populations each year between censuses, so fast-growing places like Rutherford County receive state-shared revenue based on current population.[1] [7]Let Tennesseans vote directly on major issues and let counties vote on legal or medical marijuana.[2]

Robert StevensRepublican · incumbent

Smyrna · Campaign website

Facts

  • State representative for District 13 since being elected in 2022; member of the House Education, Transportation, and Private Acts committees and the Higher Education Subcommittee.[1] [8] [9]
  • Member of the Rutherford County Commission from 2010 to 2022.[1] [4] [8]
  • Attorney practicing estate planning, trusts, and probate; also runs a small travel business.[1] [8]
  • B.A. in political science from Lipscomb University (2006) and J.D. from the University of Memphis (2009).[8] [9]
  • Past president of the Rotary Club of Smyrna; former trustee of the Motlow College Foundation.[1] [8]

Why they're running

No stated reason found (checked October 13, 2026).

Platform

Taxes & spending
Reduce the sales tax on groceries, cap how much local governments can raise property taxes without a public referendum, and limit growth in the state budget.[1]
Education
Sponsored a 2024 law requiring school safety training for substitute teachers and barring districts from hiring substitutes whose license was revoked in another state.[1] [5]
Public safety & justice
Supports severe punishments, including lengthy prison sentences, for violent offenders; sponsored the 2026 James Bardsley, Jr. Life Protection Act setting a minimum one-year sentence, served in full, for qualifying fatal hit-and-run cases.[1] [6]
Immigration
Has co-sponsored and supported bills to crack down on illegal immigration in Tennessee and says public resources should prioritize citizens.[1]
Firearms
Keep Second Amendment protections as they are and oppose efforts to reduce the right to bear arms.[1]
Abortion
Believes life begins at conception; supports legal protection for the unborn and promoting adoption.[1]
Government & elections
Sponsored a 2025 law requiring the state to recertify county and city populations each year between censuses, so fast-growing places like Rutherford County receive state-shared revenue based on current population.[1] [7]

Arguments

Arguments for

  • He has had perfect attendance in the State House and never missed a full County Commission meeting.[1]
  • His state-shared revenue law brings millions of new dollars into Rutherford County each year with no new taxes, easing the pressure to raise local property taxes.[1] [7]

Arguments against

No published arguments found (checked October 13, 2026).

Brett WindrowDemocratic

Lavergne · Campaign website

Facts

  • Attorney; member of the La Vergne Board of Zoning Appeals.[2] [4]
  • Member of the Rutherford-Cannon Bar Association and the Nashville Bar Association.[2] [4]
  • Bachelor's degree from Tennessee Technological University (2017) and law degree from Belmont University College of Law (2020).[3]

Why they're running

He says he is running because Rutherford County can do better and residents deserve better. He says he has seen firsthand how the legislature's refusal to govern is harming Tennesseans, with Rutherford County on the front line, and he is fighting to improve roads and infrastructure, save public schools, and reduce the cost of housing and living.[2] [3]

Platform

Taxes & spending
Repeal the grocery tax, oppose new tax breaks for corporations, and change the tax structure to benefit working people.[2] [3] [4]
Cost of living & housing
Encourage more dense housing in Nashville, partner with developers on homes under $250,000, and stop converting farms and green space into subdivisions.[2] [3]
Education
Repeal the voucher program and redirect the money to public schools; hire more teachers, raise pay, lower class sizes, and use proven interventions like free breakfast.[2] [3]
Health care
Expand TennCare to workers without employer plans, let TennCare offer low-cost plans on the private market, open more hospitals, protect access to contraception and IVF, and require workplace accommodations for pregnant women.[2]
Public safety & justice
Increase funding for investigators focused on violent offenses and support at-risk youth to reduce violence long-term.[2]
Infrastructure & energy
Fund infrastructure for growth, support overburdened local governments, add transit options into Nashville to ease the load on I-24, oppose toll roads, and keep Nashville's trash out of Rutherford County.[2] [3]
Firearms
Honor the right to carry responsibly, with reasonable regulations.[2]
Government & elections
Let Tennesseans vote directly on major issues and let counties vote on legal or medical marijuana.[2]

Arguments

Arguments for

  • He once quit a job at a collection agency rather than take part in predatory practices, and as an attorney he has represented people down on their luck and would do the same for the community.[2]
  • Repealing the voucher program and sending that money to overloaded public schools, along with more transit options, would address the strain that fast growth puts on the county.[2] [3]

Arguments against

No published arguments found (checked October 13, 2026).

Sources (9)

Listed in numeric order. Numbers match the markers in the text above.

  1. Robert Stevens, Tennessee House District 13 (Stevens campaign) — voterobertstevens.com, accessed October 13, 2026
  2. Win with Windrow, Candidate for Tennessee State House 13 (Windrow campaign) — winwithwindrow.com, accessed October 13, 2026
  3. Brett Windrow (Ballotpedia, incl. Candidate Connection survey) — ballotpedia.org, accessed October 13, 2026
  4. Tennessee House of Representatives, 13th District voter guide (Tennessee Lookout) — tennesseelookout.com, accessed October 13, 2026
  5. HB2464 bill information (Tennessee General Assembly) — wapp.capitol.tn.gov, accessed October 13, 2026
  6. HB1967 bill information (Tennessee General Assembly) — wapp.capitol.tn.gov, accessed October 13, 2026
  7. HB0780 bill information (Tennessee General Assembly) — wapp.capitol.tn.gov, accessed October 13, 2026
  8. Representative Robert Stevens (Tennessee General Assembly) — wapp.capitol.tn.gov, accessed October 13, 2026
  9. Robert Stevens (Ballotpedia) — ballotpedia.org, accessed October 13, 2026