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.
Issue
Bo Watson Republican
Tim Roberts Democratic
Economy & jobs
Keep Tennessee's economy strong, support families and small businesses, and expand job opportunities.[1]
No stated position
Taxes & spending
Reduce taxes and keep the state's tradition of balanced budgets, with responsible spending overseen through the Senate finance committee.[1][2][3]
Expand educational opportunity and early childhood education; points to his role passing the TISA student-based school funding formula and his literacy summit.[1][2][3]
Repeal the school voucher program and provide free school lunch for all children.[4]
Health care
Expanded presumptive cancer coverage for firefighters, helped pass Tennessee's Right to Try law, and modernized physical therapy laws to ease patient access.[3]
Keep communities safe; passed a law allowing injured police K-9s to receive emergency medical care and transport, and supports volunteer first responders.[1][2][3]
Ban for-profit prisons and legalize medical and recreational marijuana.[4]
Immigration
Combat illegal immigration; sponsored SB 836, which would require students to document citizenship or lawful immigration status to enroll and let districts charge tuition to, or decline to enroll, students who cannot. It passed the Senate in 2025 and the House in amended form in 2026 but was not enacted. He says it is about ensuring districts can afford to educate children who are lawfully present.[1][5][6][7]
No stated position
Infrastructure & energy
Invest in roads and bridges, including funding to rebuild the I-24/I-75 interchange; ended vehicle emissions testing in Hamilton County.[2][3]
Repair crumbling infrastructure and ban AI data centers.[4]
Member of the Tennessee Senate for District 11 since 2006 (105th through 114th General Assemblies); earlier served one term in the state House (104th General Assembly).[8][9]
Chair of the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee since 2017 and chair of the Senate Rules Committee.[8][10]
Speaker Pro Tempore of the Senate in the 108th and 109th General Assemblies.[8]
Physical therapist for more than 30 years; Director of Sports Medicine and Therapy Services at Parkridge Medical Center in Chattanooga.[8][10]
B.A. in biology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga; physical therapy degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis.[8][10]
Why they're running
Announcing his re-election bid, he said he remains committed to keeping Tennessee a national leader in economic growth, fiscal stewardship, and quality of life, and that he believes in results-driven, transparent leadership that reflects the community's values. He said he is eager to continue that work in the next term.[1]
Platform
Economy & jobs
Keep Tennessee's economy strong, support families and small businesses, and expand job opportunities.[1]
Taxes & spending
Reduce taxes and keep the state's tradition of balanced budgets, with responsible spending overseen through the Senate finance committee.[1][2][3]
Education
Expand educational opportunity and early childhood education; points to his role passing the TISA student-based school funding formula and his literacy summit.[1][2][3]
Health care
Expanded presumptive cancer coverage for firefighters, helped pass Tennessee's Right to Try law, and modernized physical therapy laws to ease patient access.[3]
Public safety & justice
Keep communities safe; passed a law allowing injured police K-9s to receive emergency medical care and transport, and supports volunteer first responders.[1][2][3]
Immigration
Combat illegal immigration; sponsored SB 836, which would require students to document citizenship or lawful immigration status to enroll and let districts charge tuition to, or decline to enroll, students who cannot. It passed the Senate in 2025 and the House in amended form in 2026 but was not enacted. He says it is about ensuring districts can afford to educate children who are lawfully present.[1][5][6][7]
Infrastructure & energy
Invest in roads and bridges, including funding to rebuild the I-24/I-75 interchange; ended vehicle emissions testing in Hamilton County.[2][3]
Arguments
Arguments for
As chair of the Senate finance committee, he has helped keep the state fiscally strong by holding the line on spending and cutting taxes when possible.[10][11]
He is accessible and active in the community, listening to constituents and helping them navigate government.[11]
He has delivered for the district, securing money to rebuild the congested I-24/I-75 interchange, ending emissions testing in Hamilton County, and expanding cancer coverage for firefighters.[3]
Arguments against
His bill letting schools refuse to enroll children who cannot document legal status unless they pay tuition conflicts with educators' ethical duties and could jeopardize federal education funding, while no data shows how many English learners are undocumented.[5][7]
Ran unsuccessfully in a 2022 primary for Tennessee House District 26.[12]
Why they're running
He says he wants to help others because he has lived the struggles many residents face, including growing up poor on food stamps and free school lunch and dealing with medical debt and insurance companies. He pledges to fight for personal freedoms, treat all residents with fairness, and always put people's needs ahead of party politics.[4][13]
Having grown up poor and dealt with medical debt, he has lived the struggles many residents face and says he wants to help others rather than grow his own wealth.[13]
He pledges to put the community's needs ahead of party politics.[4]
Arguments against
No published arguments found (checked October 13, 2026).
Sources (13)
Listed in numeric order. Numbers match the markers in the text above.