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Early voting begins Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024.

Whether you’re brushing up before casting an absentee ballot or waiting in line at the polls on Election Day, WPLN has your guide to who’s on the ballot and what they stand for.

Read all of WPLN’s election coverage here.

United States Senate

Statewide

Marsha Blackburn (R) – Incumbent

Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Williamson County has represented Tennesseans in Washington since 2003. She made history in 2019 as the first woman to serve as a U.S. senator for the state, after more than a decade as a Tennessee U.S. congresswoman.

Blackburn received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump after being considered as a possible vice-presidential pick for the Republican ticket.

Blackburn sponsored the Kids Online Safety Act, a bipartisan effort to regulate internet use for children. Blackburn has championed defense spending, support for Israel and border security, but earlier this year, voted against earmarking billions of dollars on border security.

Blackburn has opposed gun reform, abortion and transgender athletes in sports. This year, she voted against protecting fertility treatments like invitro fertilization, or IVF, and a spending bill that had earmarked funds for the Federal Emergency Management Agency ahead of Hurricane Helene. She has said that she supports hurricane relief, but not a “reckless spending spree.”

Gloria Johnson (D)

A former special education teacher, Tennessee Rep. Gloria Johnson has served in the statehouse for two years. A member of the so-called “Tennessee Three,” she gained national attention in 2023 when she and her fellow Democratic representatives staged a gun reform protest on the House floor in response to the Covenant School shooting. The House voted to expel two of Johnson’s Black colleagues who took part, but did not expel Johnson.

Johnson is a proponent of gun reform, affordable housing and abortion rights. She’s advocated for an increase in public school funding and lower prescription drug costs.

Johnson is also running to maintain her seat in the statehouse, representing Knoxville.

Tharon Chandler, Pamela Jeanine “P.” Moses and Hastina Robinson are running as independent candidates for U.S. Senate.

Don’t know who’s on your ballot? You can find that info — along with your registration status — here.

United States House of Representatives

District 5

All of Maury, Lewis and Marshall counties and parts of Davidson, Wilson and Williamson counties

Andy Ogles (R) – Incumbent

Tennessee U.S. Congressman Andy Ogles flipped Nashville’s traditionally Democratic seat when first elected in 2022, after redistricting divided the city into three separate congressional districts. Prior to serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, Ogles was mayor of Maury County.

Ogles has called for defunding the U.S. Department of Education and the federal bureau that regulates alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives. He opposes gun reform, same-sex marriage and abortion. Of Tennessee’s congressional delegation, Ogles was found to be the least likely to reach across the aisle.

Ogles has faced scrutiny from a federal watchdog agency for discrepancies in his campaign finance disclosures, which remain unresolved. The FBI confiscated his phone in August as part of an ongoing investigation into his campaign finances.

Maryam Abolfazli (D)

Nashville activist Maryam Abolfazli is the founder of Rise and Shine Tennessee, a nonprofit that encourages civic engagement. Since the Covenant School shooting last year, she has demonstrated at the statehouse in favor of gun reform.

She told WPLN News that “responsible gun owners are not the problem,” and that if elected, she would focus on background checks for firearms, access to abortion and ensuring that Tennessee receives all of the federal funding available to the state. Her campaign has also championed support for small businesses, environmental protection and IVF.

District 6

Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, White and Van Buren counties — parts of Davidson, Scott, Warren and Wilson counties

John Rose (R) – Incumbent

Congressman John Rose has a long history of agricultural work at the state and federal level and currently serves on a House committee focused on agriculture.

Rose has advocated for rural broadband access, support for Israel and abortion restrictions. He has opposed expanding SNAP benefits and sending aid to Ukraine.

Rose voted against a spending bill that allocated $20 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund weeks prior to Hurricane Helene and Milton, citing the national debt.

Lore Bergman (D)

A graduate of Pillsbury Baptist Bible College, Lore Bergman has advocated for disability rights, affordable housing and health insurance for all.

In a Ballotpedia survey, Bergman quoted Leviticus 19:18, saying “love thy neighbor as thy self” was a core tenant of her campaign.

She supports gun reform, LGBTQ rights and access to abortion.

District 7

Cheatham, Dickson, Decatur, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery, Perry, Robertson, Stewart and Wayne Counties — and significant portions of Benton, Davidson and Williamson Counties

Mark Green (R) – Incumbent

U.S. Congressman and veteran Mark Green of Clarksville has served in the House of Representatives since 2019. He was appointed as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee last year. In January, he led impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, which ultimately failed in the Senate.

Green supports greater investments in border and cyber security. As the founder of two healthcare companies, Green has said he believes in leaving healthcare to the free market.

Green had initially said he wouldn’t run for reelection, but reversed that decision at the urging of fellow Republicans.

Megan Barry (D)

Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry was the first woman to serve in the position from 2015 to 2018. Her campaign has centered on addressing the opioid crisis, after she lost her son to an overdose.

Barry also supports reforming immigration, cutting taxes for working families, a federal right to abortion and environmental protection.

It’s not just who’s on the ballot, but what’s on the ballot. Learn more about Nashville’s transit referendum here.

Statehouse Races

Tennessee Senate District 20

Bellevue, Belle Meade, Forest Hills, Goodlettsville, Madison, Joelton and Hermitage

Heidi Campbell (D) — Incumbent

State Sen. Heidi Campbell has represented the inner suburbs of Nashville since 2021, when she unseated a two-term Republican incumbent. She previously served as the mayor of Oak Hill.

Campbell is a proponent for the rights of women, people of color, veterans, teachers and the LGBTQ community.

She supports gun reform, greater funding for foster care, abortion access and preserving Tennessee’s wetlands.

Wyatt Rampy (R)

Real estate agent Wyatt Rampy serves on the board of the Bellevue Community Foundation.

His campaign promises to expand magnet schools, introduce incentive-based pay for underperforming schools, and give parent’s greater choice in their child’s education.

He also supports tougher bail and sentencing guidelines, as well as cutting regulations for small businesses.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 49

LaVergne, Smryna and Murfreesboro

Mike Sparks (R) – Incumbent

State Rep. Mike Sparks has represented District 49 for nearly 12 years.

Sparks supports charter schools, the school voucher program and investing in public schools. He has said that Rutherford County’s overburdened school system has been caused by illegal immigrants.

In the past two years, Sparks has sponsored legislation to make gun sales tax-exempt, impose the death penalty on drug dealers who use fentanyl and increase protections for juvenile offenders during police interrogations.

Luis Mata (D)

An immigrant’s rights activist, Luis Mata is campaigning on eliminating the state’s grocery tax, fixing roads and funding public schools.

Mata’s platform focuses on easing rising costs for small businesses and investing in job creation to better accommodate the district’s growing population.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 50

Bellevue, Charlotte Park, Goodlettsville, Joelton, White’s Creek, Scottsboro and other, western parts of Davidson County

Bo Mitchell (D) — Incumbent

State Rep. Bo Mitchell has served in his position since 2012.

During his time in office, Mitchell has supported increased penalties for domestic violence and child neglect, tuition assistance for military children and reducing sales tax on food.

Mitchell supports more funding for public schools, expanding Medicaid and Medicare, abortion access and the passage of red flag measures, which prevent people deemed dangerous to themselves or others from owning a gun.

Jennifer Frensley Webb (R)

A Goodlettsville native and the owner of a construction company, Jennifer Frensley Webb supports incentives for small businesses, harsher penalties for crime and defending the Second Amendment.

Webb opposes illegal immigration and abortion access.

She’s been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 52

Parts of of South Nashville, Glencliff, Wedgewood Houston and Nashboro Village

Justin Jones (D) — Incumbent

State Rep. Justin Jones has become a national name in politics since he helped stage a protest for gun reform on the House floor last year. Jones was expelled for the effort and later reappointed by Nashville’s Metro Council.

Jones has sponsored legislation to phase out private prisons, expand Medicaid, prevent utilities from terminating service during heat advisories and leveraging higher taxes on investors who own more than 100 homes in the state.

Laura Nelson (R)

Laura Nelson has campaigned on reducing crime by offering police officers lower property tax rates and greater tax reductions for their children.

Nelson offers an alternative to the school voucher program, which would allow parents a higher tax deduction for private school and homeschooling supplies.

She supports affordable housing, the Second Amendment and expanding healthcare for foster children and other vulnerable populations.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 60

Donelson, Hermitage and Old Hickory

Shaundelle Brooks (D)

Shaundelle Brooks of Old Hickory has been an advocate for gun reform, since her son, Akilah DaSilva, was killed in the 2018 Waffle House shooting.

Brooks supports youth development programs, paying teachers a competitive wage, assistance for first-time homebuyers, improving rural healthcare, abortion access, affordable childcare options, support for men’s mental health and LGBTQ rights.

Chad Bobo (R)

A former aide to House Speaker Cameron Sexton, conservative activist Chad Bobo champions vocational training for high schoolers, improving transportation and cutting back on regulations for small businesses.

He supports exceptions to Tennessee’s abortion ban in the case of rape, incest or for the life of the mother.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 75

Montgomery County and a portion of Clarksville

Jeff Burkhart (R) — Incumbent

Prior to his election in 2022, state Rep. Jeff Burkhart served as a Clarksville City councilmember for 12 years.

As a contractor, Burkhart had said he believes in running the government like a business.

Allie Phillips (D)

A Tennessee native and graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, Allie Phillips is running for office after having to travel out of state for a medically necessary abortion.

Phillips has proposed an amendment to Tennessee’s abortion ban that would make an exception for parents with fetal anomalies. Phillips has named the proposal Miley’s Law, after her unborn daughter.

Phillips is also focused on education and the rising cost of living in Middle Tennessee.

Other Races

Vincent Dixie (D), John Ray Clemmons (D), Bob Freeman (D), Harold M. Love Jr. (D), and Caleb Hemmer (D) are running uncontested for House Districts 54 through 59 respectively.

Read all of WPLN’s election coverage here.

Who’s on the ballot in Middle Tennessee? Brush up on your candidates with WPLN’s voter guide