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State Representative, 35th District

Vote for
1
Term
2 years
Candidates
2
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state representative votes on Tennessee laws and the state budget in the Tennessee House of Representatives.

Phil Barnes

Democratic

Finish carpenter; theater set designer · Hendersonville

The gist

  • Pledges to work to end school vouchers.
  • Proposes accepting the voter registration card as voter ID.
  • Supports gun licensing, annual training and liability insurance.
  • Opposes selling military-style weapons to the general public.
  • Supports overhauling public benefits to remove the benefits cliff.
More about Phil
View sources (1)
  1. Pledges to work to end school vouchers.

    Issues — Phil Barnes, Trek Forward

    Campaign website · Trek Forward · trekforward.org

    “I will work to end school vouchers.”
  2. Proposes accepting the voter registration card as voter ID.

    Issues — Phil Barnes, Trek Forward

    Campaign website · Trek Forward · trekforward.org

    “I will work to strengthen this process so that the Voter Registration Card is the ID you need to show”
  3. Supports gun licensing, annual training and liability insurance.

    Issues — Phil Barnes, Trek Forward

    Campaign website · Trek Forward · trekforward.org

    “If you own a gun, you should have to license it … Gun owners should be required to carry liability insurance”
  4. Opposes selling military-style weapons to the general public.

    Issues — Phil Barnes, Trek Forward

    Campaign website · Trek Forward · trekforward.org

    “Military-style weapons designed to cause maximum casualties in wartime should not be sold to the general public.”
  5. Supports overhauling public benefits to remove the benefits cliff.

    Issues — Phil Barnes, Trek Forward

    Campaign website · Trek Forward · trekforward.org

    “The system is in desperate need of an overhaul, but we shouldn't start by punishing those who use it.”
Photo of William Slater
William SlaterCampaign photo — Ballotpedia

William Slater

RepublicanIncumbent

Dean, Welch College · Gallatin

The gist

  • Opposes abortion and supports expanding adoption options.
  • Opposes state or local limits on gun rights.
  • Opposes big government and federal overreach.
  • Sponsored law allowing adult public charter schools.In office
  • Sponsored law giving state employees paid leave for fostering.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about William
View sources (4)
  1. Opposes abortion and supports expanding adoption options.

    Protecting Life - Slater for TN House District 35

    Campaign website · Slater for House · slaterforhouse.com

    “William will stand for life and work to make adoption a more viable option for Tennessee families”
  2. Opposes state or local limits on gun rights.

    Pro 2nd Amendment - Slater for TN House District 35

    Campaign website · Slater for House · slaterforhouse.com

    “State and local laws should never infringe upon this fundamental right for law abiding citizens”
  3. Opposes big government and federal overreach.

    Defending the Constitution - Slater for TN House District 35

    Campaign website · Slater for House · slaterforhouse.com

    “He will stand against big government and federal overreach.”
  4. Sponsored law allowing adult public charter schools.

    Representative William Slater: bills sponsored in the 114th General Assembly

    Government record · Tennessee General Assembly · wapp.capitol.tn.gov

    “authorizes the establishment of adult public charter schools”
  5. Sponsored law giving state employees paid leave for fostering.

    Representative William Slater: bills sponsored in the 114th General Assembly

    Government record · Tennessee General Assembly · wapp.capitol.tn.gov

    “grants eligible state employees mandatory paid leave for fostering a minor child”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 4 issues covered in this race.