State

State Representative, 43rd 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.

Candidates Compare by issue

Samantha Petit

Democratic

Small business owner; healthcare/pharmacy technician · Morrison

The gist

Supports eliminating the state grocery tax.
Supports fully funding public schools.
Opposes massive AI data center developments.
Supports fair wages and cutting corporate tax breaks.
Supports reliable state funding for rural volunteer fire departments.

More about Samantha

View sources (2)

Supports eliminating the state grocery tax.
Samantha Petit: "What a great weekend!" campaign priorities post (Facebook)
Candidate social media · Samantha Petit campaign (Facebook) · facebook.com
“eliminating Tennessee’s state grocery tax”
Supports fully funding public schools.
Samantha Petit: "What a great weekend!" campaign priorities post (Facebook)
Candidate social media · Samantha Petit campaign (Facebook) · facebook.com
“fully funding our public schools”
Opposes massive AI data center developments.
Samantha Petit: "What a great weekend!" campaign priorities post (Facebook)
Candidate social media · Samantha Petit campaign (Facebook) · facebook.com
“protecting our land and resources from massive AI data center developments”
Supports fair wages and cutting corporate tax breaks.
Samantha Petit: "What a great weekend!" campaign priorities post (Facebook)
Candidate social media · Samantha Petit campaign (Facebook) · facebook.com
“cutting unnecessary corporate tax breaks, fighting for fair wages”
Supports reliable state funding for rural volunteer fire departments.
Samantha Petit: "Support our volunteer firefighters!" post (Facebook)
Candidate social media · Samantha Petit campaign (Facebook) · facebook.com
“Rural emergency services are not a charity project. They are essential public infrastructure, and Tennessee should fund them accordingly.”

Paul Sherrell

RepublicanIncumbent

Small business owner · Sparta

The gist

Secured free lifetime handgun permits for retired officers.
Sponsored law barring DCS firearm questions to foster parents.In office
Sponsored law supplying court data to criminal-case notification system.In office
Sponsored bill requiring schools to notify parents of threats.In office

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

More about Paul

View sources (2)

Secured free lifetime handgun permits for retired officers.
Paul Sherrell, State Representative 43rd District
Campaign website · Paul Sherrell campaign · paulsherrellfortn.com
“free Lifetime Handgun Carry Permits for retired Law Enforcement Officers”
Sponsored law barring DCS firearm questions to foster parents.
Representative Paul Sherrell: bills sponsored in the 114th General Assembly
Government record · Tennessee General Assembly · wapp.capitol.tn.gov
“generally prohibits the department from requesting information regarding the number or type of firearms or ammunition”
Sponsored law supplying court data to criminal-case notification system.
Representative Paul Sherrell: bills sponsored in the 114th General Assembly
Government record · Tennessee General Assembly · wapp.capitol.tn.gov
“requires the clerks of the criminal courts to provide the Tennessee sheriffs' association with all court data necessary”
Sponsored bill requiring schools to notify parents of threats.
Representative Paul Sherrell: bills sponsored in the 114th General Assembly
Government record · Tennessee General Assembly · wapp.capitol.tn.gov
“include a process for notifying parents and legal guardians of certain emergencies, incidents of violence, and credible threats of violence”

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; 7 issues covered in this race.