Tennessee Governor Candidate Responses: Full Answers to Six Policy Questions
by Brandon Burley and The Redemption Project
This project began with a simple premise: if Tennessee’s gubernatorial candidates are asked the same questions under the same conditions, voters deserve to see where their answers actually separate once campaign language is removed and policy is placed side by side.
Over six consecutive policy questions, each campaign was invited to respond under the same written format, with identical deadlines and the same word-limit expectations. The goal was not to produce endorsements, rankings, or debate-style moments, but to create a clearer public record of how each campaign frames governing priorities when forced into direct comparison.
The first stage of this project was released publicly one question at a time across social media and article summaries, allowing readers to compare answers issue by issue rather than absorb everything through campaign identity alone. That format generated substantial public engagement and, just as importantly, produced direct feedback from readers asking to see the full written responses in one place.
What follows is that full record.
To keep the process fair, campaigns were told in advance that responses could be summarized publicly for readability, especially when answer length varied significantly between candidates. Candidates were also informed that non-response would be noted for continuity, but that campaigns submitting later answers could still be included when timing allowed.
The rules were straightforward: each campaign received the same questions, the same submission opportunity, and the same editorial standard. Responses are presented here in the order received and grouped by question so readers can examine both tone and substance directly.
My hope is simple: that readers look first at governing ideas, not party labels and that candidates willing to explain themselves in practical terms receive the benefit of being heard in full.
