{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Rodger Broadwater","chatgptsummary":"Rodger Broadwater's biography shows lifelong East Tennessee residency and an independent campaign stance opposing special interests, addressing integrity and constituency understanding. He cites specific local issues like property taxes and healthcare costs but offers no evidence of legislative craft, persuasion skills, or coalition-building experience. Bio does not indicate prior elected office experience or professional legislative drafting experience.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nRodger Broadwater is an independent candidate for Tennessee House District 6, which covers part of Washington County, on the Nov. 3, 2026 general-election ballot; he faces Republican incumbent Tim Hicks and the Aug. 6, 2026 Democratic primary nominee, Brad Batt [1]. Per his Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, Broadwater describes his campaign's central message as \"giving the power back to the people,\" saying he will build a public platform so District 6 residents can weigh in on major bills before he votes on them in Nashville and pledging to \"follow the majority position of the district.\" He also says \"no special interests or lobbyists should ever be a part of politics, nor should it ever hold a place above the people\" [2]. Broadwater cites opposition to the BWXT depleted-uranium facility expansion, easing the path to homeownership for renters through what he calls a \"Paper Trail Credit Act,\" capping property taxes, strengthening public schools, and lowering healthcare costs among the issues he says matter to District 6 [2].\n\n## Background and education\nPer his Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, Broadwater describes himself as a lifelong East Tennessee resident and says he graduated from North Greene High School in 2014 [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Tennessee House of Representatives District 6 \u2014 Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_House_of_Representatives_District_6) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20\n[2] [Rodger Broadwater \u2014 Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey](https://ballotpedia.org/Rodger_Broadwater) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20","firstname":"Rodger","lastname":"Broadwater","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"5SU4FTHJFs"},"token":"rodger_broadwater"},{"candidatename":"Brad Batt","chatgptsummary":"Brad Batt's biography shows he is a small business owner and entrepreneur with degrees from Louisiana Tech University and Regis University, indicating familiarity with local economic concerns. He has not held prior elected office or served in government roles. Bio does not indicate legislative craft experience or coalition-building experience.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nBrad Batt is a Democratic candidate running for election to the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 6 in the 2026 cycle [1]. The district encompasses parts of upper East Tennessee, including Johnson City, Fall Branch, Gray, Oak Grove, Spurgeon, and Watauga [3]. Batt, who identifies as a small business owner and entrepreneur, is seeking to unseat incumbent Republican Tim Hicks, who is running for a third term in the general election scheduled for November 3, 2026 [1], [5], [7].\n\nBatt first announced his candidacy for District 6 in October 2019 [3]. In the lead-up to the 2026 primary, he held a rally in Johnson City to outline his platform, which includes breaking up Ballad Health, protecting public schools, and ending child poverty [6]. Batt has stated that healthcare is a top concern for voters in the district [2]. He was unopposed in the Democratic primary on August 6, 2026, before facing Hicks in the general election [5].\n\n## Background and education\n\nBrad Batt is a small business owner and entrepreneur who resides in Johnson City [5]. He earned a bachelor's degree from Louisiana Tech University in 1995 and a graduate degree from Regis University in 2003 [1]. Batt describes himself as a local businessman who believes that every Tennessean should have a fair opportunity to a healthy economy and lifestyle [3].\n\n## Career\n\nBatt describes himself as a local businessman and small business owner [3][5]. He states that his professional background includes working as an entrepreneur [1]. His career experience is characterized by his role in the private sector rather than prior political office [1].\n\nBatt earned a bachelor's degree from Louisiana Tech University in 1995 and a graduate degree from Regis University in 2003 [1].\n\n## Office history\n\nBrad Batt has not held any prior elected or appointed office [1]. He announced his candidacy for the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 6 in October 2019 [3]. In that cycle, he was unopposed in the Democratic primary and faced incumbent Republican Tim Hicks in the general election, but sources do not specify the outcome of that race [5][7].\n\nBatt is a candidate for Tennessee House District 6 in the 2026 Democratic primary, which is scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1][4]. He is running against incumbent Republican Tim Hicks, who is seeking a third term in the general election on November 3, 2026 [7]. As of May 2026, Batt has not yet been elected to this office [8].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nBrad Batt self-describes as a small business owner and entrepreneur [5]. He identifies himself as a local businessman who believes that every Tennessean should have a fair opportunity to a healthy economy and lifestyle [3]. Batt states that his key priorities include breaking up Ballad Health, protecting public schools, and ending child poverty in Tennessee [6].\n\nSpecific details regarding his business ownership stakes, sales of businesses, or the specific source of any family wealth are not provided in the available sources. Financial disclosure facts beyond his self-reported occupation are also not included in the provided materials [1][4][8].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Brad Batt - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Brad_Batt)\n[2] [District 6: Batt says healthcare is a top concern for voters | News | johnsoncitypress.com](https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/news/district-6-batt-says-healthcare-is-a-top-concern-for-voters/article_5945a0c4-bf28-11ea-aa0a-abe72afdd6fd.html)\n[3] [Brad Batt announces run for Tennessee House District \ufeff](https://demcastusa.com/2019/10/29/brad-batt-announces-run-for-tennessee-house-district-%EF%BB%BF/)\n[4] [Brad Batt | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/tn/tennessee-tennessee-house-of-representatives-district-6/brad-batt)\n[5] [State House District 6 Q and A: Brad Batt | WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather](https://www.wjhl.com/news/your-local-election-hq/state-house-district-6-q-and-a-brad-batt/amp/)\n[6] [Democratic Tennessee House candidate Brad Batt holds rally](https://www.yahoo.com/news/democratic-tennessee-house-candidate-brad-031548082.html)\n[7] [Beyond the Podium: Tennessee House 6th district race](https://wcyb.com/news/local/beyond-the-podium-tennessee-house-6th-district-race)\n[8] [Brad Batt | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/brad-batt)","firstname":"Brad","lastname":"Batt","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"RCE3Njpabv"},"token":"brad_batt"},{"candidatename":"Tim Hicks","chatgptsummary":"Tim Hicks's biography shows relevant experience for this role through his service on the House Calendar & Rules, Education, and Finance committees since November 2020, alongside his background as a construction business owner. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate prior legislative drafting experience or specific coalition-building experience across partisan lines.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nTim Hicks is the Republican incumbent representing Tennessee House District 6, which covers part of Washington County, and is unopposed in the Aug. 6, 2026 Republican primary [1][2]. He will face Democratic nominee Brad Batt and independent Rodger Broadwater in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election [2].\n\n## Background and education\nHicks was born Aug. 29, 1963, and graduated from Daniel Boone High School in 1981 [1].\n\n## Career\nHicks owns Hicks Construction [1].\n\n## Office history\nHicks has represented District 6 since November 2020 [2].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\nHicks serves on the House Calendar & Rules Committee, Education Committee, and Finance, Ways, and Means Committee [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Representative Tim Hicks \u2014 Tennessee General Assembly](https://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h06.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20\n[2] [Tim Hicks (Tennessee) \u2014 Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tim_Hicks_(Tennessee)) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20","firstname":"Tim","lastname":"Hicks","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"N2Ihz3cio0"},"token":"tim_hicks"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":"006","districtgroup":"state_house","districtgroupname":"State House","districtname":"District 6","job_type":"state_representative","o.office":"state_house_006","office":"state_house_006","officedescription":"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 \u2014 together with the Senate \u2014 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.","officequalities":"- **Integrity** \u2014 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.\n- **Understanding of the constituency** \u2014 Grasps both the economic-development needs of the district and the day-to-day concerns of individual residents \u2014 safety, healthcare, education, infrastructure.\n- **Persuasion** \u2014 Engages, listens to, and persuades both fellow legislators and constituents. Can change minds and explain votes honestly.\n- **Legislative craft** \u2014 Reads, drafts, and amends statute with care. Understands how specific bill language translates to outcomes, and knows the body of law being modified.\n- **Coalition-building** \u2014 Finds common ground across partisan and factional lines, brokers compromises that hold, and forms working majorities even when consensus is hard to reach.","officeterm":2,"officetitle":"State Representative District 6","partisan":1,"pgr":"primary","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"TN State House District 6"}