← Back to Dickson County, Tennessee: Election on 2026-08-06
Contest for TN House District 78
State House District 78
primary - Partisan - State Representative District 78
About this office
The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the state legislature, with 99 members elected from single-member districts to two-year terms. Representatives pass state laws, originate revenue bills, approve the state budget, and — together with the Senate — confirm gubernatorial appointments and propose constitutional amendments. Candidates must be at least 21 years old, U.S. citizens, Tennessee residents for at least three years, and district residents for at least one year.
Term length: 2 years.
This role calls for
- Integrity — Acts in the interest of constituents and the public good rather than for personal gain, and remains independent of undue influence from donors, lobbyists, and party leadership.
- Understanding of the constituency — Grasps both the economic-development needs of the district and the day-to-day concerns of individual residents — safety, healthcare, education, infrastructure.
- Persuasion — Engages, listens to, and persuades both fellow legislators and constituents. Can change minds and explain votes honestly.
- Legislative craft — Reads, drafts, and amends statute with care. Understands how specific bill language translates to outcomes, and knows the body of law being modified.
- Coalition-building — Finds common ground across partisan and factional lines, brokers compromises that hold, and forms working majorities even when consensus is hard to reach.
Derived from the office's statutory duties and operational reality. Candidate summaries below map each candidate's documented experience to these requirements.
Campaigns
Democratic Primary
2 candidates
Hillary Capes-Gwinn's biography confirms she resides in White Bluff within District 78 and successfully filed campaign signatures for the 2026 election. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary history. Bio does not indicate legislative craft experience or coalition-building experience.
Farmer's biography shows she is a Democratic candidate for Tennessee House District 78 in the 2026 election, facing Hillary Capes-Gwinn in the primary. The record does not indicate experience with legislative drafting or coalition-building across partisan lines. Bio does not indicate experience with constituent advocacy or economic development strategy.
Republican Primary
2 candidates
Perry Keenan's biography shows two terms as mayor of Pleasant View and service as county Republican Party president, demonstrating local executive experience and party leadership relevant to constituent understanding and coalition-building. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate legislative drafting experience or prior state-level persuasion experience.
John Louallen's biography shows four years as mayor of Pegram and eight years on the Cheatham County School Board, demonstrating local governance experience relevant to constituent understanding and coalition-building. His background as a deputy sheriff and federal fraud investigator suggests familiarity with public safety and regulatory matters. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate prior state legislative experience or specific bill-drafting experience.
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