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Dennis Powers (Tennessee)

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Dennis Powers
Image of Dennis Powers

Republican Party

Candidate, Tennessee House of Representatives District 36

Tennessee House of Representatives District 36
Tenure

2010 - Present

Term ends

2026

Years in position

15

Compensation

Base salary

$28,405.96/year

Per diem

$326.47/day. Legislators living within 50 miles of the Capitol receive a reduced amount of $47 per day.

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Next election

November 3, 2026

Education

Bachelor's

University of Tennessee, 1988

Contact

Official website

Official Facebook

Official Twitter

Official Instagram

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Dennis Powers (Republican Party) is a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing District 36. He assumed office in 2010. His current term ends on November 3, 2026.

Powers (Republican Party) is running for re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 36. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]

Biography

Powers holds a B.S. in business administration from the University of Tennessee. He was an insurance agent and golf coach at Jacksboro Middle School.

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.

2023-2024

Powers was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Powers was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Powers was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Tennessee committee assignments, 2017
• Business and Utilities
• Insurance and Banking

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Powers served on the following committees:

2013-2014

In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Powers served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Powers served on these committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2026

See also: Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2026

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36

Incumbent Dennis Powers is running in the general election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36 on November 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Dennis Powers
Dennis Powers (R)

Incumbents are bolded and underlined.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

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2024

See also: Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36

Incumbent Dennis Powers won election in the general election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Dennis Powers
Dennis Powers (R)
 
100.0
 
24,118

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 24,118
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36

Incumbent Dennis Powers advanced from the Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36 on August 1, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Dennis Powers
Dennis Powers
 
100.0
 
6,516

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 6,516
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Powers in this election.

Pledges

Powers signed the following pledges.

  • U.S. Term Limits

2022

See also: Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36

Incumbent Dennis Powers won election in the general election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Dennis Powers
Dennis Powers (R)
 
100.0
 
11,892

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 11,892
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36

Incumbent Dennis Powers advanced from the Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36 on August 4, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Dennis Powers
Dennis Powers
 
100.0
 
8,929

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 8,929
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36

Incumbent Dennis Powers defeated CJ Mitchell in the general election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Dennis Powers
Dennis Powers (R)
 
82.5
 
19,044
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
CJ Mitchell (D)
 
17.5
 
4,053

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 23,097
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36

CJ Mitchell advanced from the Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36 on August 6, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
CJ Mitchell
 
100.0
 
905

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 905
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36

Incumbent Dennis Powers advanced from the Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36 on August 6, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Dennis Powers
Dennis Powers
 
100.0
 
4,877

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 4,877
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

See also: Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36

Incumbent Dennis Powers defeated Cassandra Mitchell in the general election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Dennis Powers
Dennis Powers (R)
 
77.6
 
12,740
Image of Cassandra Mitchell
Cassandra Mitchell (D)
 
22.4
 
3,674

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 16,414
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36

Cassandra Mitchell advanced from the Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36 on August 2, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Cassandra Mitchell
Cassandra Mitchell
 
100.0
 
2,117

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,117
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36

Incumbent Dennis Powers advanced from the Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 36 on August 2, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Dennis Powers
Dennis Powers
 
100.0
 
9,070

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 9,070
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Tennessee House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on August 4, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 7, 2016.

Incumbent Dennis Powers defeated Bob Fannon in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 36 general election.[1][2]

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 36 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Dennis Powers Incumbent 72.47% 13,944
     Democratic Bob Fannon 27.53% 5,297
Total Votes 19,241
Source: Tennessee Secretary of State


Bob Fannon ran unopposed in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 36 Democratic primary.[3][4]

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 36 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Bob Fannon  (unopposed)


Incumbent Dennis Powers ran unopposed in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 36 Republican primary.[3][4]

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 36 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Dennis Powers Incumbent (unopposed)

2014

See also: Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for 99 seats in the Tennessee House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 7, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 3, 2014. James Virgil Kidwell was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Dennis Powers was unopposed in the Republican primary. Powers defeated Kidwell in the general election.[5][6]

Tennessee House of Representatives District 36, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDennis H. Powers Incumbent 76.4% 7,966
     Democratic James Virgil Kidwell 23.6% 2,455
Total Votes 10,421

2012

See also: Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2012

Powers won re-election in the 2012 election for Tennessee House of Representatives, District 36. Powers ran unopposed in the August 2 primary election and defeated Virgil Kidwell (I) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[7][8]

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 36, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDennis Powers Incumbent 79% 13,616
     Independent Virgil Kidwell 21% 3,630
Total Votes 17,246

2010

See also: Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2010

Powers defeated Democrat Keith Clotfelter in the general election on November 2, 2010. He defeated incumbent Chad Faulkner in the August 5 primary.[9][10]

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 36 General Election (2010)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Dennis Powers (R) 7,016
Keith Clotfelter (D) 4,838

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Dennis Powers has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. If you are Dennis Powers, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

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2024

Dennis Powers did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Dennis Powers did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Dennis Powers did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2016

Powers' campaign website highlighted the following issues:[11]

“
  • Economy - We have to create incentives and actively recruit business and industry to locate in our beautiful state in addition to developing and promoting tourism.
  • Pro-Life and Pro-Family – I believe in traditional marriage and that the young, elderly and unborn deserve our protection.
  • Personal Responsibility - Welfare should only be a temporary program to assist legal citizens until they can get education and training to get back into the workforce.
  • 2nd Amendment - I believe in the Constitutional Right of citizens to keep and bear arms.
  • 10th Amendment – I will oppose any and all efforts of the federal government to act beyond its Constitutional authority.[12]
 ”
—Dennis Powers

Presidential preference

2012

See also: Endorsements by state officials of presidential candidates in the 2012 election

Dennis Powers (Tennessee) endorsed Rick Santorum in the 2012 presidential election.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Dennis Powers campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Tennessee House of Representatives District 36Won general$86,600 $62,925
2022Tennessee House of Representatives District 36Won general$87,850 $73,197
2020Tennessee House of Representatives District 36Won general$90,991 N/A**
2018Tennessee House of Representatives District 36Won general$89,102 N/A**
2016Tennessee House of Representatives, District 36Won $105,540 N/A**
2014Tennessee State House, District 36Won $67,340 N/A**
2012Tennessee State House, District 36Won $57,949 N/A**
2010Tennessee State House, District 36Won $121,819 N/A**
1996Tennessee State House, District 36Lost $20,413 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Tennessee

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Tennessee scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.


2024


2023


2022


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


2012


2011

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Powers and his wife, Tracy, live in Jacksboro, Tennessee.

See also

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External links

Officeholder

Tennessee House of Representatives District 36
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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ The New York Times, "Election 2016," accessed November 11, 2016
    2. ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2016 general election results - Tennessee House of Representatives," accessed January 19, 2017
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Candidate Petitions Filed as of April 8, 2016 Noon Qualifying Deadline," accessed April 11, 2016
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Tennessee Secretary of State, "August 4, 2016 Unofficial Election Results," accessed August 4, 2016
    5. ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "August 7, 2014 Election Results," accessed September 11, 2014
    6. ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "Petitions Filed for State Senate and State House of Representatives," accessed April 5, 2014
    7. ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2012 List of Candidates," accessed April 18, 2014
    8. ↑ Tennessee Department of State, "Election Results," accessed April 18, 2014
    9. ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2010 Primary Election Official Results," accessed April 18, 2014
    10. ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2010 Tennessee General election results," accessed April 18, 2014
    11. ↑ Dennis H. Powers, "Platform," accessed July 8, 2016
    12. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    13. ↑ Tennessee Bar Association, "Nashville Chamber Releases 2015 Legislative Scorecard," accessed November 10, 2015
    14. ↑ Tennessee Bar Association, "Nashville Chamber Releases 2015 Legislative Scorecard," accessed November 10, 2015

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    -     		Tennessee House of Representatives District 36
    2010-Present    		 Succeeded by
    -


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