Who's running in Tennessee's 4th congressional district
4 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
4 candidates · ballot order · Scott DesJarlais currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Enforcing fiscal discipline in Washington.
Strengthening the economy.
Ending the flow of illegal immigration.
Opposition to abortion access in his voting record.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for Tennessee's 4th District since January 2011.
Physician; fined and reprimanded in 2013 by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners for sexual relationships with patients before his election.
In 2012 a taped phone call surfaced appearing to show him pressuring a mistress to have an abortion, despite his votes against abortion access.
Voted to object to certifying the 2020 presidential election results; voted against establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
Passed legislation allowing military personnel to carry firearms at recruiting stations.
Won the August 6, 2026 Republican primary with 65.9%.
Raised $536,843 this cycle through July 17, 2026, with $495,126 on hand.
Arguments in favor
He has 'a proven track record of fighting for policies that will enforce fiscal discipline in Washington, strengthen our nation's economy, and end the flow of illegal immigration'.
— Scott DesJarlais campaign site
Republican primary voters returned him by a wide margin over three military-veteran challengers, and leftover funds from earlier campaigns give him a clear financial advantage for November.
— Nashville Banner and WPLN reporting on the primary
Arguments against
A self-described pro-life congressman, he was shown by a taped call to have pressured a mistress — one of his patients — to have an abortion, and was later reprimanded by the state medical board for sexual relationships with patients.
— Nashville Banner and WPLN reporting
He voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and against making Juneteenth a national holiday.
— WPLN reporting
What we couldn’t verify
No DCCC material naming DesJarlais in 2026 could be found; the district is not on the committee's target list.
No direct criticism of DesJarlais by Victoria Broderick in the general election campaign could be found.
Whether he will debate Broderick had not been reported.
Reproductive rights, which she says first moved her to get involved in politics after Roe v. Wade was overturned.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Works in the tech industry; lives in Fayetteville, Lincoln County.
Democratic nominee for this seat in 2024, losing by more than 40 points.
Won the August 6, 2026 Democratic primary with 37.9%, defeating Metro Councilmember Mike Cortese, who raised more than $741,000.
Raised $42,165 through July 17, 2026, with $3,943 on hand.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
She beat a Nashville councilmember who out-raised the entire primary field, winning the nomination on votes from across the district's rural counties despite a nearly $700,000 fundraising gap.
— WPLN and Nashville Banner reporting on the primary
Arguments against
She lost this seat by more than 40 points in 2024 and had under $4,000 on hand in July, against an incumbent entering the fall with a clear financial advantage.
— Nashville Banner; Federal Election Commission filings
What we couldn’t verify
Her detailed policy positions could not be established: her campaign site returned no readable content and no questionnaire answers could be read.
No published criticism of Broderick by name could be found — not from DesJarlais's campaign, the NRCC, or coverage in the Nashville Banner, WPLN or NewsChannel 5.
Whether she will debate DesJarlais had not been reported.
Former Nissan plant worker; graduate of Trevecca Nazarene University (2013).
Listed by Ballotpedia as an independent on the November 3, 2026 ballot for this seat.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
His 2026 positions could not be established: no campaign website or news coverage of this campaign could be found.
He does not appear in NewsChannel 5's candidate guide, which may predate the final filing deadline under the new map; his ballot status rests on Ballotpedia and Wikipedia.
No published argument for or against his candidacy by any named party, group or outlet could be found.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Tennessee held its primaries on August 6, 2026, under a new congressional map signed May 7, 2026. The redrawn 4th District now includes a corner of Southeast Nashville, most of Rutherford County, and nine counties to the southeast including Tullahoma and Manchester. Four candidates are on the November ballot: Republican incumbent Scott DesJarlais, who won his primary with 65.9% over Tom Davis, Harold 'Rocky' Jones and Rutherford County Commissioner Joshua James; Democrat Victoria Broderick, who won a five-way primary with 37.9% despite being heavily out-raised by Metro Councilmember Mike Cortese; and independents Jacob Anders and Clay Faircloth. Anders was disqualified from the Democratic primary and qualified as an independent. NewsChannel 5's candidate guide lists Anders; Wikipedia and Ballotpedia list both Anders and Faircloth, and Ballotpedia states that Faircloth is on the ballot. Tennessee's Secretary of State site blocked automated access. Candidate order here is Republican, Democrat, then independents alphabetically; that is an assumption, not the verified ballot order. Broderick lost to DesJarlais by more than 40 points in 2024 under slightly different lines. Forecasters rate the seat safe Republican.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Tennessee ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Tennessee Secretary of State.