MEMPHIS, Tenn. — With election day set for tomorrow, here's what to know in about candidates in the United States House of Representatives District 8 and 9 races.
DISTRICT 8
Incumbent David Kustoff (R-Memphis) has served in the role since 2017, but faces challenges from two candidates on the ballot, including Sarah Freeman (D) and James Hart (I). The following is candidates stances from their websites.
Kustoff's platform
- Supports former President Donald Trump's agenda
- Maintain law and order
- Opposes national mandates on education
- Opposes Common Core
- Wants to end illegal immigration
- Opposes gay marriage
- Supports second amendment rights
- Opposes "unnecessary regulations" which he believes takes away from job growth
Sarah Freeman's stance
- Wants to invest in public education
- Wants to enact common-sense gun laws to protect communities from gun violence
- Supports transition to renewable energy sources and reducing carbon emissions
- Wants to implement policies that promote environmental sustainability and conservation
- Supports measures to prevent gun trafficking
- Wants to implement universal background checks for gun owners
- Wants to close loopholes that allow guns to end up in the wrong hands.
James Hart
Not much is known about James Hart's stance on issues due to a lack of political website, but Hart is running for U.S. Congress, as well as running for the state house in District 76.
DISTRICT 9
Steve Cohen has served in the District 9 seat since 2007, but during his reelection campaign for Tuesday, he faces three additional challengers.
Those candidates include Charlotte Bergmann (R), Wendell Blankenship (I) and Dennis Clark (I). Bergmann and Clark have previously run against Cohen, including in 2022.
Cohen's stance
- Wants to provide quality and affordable healthcare and education
- Supports funding the military for access to adequate equipment and necessary training
- Wants to lower energy costs and invest in renewable energy resources
- Co-sponsor of the Fund Essential Menstruation Products Act to provide affordable feminine hygiene products
- Helped secure $71.2 million grant for Lamar Avenue redevelopment project
- Co-sponsor of a 2020 bill that tried to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour
- Co-sponsor on bills that have tried to implement background checks for nearly every gun sale and ban assault weapons
Charlotte Begmann
- Supports the 2nd amendment
- Rejects the "defund the police movement"
- Wants less regulation to support local economic prosperity
- Is pro-school choice and wants to put vocational classes back in high schools
- Wants to lower insurance premiums and prescription costs
- Wants to increase elderly and veteran care
- Supports constitutionalist judges
Wendell Blankenship and Dennis Clark
Clark's website lists issues that he is focused on without getting to in depth, but lists women's rights, home ownership, criminal justice reform, pro-gun, civil rights, immigration and employment, amongst others.
Blankenship does not appear to have a campaign website but lists the core responsibility of those elected to office as being representing voters, according to a Ballotpedia survey.
