U.S. House · Tennessee's 8th District

West Tennessee, including parts of Memphis's suburbs, Jackson, and Martin, under the congressional map Tennessee redrew in May 2026.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

✓ Fact-checked 2026-09-25: 28 claims re-checked against their sources

A second, independent research pass re-opened every cited source for this race and corrected or removed anything the source didn’t support.

  • All claims verified against cited sources: Kustoff bio, quotes on guns and abortion, Kuhn primary result (51.8%), and independent-candidate bios (Austill, Moses, Taylor) matched their Ballotpedia Candidate Connection responses verbatim; no bios found for Blankenship, Futch, or Ward III, consistent with 'minimal' researchDepth.

On the ballot · 8 candidates

Where they stand — side by side

Only positions documented in a cited source are shown. Where an officeholder’s recorded votes speak to an issue, the votes set the position (marked “votes”). A dash means we found no clear public position — not that the candidate has none.

ISSUEDavid Kustoff
R
Heidi Kuhn
D
Adam Austill
IND
Pamela Moses
IND
Horace Taylor
IND
Wendell Blankenship
IND
Antonio Futch
IND
Henry Ward III
IND
Protect legal access to abortionOpposes[25][26][27]votes———————
Stricter gun lawsOpposes[20][21][22][23]votes———————
Expand immigration enforcement and deportationsSupports[7][8][9][10][11][12][13]votes———————
Raise taxes on high earners or corporationsOpposes[8][9][10][18][17]votes———————
Expand public health coverageOpposes[8][9][10][14][15]votes———————
Faster transition away from fossil fuelsOpposes[8][9][10][16][17]votes———————
Raise the minimum wageOpposes[24]votesSupports[5]——————
Broad tariffs on imported goodsSupports[19]votes———————
Universal, publicly funded child careOpposes[16]votes———————

The candidates, in full

David Kustoff

RINCUMBENTU.S. Representative (since 2017)

Unopposed in the August 6 Republican primary

David Kustoff has represented Tennessee's 8th District since 2017. A Memphis attorney and former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, he serves on the House Ways and Means Committee.[2]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Key votes in Congress

  • NoWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · H. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · 2026-06-03 roll call ↗The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans.
  • NoResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · H.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · 2026-02-11 roll call ↗The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy.
  • YesConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government funding · H.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · 2026-02-03 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
  • NoBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · H.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · 2026-01-08 roll call ↗The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans.
  • NoWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela · H. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region.
  • YesNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · 2025-12-10 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year.
  • YesEpstein Files Transparency Act · H.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · 2025-11-18 roll call ↗The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support.
  • YesContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · 2025-11-12 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively.
  • YesCLARITY Act — digital asset market structure · H.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries.
  • YesGENIUS Act — stablecoin regulation · S. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law.
  • YesOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · 2025-07-03 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025.
  • YesRescissions Act of 2025 · H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · 2025-06-12 roll call ↗The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades.
  • YesOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · 2025-05-22 roll call ↗H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients.
  • YesSAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · H.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · 2025-04-10 roll call ↗The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls.
  • YesFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 · H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · 2025-03-11 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
  • YesLaken Riley Act — final passage · S. 5 · Passed 263–156 · 2025-01-22 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.
  • YesSecure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · H.R. 2 · Passed 219–213 · 2023-05-11 roll call ↗Would have resumed border-wall construction, restricted asylum eligibility, expanded detention, and mandated E-Verify for employers.
  • NoInflation Reduction Act — final House passage · H.R. 5376 · Passed 220–207 · 2022-08-12 roll call ↗Enacted clean-energy and climate tax credits, a 15% minimum tax on large corporations' book income, a 1% excise tax on stock buybacks, and Medicare drug-price negotiation.
  • NoAssault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · H.R. 1808 · Passed 217–213 · 2022-07-29 roll call ↗Would have banned the sale, manufacture and import of many semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.
  • NoWomen's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · H.R. 8296 · Passed 219–210 · 2022-07-15 roll call ↗Passed after Dobbs; would have created a federal statutory right to abortion services and limited state restrictions.
  • NoBipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · S. 2938 · Passed 234–193 · 2022-06-24 roll call ↗Expanded background checks for buyers under 21, funded state red-flag and crisis-intervention programs, and narrowed the "boyfriend loophole."
  • NoBuild Back Better Act — House passage · H.R. 5376 · Passed 220–213 · 2021-11-19 roll call ↗Would have funded clean-energy tax credits, universal pre-kindergarten and child-care subsidies, and extended health-coverage subsidies; it did not pass the Senate.
  • NoWomen's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · H.R. 3755 · Passed 218–211 · 2021-09-24 roll call ↗Would have created a federal statutory right for providers to offer, and patients to receive, abortion services, limiting state restrictions.
  • NoAmerican Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · H.R. 6 · Passed 228–197 · 2021-03-18 roll call ↗Would have created a path to permanent legal status for many undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and for certain TPS and DED holders.
  • NoRaise the Wage Act — House passage · H.R. 582 · Passed 231–199 · 2019-07-18 roll call ↗Would have raised the federal minimum wage in steps from $7.25 to $15 an hour by 2025.
  • NoAmerican Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · H.R. 6 · Passed 237–187 · 2019-06-04 roll call ↗Would have created a path to permanent legal status for many undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and for certain TPS and DED holders.
  • NoBipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · H.R. 8 · Passed 240–190 · 2019-02-27 roll call ↗Would have required background checks for most firearm transfers between private parties.
  • YesTax Cuts and Jobs Act — final House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 224–201 · 2017-12-20 roll call ↗Cut the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% and lowered individual rates, including the top rate from 39.6% to 37% (individual provisions set to expire after 2025).
  • YesConcealed Carry Reciprocity Act — House passage · H.R. 38 · Passed 231–198 · 2017-12-06 roll call ↗Would have required states to recognize concealed-carry permits issued by other states.
  • YesPain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act — House passage · H.R. 36 · Passed 237–189 · 2017-10-03 roll call ↗Would have banned most abortions after 20 weeks post-fertilization, with limited exceptions.
  • YesAmerican Health Care Act — House passage · H.R. 1628 · Passed 217–213 · 2017-05-04 roll call ↗Would have repealed the ACA individual mandate penalty, converted federal Medicaid funding to per-capita caps, and ended enhanced funding for the Medicaid expansion.

On the record — official actions

  • vote2021-03-11 · Voted against gun-control legislation in the House, saying the bills "trespass on the Second Amendment" and "place more restrictive burdens on law-abiding gun owners."[3]
  • actionServes on the House Committee on Ways and Means, including its Tax and Health subcommittees.[2]

Positions on the issues

  • OpposesStricter gun lawsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8, 2019-02-27). Voted no on Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808, 2022-07-29). Voted no on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938, 2022-06-24). Voted yes on Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38, 2017-12-06).[20][21][22][23]

    What they say: States he is committed to protecting Second Amendment rights and opposes gun-control legislation; voted against gun-control bills in Congress.[3]

    “I believe that our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms is one of the most important rights granted in the Constitution. As your Congressman, I remain committed to protecting and defending the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding citizens in West Tennessee.”
  • OpposesProtect legal access to abortionFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755, 2021-09-24). Voted no on Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 (H.R. 8296, 2022-07-15). Voted yes on Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36, 2017-10-03).[25][26][27]

    What they say: States he opposes legal abortion and supports policies restricting it.[4]

    “I believe that life begins at conception and that abortion is wrong. As your Representative, I will continue to back pro-life policies that protect the lives of unborn children and the well-being of their mothers.”
  • SupportsExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations. Voted yes on Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11). Voted no on American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6, 2019-06-04; 2021-03-18).[7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

  • OpposesExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted no on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08). Voted yes on American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628, 2017-05-04), which would have capped federal Medicaid funding and ended enhanced funding for the Medicaid expansion.[8][9][10][14][15]

  • OpposesFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits. Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19; 2022-08-12), which would have funded clean-energy tax credits.[8][9][10][16][17]

  • OpposesRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03; 2017-12-20), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent. Voted no on Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376, 2022-08-12), which added a 15% minimum tax on large corporations and a stock-buyback excise tax.[8][9][10][18][17]

  • SupportsBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11).[19]

  • OpposesUniversal, publicly funded child careFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19), which would have funded universal pre-K and child-care subsidies.[16]

  • OpposesRaise the minimum wageFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582, 2019-07-18).[24]

Background

  • Born and raised in Shelby County; graduated from the University of Memphis and its Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 1992, then opened a Memphis law firm.[2]
  • Served as Chairman of the Shelby County GOP (1995–1999) and Tennessee chairman of the Bush/Cheney presidential campaigns in 2000 and 2004.[2]
  • Appointed U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee by President George W. Bush in 2006; oversaw the Tennessee Waltz public-corruption trials that sent 12 defendants, including a state senator, to federal prison.[2]
  • Appointed by Gov. Bill Haslam to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission in 2015, overseeing implementation of the Tennessee Promise community-college scholarship program.[2]
  • Elected to the U.S. House in 2016 and re-elected in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024.[2]

Campaign money

Raised $2.2M · spent $1.3M · $3.0M cash on hand (through 2026-07-17) FEC filing ↗

Heidi Kuhn

DShelby County Criminal Court Clerk

Won the August 6 Democratic primary with 51.8% of the vote in a four-candidate field

Heidi Kuhn is the Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk and the Democratic nominee for the 8th District. She describes herself as focused on lowering costs and expanding opportunity for West Tennessee families.[5]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsRaise the minimum wage

    Says every worker deserves fair wages and the freedom to organize and bargain collectively, and supports policies protecting the right to organize.[5]

    “Every worker deserves fair wages, safe working conditions, and the freedom to organize and bargain collectively.”

In their words — priorities

  • Says lowering the cost of living for working families is her top priority, citing groceries, housing, healthcare, and child care costs.[5]
  • Says supporting farmers and strengthening rural communities is a top priority, including protecting family farms and expanding rural infrastructure.[5]
  • Says protecting workers' rights and supporting organized labor is a key priority.[5]

Background

  • Currently serves as Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk.[5]

Campaign money

Raised $40K · spent $26K · $13K cash on hand (through 2026-07-17) FEC filing ↗

Adam Austill

IND

Adam Austill is an independent candidate from Covington, Tennessee, a doctoral candidate at the University of Memphis studying American literature who works with children with autism providing ABA therapy.[6]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

In their words — priorities

  • Proposes public financing of elections, ending congressional stock trading, and twelve-year term limits to limit the influence of money in Congress.[6]
  • Calls for firm restrictions on artificial intelligence, including on AI-powered surveillance and data-center resource use.[6]

Background

  • Doctoral candidate at the University of Memphis studying American literature; works providing ABA therapy for children with autism.[6]

Pamela Moses

IND

Pamela Moses is an independent candidate who describes herself as a musician, human-rights advocate, and voting-rights activist; she says a past conviction bars her from voting even though she can run for office.[6]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

In their words — priorities

  • Campaign focuses on equal justice under the law and voting-rights restoration for people with past convictions.[6]

Background

  • Says she is a human-rights advocate who has challenged voter-disenfranchisement laws affecting people with past convictions.[6]

Horace Taylor

IND

Horace Taylor is an independent candidate who describes himself as independent of party loyalty, saying he would evaluate votes on whether they move things forward for West Tennesseans.[6]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

In their words — priorities

  • Says he would break from straight party-line voting and evaluate each vote on whether it benefits West Tennesseans.[6]

Campaign money

Raised $2,164 · spent $1,459 · $805 cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Wendell Blankenship

IND

Wendell Blankenship is an independent candidate on the November 3 general-election ballot for Tennessee's 8th District. Ballotpedia lists no biography or Candidate Connection survey response for him.[1]

Little public record found for this candidate.

Antonio Futch

IND

Antonio Futch is an independent candidate on the November 3 general-election ballot for Tennessee's 8th District. Ballotpedia lists no biography or Candidate Connection survey response for him.[1]

Little public record found for this candidate.

Henry Ward III

IND

Henry Ward III is an independent candidate on the November 3 general-election ballot for Tennessee's 8th District. Ballotpedia lists no biography or Candidate Connection survey response for him.[1]

Little public record found for this candidate.

Research notes & limits

No campaign websites were confirmed for Heidi Kuhn or the independent candidates; their statements are drawn from Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. No public records were found for independents Wendell Blankenship, Antonio Futch, or Henry Ward III beyond their names on the ballot; withdrawn candidate George Herold is not included.

Sources · 27

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.Tennessee's 8th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.About · Office of Congressman David Kustoff Official record
  3. 3.Protecting Your Right to Keep and Bear Arms · Office of Congressman David Kustoff · 2021-03-11 Official record
  4. 4.Protecting Life · Office of Congressman David Kustoff Official record
  5. 5.Heidi Kuhn Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey responses · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  6. 6.Independent candidate Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey responses · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  7. 7.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  8. 8.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  9. 9.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  10. 10.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  11. 11.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  12. 12.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-06-04 Official record
  13. 13.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-03-18 Official record
  14. 14.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  15. 15.Roll call: American Health Care Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-05-04 Official record
  16. 16.Roll call: Build Back Better Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-11-19 Official record
  17. 17.Roll call: Inflation Reduction Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-08-12 Official record
  18. 18.Roll call: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-20 Official record
  19. 19.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
  20. 20.Roll call: Bipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-02-27 Official record
  21. 21.Roll call: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-29 Official record
  22. 22.Roll call: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-06-24 Official record
  23. 23.Roll call: Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-06 Official record
  24. 24.Roll call: Raise the Wage Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-07-18 Official record
  25. 25.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-09-24 Official record
  26. 26.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-15 Official record
  27. 27.Roll call: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-10-03 Official record