ISSUES
Putting Tennessee First — Always
I’m running for Governor of Tennessee because our values — faith, family, and freedom — are worth protecting. In fact, people are moving from all around to experience our way of life. It’s up to us to protect what makes Tennessee special and grow wisely.
As a dedicated Christian, lifelong conservative, and unapologetic supporter of President Donald J. Trump, I believe Tennessee should lead the way in standing up for the principles that make America great. As your Governor, I won’t bend to the woke mob or the media. I’ll fight for our values, our families, and our future — with President Trump’s blueprint and your support.
I am not a career politician and my beliefs reflect it. As someone who has started businesses from the idea phase, I know that the best ideas for Tennessee come from the people who call this state home – not from Washington, DC.
It’s time for bold leadership that puts Tennessee First — not Washington, not special interests, and not politics as usual. Here’s where I stand:
I’m not a politician. I’m a farmer, a businessman, and a conservative fighter. I’m running to serve the people — not the lobbyists, not the bureaucrats, and not the global elites.
With your help, we’ll make Tennessee a fortress of freedom, faith, and prosperity. And we’ll never stop fighting to finish what President Trump started.
As you see me on the trail, you will hear me focus on five priorities:
Education
- Students must come first. When a student has a great education, they are able to overcome even the most challenging circumstances and graduate, ready for a successful career. Every student, regardless of their background, should have the opportunity for a great education.
- Parents must have a seat at the table. Parents know what is best for their children and their families. Let’s give parents freedom to choose what works best for their family, whether that be in a public school, homeschool, public charter school, or private school.
- The Tennessee Department of Education should be led by someone who has taught in a Tennessee classroom. Leadership from someone who is personally invested in the future of this state is critical to the long-term success of Tennessee students. As the son of a school teacher, I know that there is capable leadership, right here in Tennessee.
- Career and Technical Education should be nurtured and expanded to help students learn job-ready skills and earn certifications that will help them find gainful employment upon graduation. The new partnership between the Departments of Agriculture and Education to deliver agricultural education should be a model for all CTE programs. When those who understand industry are paired with those who understand education, we can better prepare students for career success.
Infrastructure
- Tennessee’s interstates need to be expanded. I will work to expand every Tennessee interstate to a minimum of four lanes. I will prioritize implementing strategies and improvements for relieving heavy traffic areas.
- Local leaders know that Tennessee has challenges with solid waste and waste water management that are getting more serious by the day. As our population grows, our infrastructure must grow with it.
Healthcare
- No Tennessean should be more than 30 minutes away from life-saving emergency care. Freestanding emergency departments can be the difference between life and death for Tennesseans living in rural areas.
- When someone is facing a difficult diagnosis requiring regular treatment, a lengthy commute should not be among the stresses they face. We need to bring high-quality medical care within reach of every Tennessean.
- Tennessee is second in the nation for rural hospital closures. I will take action to stop the loss of quality medical care and build it back.
Energy
- Tennessee must meet the power demands of today’s industry and technology to maintain a competitive advantage over other states and other countries competing for new business.
- Small, modular nuclear reactors will allow Tennessee to lead the nation in electric power production. Nuclear is reliable, resilient, and carbon-free.
- Generating more power will put Tennessee in the driver’s seat when competing for high-quality, high-paying jobs.
Economic and Community Development
- If we succeed in improving education, infrastructure, healthcare, and energy, economic and community development will continue to follow.
- Thanks to conservative leadership, Tennessee is the best place to live, work, and raise a family. Employers are interested in what our state has to offer and we want to keep it that way. With one of the friendliest business environments in the nation, Tennessee has positioned itself as a magnet for entrepreneurship, expansion, and innovation.
- We should continue bringing great jobs to Tennessee and we should be selective in the process. Our state should be nurturing relationships with businesses and organizations that are willing to embrace our values and way of life.
- Homegrown businesses should be valued just as much as the big companies that relocate to Tennessee.
Stand with life—from conception to natural death. No taxpayer funding for abortion, ever.
During his Inaugural Address of 1967, Ronald Reagan famously said, “Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction.” As Governor, I will stand for our freedom by defending our Constitutional rights – always.
The right to free speech, freedom of religion, the right to keep and bear arms, the right of due process – just to name a few. The rights spelled out in our Constitution are God-given and worthy of our protection.
We should make Tennessee a true Constitutional Carry state and oppose every effort by the federal government to restrict our gun rights.
The radical left is targeting our children with woke indoctrination and gender ideology. Not on my watch. As the father of two, you can bet I will stand up for our children who were made perfectly and uniquely by God. Tennessee led the way in the United States vs. Skremetti ruling, which affirms the power of the states to protect our children from life-altering, gender transition treatments and surgeries. We cannot take our eye off the ball on this important crisis in our country.
As a proud farmer myself, I know firsthand the struggles our ag community faces — from rising costs to government red tape. Our farmers feed America and power our economy. As Governor, I’ll make sure farmers are protected, respected, and unleashed to succeed without overreaching regulations and with the infrastructure improvements it takes to keep ag moving. To secure our agricultural future, I will expand ag education, 4-H, and the Future Farmers of America (FFA) statewide.
I’ve built businesses, created jobs, and signed the front of a paycheck. I’ll bring that experience to the Governor’s office and make Tennessee the most business-friendly state in the country by cutting job-killing red tape for entrepreneurs, farmers, and small business owners. We will make Tennessee a magnet for manufacturing, logistics, and energy jobs from companies that embrace our Tennessee values.
Biden’s open borders turned every state into a border state. I promise to support President Trump’s efforts to secure our border and protect our communities. As Governor, I will never allow sanctuary cities – not in Memphis, not in Nashville, not in Knoxville – not anywhere. I’ll support ICE and state and local law enforcement collaborating to keep our cities safe. And, I will crack down on fentanyl traffickers and drug cartels bringing crime into our communities.
If we don’t have fair elections, we don’t have a country. Thanks to great leadership, Tennessee is #1 in America for election integrity, but we can’t let up. We should always require photo ID for all voters — no exceptions and purge non-citizens and inactive voters from the rolls. Committing voter fraud is a felony in Tennessee and violators should be prosecuted accordingly.
I will be sure that Tennessee elections are always: audited, bipartisan, secure, and trustworthy. Tennessee voting machines are not and should not be connected to the internet.
Some might say Tennessee is rich with southern hospitality. I say we are rich with Christian kindness. Our deep, Christian heritage is something that should be celebrated and honored. As Governor, I’ll do everything I can to make sure Tennessee never loses its way and that religious freedom is protected.
Crime has no place in Tennessee and we must stand with law enforcement to take criminals off the streets. As Governor, I’ll appoint judges who will throw the book at the worst of the worst, I’ll adequately fund and always support our law enforcement, and together, we will send the message that lawlessness is not welcome here – including in Memphis and Nashville.
