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
David Kustoff Republican
Heidi Kuhn Democratic
Pamela Jeanine "P." Moses Independent
Horace Taylor Independent
Economy & jobs
No stated position
Raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $17 by 2030, strengthen union bargaining rights, and protect Social Security from cuts and privatization.[1][2]
No stated position
No stated position
Taxes & spending
Cut taxes, strengthen U.S. trade agreements, and advance pro-growth policies for workers, families, farms, and small businesses.[3]
No stated position
No stated position
No stated position
Cost of living & housing
No stated position
Expand the Child Tax Credit and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, confront investors buying up housing, and lower utility bills by cracking down on energy price gouging.[1]
No stated position
No stated position
Education
No stated position
Oppose taxpayer-funded private school vouchers and raise teacher pay.[2]
No stated position
No stated position
Health care
Expand access to care, especially in rural areas, through market-based reforms and fixes to Medicare payment formulas that strain rural hospitals.[4]
Cap out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, reverse Medicare and Medicaid cuts, and fund rural health care to stop hospital closures.[1][5]
Support universal health care access and expand mental health services, especially in underserved communities.[6]
Protect rural hospitals, lower prescription drug costs, expand cancer screening and treatment, and protect Medicare and Medicaid from cuts.[7]
Public safety & justice
Give law enforcement the support and resources it needs, and restore tougher federal penalties for violent repeat offenders.[8]
No stated position
Pursue criminal justice reform, including workforce programs for formerly incarcerated people and diverting people with mental health and substance use disorders into treatment.[6]
No stated position
Immigration
Secure the border to deter threats, prevent crime, and keep dangerous drugs out of communities.[9]
Enforce immigration law with due process and without racial profiling, and seek independent review and transparency of local enforcement and detention operations.[1][2]
No stated position
No stated position
Infrastructure & energy
No stated position
Pause new data centers until communities have a say, and require developers to cover grid upgrades, create local jobs, and protect water.[1][2]
No stated position
No stated position
Environment & land
No stated position
No stated position
Reduce carbon emissions through green energy and a high-speed rail line.[6]
No stated position
Firearms
Protect and defend the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.[10]
No stated position
Impose stricter regulation of gun manufacturing and sales, including a moratorium on bullets and gun manufacturers.[6]
No stated position
Abortion
Holds that life begins at conception and backs policies that protect unborn children.[11]
No stated position
No stated position
No stated position
Government & elections
No stated position
Restore federal preclearance of election-law changes, oppose proof-of-citizenship rules for voter registration, and restore voting rights automatically after release from prison.[2]
No stated position
Hold regular town halls in every county and publish explanations for his votes.[7]
Agriculture & rural
Advocate for farmers and producers, including a proposed federal tax credit for businesses that buy more U.S.-grown agricultural commodities.[12]
Oppose tariffs on farm equipment and fertilizer, challenge equipment-repair monopolies, expand rural high-speed internet, and seek a stronger safety net for small farmers.[1]
Eliminate food deserts by supporting farmers' markets in underserved areas and local farmers.[6]
Seek immediate tariff relief for West Tennessee farms, restore stable export markets, and protect generational family farms.[7]
Military & veterans
Hold the Department of Veterans Affairs to the highest standard so veterans get the support and care they need.[13]
No stated position
No stated position
Fully fund VA health care and benefits, reduce VA wait times, and expand mental health services.[7]
No published platform found (checked October 13, 2026) for: Adam D. Austill, Wendell "Wells" Blankenship, Antonio Futch, Henry J. Ward, III.
U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 8th District since 2017; elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024.[14]
Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, including its Tax and Health subcommittees.[14]
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, appointed in 2006; oversaw most of the Tennessee Waltz public-corruption trials.[14][15]
Appointed to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission in 2015.[14]
The 8th District was redrawn in a May 2026 special session and now includes the largest share of Shelby County.[15][16]
Why they're running
He says he is proud to keep working with the current president, and that, drawing on his experience as U.S. Attorney, he wants to work together to keep the community safe, secure, and prosperous.[17][18]
Platform
Taxes & spending
Cut taxes, strengthen U.S. trade agreements, and advance pro-growth policies for workers, families, farms, and small businesses.[3]
Health care
Expand access to care, especially in rural areas, through market-based reforms and fixes to Medicare payment formulas that strain rural hospitals.[4]
Public safety & justice
Give law enforcement the support and resources it needs, and restore tougher federal penalties for violent repeat offenders.[8]
Immigration
Secure the border to deter threats, prevent crime, and keep dangerous drugs out of communities.[9]
Firearms
Protect and defend the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.[10]
Abortion
Holds that life begins at conception and backs policies that protect unborn children.[11]
Agriculture & rural
Advocate for farmers and producers, including a proposed federal tax credit for businesses that buy more U.S.-grown agricultural commodities.[12]
Military & veterans
Hold the Department of Veterans Affairs to the highest standard so veterans get the support and care they need.[13]
Arguments
Arguments for
He has passed legislation into law, including a measure giving tax-filing relief to people hit by natural disasters.[3]
His seat on the tax-writing committee lets him push for lower taxes, stronger trade deals, and policies that help West Tennessee workers, farms, and small businesses.[3][14]
His experience as a former federal prosecutor gives him the judgment to uphold the Constitution and keep law and order.[14][17]
Arguments against
In nearly ten years in Congress, only five of his bills have become law, so the district needs a change.[19]
He has supported tariffs that are driving up costs for working families, and a farm bill that does nothing about rising costs, market swings, and shrinking margins for farmers.[1]
He has repeatedly voted to continue the war in Iran, which has hit fertilizer and fuel costs hard.[1]
He backed cuts to food assistance that thousands of working Tennesseans rely on, and four rural hospitals in West Tennessee have closed since he went to Washington.[1]
Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk since 2018; re-elected in 2022 and did not seek another term.[2][16]
Worked in Shelby County government since 2000, including as executive director of the Crime Victims Center and deputy director of Community Services.[15]
Ran for Shelby County mayor in 2026 and lost the May Democratic primary.[2][16]
Won the August 6, 2026 Democratic primary for this seat with about 52% of the vote.[2]
Why they're running
She says voters are tired of high prices for gas and groceries and want change, and that she would put their concerns first rather than special interests, personal gain, or the president. She says she will make decisions based on what West Tennesseans need, talking with them rather than at them.[2][20]
Platform
Economy & jobs
Raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $17 by 2030, strengthen union bargaining rights, and protect Social Security from cuts and privatization.[1][2]
Cost of living & housing
Expand the Child Tax Credit and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, confront investors buying up housing, and lower utility bills by cracking down on energy price gouging.[1]
Education
Oppose taxpayer-funded private school vouchers and raise teacher pay.[2]
Health care
Cap out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, reverse Medicare and Medicaid cuts, and fund rural health care to stop hospital closures.[1][5]
Immigration
Enforce immigration law with due process and without racial profiling, and seek independent review and transparency of local enforcement and detention operations.[1][2]
Infrastructure & energy
Pause new data centers until communities have a say, and require developers to cover grid upgrades, create local jobs, and protect water.[1][2]
Government & elections
Restore federal preclearance of election-law changes, oppose proof-of-citizenship rules for voter registration, and restore voting rights automatically after release from prison.[2]
Agriculture & rural
Oppose tariffs on farm equipment and fertilizer, challenge equipment-repair monopolies, expand rural high-speed internet, and seek a stronger safety net for small farmers.[1]
Arguments
Arguments for
More than 26 years in county government, including running the criminal court clerk's office, show a record of modernizing government and removing barriers for residents.[15][21]
She would put working families' concerns ahead of special interests, personal gain, or loyalty to the president.[20]
As clerk she expanded access to expungements, with her office processing nearly 10,000 that helped people rebuild their lives.[2][21]
Arguments against
No published arguments found (checked October 13, 2026).
Adam D. AustillIndependent
Covington
Why they're running
No stated reason found (checked October 13, 2026).
Platform
No published platform found (checked October 13, 2026).
Arguments
Arguments for
No published arguments found (checked October 13, 2026).
Arguments against
No published arguments found (checked October 13, 2026).
Wendell "Wells" BlankenshipIndependent
Memphis
Why they're running
No stated reason found (checked October 13, 2026).
Platform
No published platform found (checked October 13, 2026).
Arguments
Arguments for
No published arguments found (checked October 13, 2026).
Arguments against
No published arguments found (checked October 13, 2026).
U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served as a sergeant.[22]
Holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Christian Brothers University; licensed educator and business consultant.[22][23]
Why they're running
He says his decision grew out of years of work with young people, families, entrepreneurs, veterans, educators, and community leaders, and that running for Congress is a chance to learn, listen, serve, and bring more people into the conversation.[24]
Platform
No published platform found (checked October 13, 2026).
Arguments
Arguments for
No published arguments found (checked October 13, 2026).
Arguments against
No published arguments found (checked October 13, 2026).
Former ex-officio District 7 chair on the Shelby County Democratic Executive Committee.[25]
Holds a master's degree in intercultural studies from Union University.[25]
Why they're running
Her campaign says she is running to become the first Black congresswoman from Tennessee and the first justice-impacted person elected to federal office from the state, and describes her as an advocate for voting rights and for marginalized communities.[25]
Platform
Health care
Support universal health care access and expand mental health services, especially in underserved communities.[6]
Public safety & justice
Pursue criminal justice reform, including workforce programs for formerly incarcerated people and diverting people with mental health and substance use disorders into treatment.[6]
Environment & land
Reduce carbon emissions through green energy and a high-speed rail line.[6]
Firearms
Impose stricter regulation of gun manufacturing and sales, including a moratorium on bullets and gun manufacturers.[6]
Agriculture & rural
Eliminate food deserts by supporting farmers' markets in underserved areas and local farmers.[6]
Arguments
Arguments for
No published arguments found (checked October 13, 2026).
Arguments against
No published arguments found (checked October 13, 2026).
Retired U.S. Army officer (major) with 27 years in uniform.[7][15]
Cybersecurity professional and founder of Germantown Small Engine Repair, LLC.[15][26][27]
Why they're running
He says he is not a career politician but a West Tennessean who has lived the issues that matter to the district, and that he is running for its farmers, families, and veterans without answering to a party. He says he wants to restore civility, humility, and respect to public service.[7][26]
Platform
Health care
Protect rural hospitals, lower prescription drug costs, expand cancer screening and treatment, and protect Medicare and Medicaid from cuts.[7]
Government & elections
Hold regular town halls in every county and publish explanations for his votes.[7]
Agriculture & rural
Seek immediate tariff relief for West Tennessee farms, restore stable export markets, and protect generational family farms.[7]
Military & veterans
Fully fund VA health care and benefits, reduce VA wait times, and expand mental health services.[7]
Arguments
Arguments for
Without party loyalty to answer to, he would vote the district's interests and explain each vote publicly.[7][26]
Arguments against
No published arguments found (checked October 13, 2026).
Henry J. Ward, IIIIndependent
Millington
Why they're running
No stated reason found (checked October 13, 2026).
Platform
No published platform found (checked October 13, 2026).
Arguments
Arguments for
No published arguments found (checked October 13, 2026).
Arguments against
No published arguments found (checked October 13, 2026).
Sources (27)
Listed in numeric order. Numbers match the markers in the text above.