← Back to Trousdale County, Tennessee: Election on 2026-08-06
Contest for TN House District 35
State House District 35
primary - Partisan - State Representative District 35
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
Phil Barnes is a Democratic candidate for Tennessee House of Representatives District 35 who filed all required signatures by March 10, 2026, and appears on the official ballot alongside incumbent William Slater and challenger Lance C. Loftis. The biography documents no controversies or disciplinary records. Bio does not indicate experience in legislative craft, coalition-building, or persuasion within a state legislature.
Lance C Loftis is a Democratic candidate for Tennessee House District 35, representing Gallatin and seeking to serve Trousdale and Sumner Counties. His biography confirms his current campaign status and primary opponent but does not indicate prior legislative experience or specific experience in coalition-building. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary history regarding his conduct as a candidate.
Republican Primary
1 candidate
William Slater's biography shows twenty-one years as a headmaster and current service as Dean of Adult and Online Studies, demonstrating legislative craft in education administration and understanding of constituent educational needs. He currently chairs the Education Administration Subcommittee, indicating experience in committee work and persuasion within the legislature. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience in coalition-building across partisan lines or drafting non-education statute.
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