U.S. House · Tennessee's 1st District
Joshua Ray Ashburn
CandidateIND
- Race
- U.S. House · Tennessee's 1st District
- Result
- Diana Harshbarger, projected winner
- Opponents
- Diana Harshbarger (R); Kristi Burke (D); Chris Campbell (IND); Richard Baker (IND); Billy Cody (IND); Tyler McClain (IND)
- Research
- Minimal record
Party linenone
No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.
Said vs. did0 statements · 0 votes
Joshua Ray Ashburn, an independent who says he is not a career politician, lost the November 3, 2026 election for the U.S. House in Tennessee's 1st District to Diana Harshbarger. His Ballotpedia profile lists no prior elected office or career details.[1][2][3]
On the ballotU.S. House · 1
2026-11-03
| Diana Harshbarger R | incumbent |
| Kristi Burke D | challenger |
| Joshua Ray Ashburn IND | challenger |
| Chris Campbell IND | challenger |
| Richard Baker IND | challenger |
| Billy Cody IND | challenger |
| Tyler McClain IND | challenger |
Biography
Joshua Ray Ashburn, an independent who says he is not a career politician, lost the November 3, 2026 election for the U.S. House in Tennessee's 1st District to Diana Harshbarger. His Ballotpedia profile lists no prior elected office or career details.[1][2][3]
Little public record found for this candidate.
Ashburn says he is 36 years old and a father of two, and that he has been with his spouse for almost six years.[1] He describes himself as not a career politician; his Ballotpedia profile lists no prior elected office or career details, and he reports no endorsements.[1][2] During the campaign, he said he ran because he was tired of career politicians being re-elected, and he supported term limits, stronger border security, small businesses and farmers, and less U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts.[1][2] He received 1.0% of the vote to Diana Harshbarger's 67.4%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[3]
In their own words
Priorities
- Says he strongly supports term limits and putting 'the people first instead of politics.'[4]
- Says border security should remain a top priority, citing illegal drugs entering communities.[5]
- Says America should pursue peace whenever possible and avoid unnecessary wars.[5]
- Says he would support small businesses and farmers by reducing their tax burden and cutting red tape.[5]
Campaign moneyNo FEC filing summary matched — state candidates file with their state, not the FEC.
Profile: /people/joshua-ray-ashburn
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Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Joshua Ray Ashburn's Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey responses · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
- 2.Joshua Ray Ashburn · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
- 3.U.S. House · Tennessee's 1st District results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 4.Joshua Ray Ashburn's Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey responses · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
- 5.Joshua Ray Ashburn · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words