Ballot Project

← Back to Shelby County, Tennessee: Election on 2026-08-06

Contest for US House District 9

primary - Partisan - U.S. Representative

About this office

A United States Representative represents a single congressional district in the lower chamber of Congress, serving a two-year term. Representatives write and pass federal law, originate revenue bills, fund and oversee the executive branch, and serve constituents in dealings with federal agencies.

Term length: 2 years.

This role calls for

  • Legislative craft at the federal level: reading, drafting, and amending federal statute, and knowing the law being changed.
  • Understanding of the district's economic and everyday concerns, and constituent-service capacity for casework with federal agencies.
  • Persuasion and coalition-building across party and factional lines to form working majorities.
  • Integrity: acting for constituents and the public good rather than personal gain, independent of undue influence.
  • Oversight judgment: the House funds and oversees the executive branch and the military.

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 4 candidates
London Lamar

London Lamar

Democrat
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London Lamar's biography shows state-level legislative experience in Tennessee, including committee service on Judiciary and Finance, which demonstrates familiarity with drafting statutes and constituent advocacy. The record notes her appointment followed a predecessor's expulsion for federal fraud, though Lamar herself has no cited disciplinary actions or ethics violations. Bio does not indicate federal legislative craft or direct oversight of the executive branch experience.
Jim Torino

Jim Torino

Democrat
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Torino's biography shows extensive experience leading healthcare organizations and managing operations, yet it documents no prior service in federal legislative craft, constituent casework with agencies, or cross-party coalition building. The record contains no controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience drafting federal statute or overseeing the executive branch.
Justin J. Pearson

Justin J. Pearson

Democrat
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Justin J. Pearson's biography shows state legislative experience drafting gun control bills and organizing community advocacy against local projects, demonstrating constituent service capacity and persuasion skills relevant to the role. However, his 2023 expulsion from the Tennessee House for violating decorum rules during a protest constitutes a disciplinary record. Bio does not indicate federal legislative craft or oversight judgment of the executive branch.
M. LaTroy A-Williams

M. LaTroy A-Williams

Democrat
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M. LaTroy A-Williams' biography shows business ownership and newspaper publishing experience alongside community service and political activism, including a 2026 primary run for Shelby County Trustee. The record notes no controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate federal legislative drafting experience or direct oversight of the executive branch.
Republican Primary 4 candidates
Brent Taylor

Brent Taylor

Republican
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Brent Taylor's biography shows extensive local legislative experience as a former city councilor and county commissioner, alongside current service in the Tennessee Senate, demonstrating constituent-service capacity and coalition-building within state government. The record documents five ethics complaints filed against a district attorney that were dismissed without action. Bio does not indicate federal legislative craft or oversight judgment of the executive branch.
Charlotte Bergmann

Charlotte Bergmann

Republican
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Bergmann's biography shows three unsuccessful campaigns for Tennessee's 9th District and party service as a State Executive Committeewoman, demonstrating persistence but no federal legislative craft or oversight judgment. She lacks documented experience drafting federal statute or managing complex constituent casework with federal agencies. Bio does not indicate prior elected office experience or direct coalition-building experience at the federal level.
Todd Warner

Todd Warner

Republican
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Todd Warner's biography shows six generations of Tennessee farming and business ownership, alongside state legislative service since 2020 focused on agriculture and rural development. Records indicate a 2021 FBI raid at his home and office that resulted in no charges, plus public disputes with opponents over redistricting and voucher policies. Bio does not indicate federal legislative experience or direct oversight of the executive branch.
Jeremy Thompson

Jeremy Thompson

Republican
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Jeremy Thompson's biography shows extensive military leadership in intelligence and special operations, alongside local service as a firefighter, EMT, and reserve deputy sheriff, demonstrating capacity for oversight judgment and constituent service. His role leading a national security nonprofit suggests familiarity with policy advocacy. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience in federal legislative drafting or coalition-building across party lines.
Independent 2 candidates
Michelle Davis Head

Michelle Davis Head

Independent
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Michelle Davis Head's biography shows she resides in Tennessee's 9th District and qualified for the ballot via petition signatures, demonstrating local residency and basic campaign organization. Public records contain no details regarding her education, prior career, or previous elected office history. Bio does not indicate legislative craft experience or oversight judgment experience.
Dennis Clark

Dennis Clark

Independent
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Dennis Clark's biography shows twenty years in community development and nonprofit management, alongside a 2025 election victory to the Chattanooga City Council, demonstrating local constituent-service capacity and coalition-building skills relevant to the district. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate federal legislative drafting experience or oversight judgment of the executive branch.
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