Dean Clouse

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Dean Clouse

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 4, 2022

Education

Associate

Community College of the Air Force, 2011

Bachelor's

Tennessee Technological University, 2014

Other

University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 2017

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Air Force

Years of service

2008 - 2012

Personal

Religion

Christian

Profession

Physical Therapist

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Dean Clouse (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Tennessee's 8th Congressional District. He lost in the Republican primary on August 4, 2022.

Clouse completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Dean Clouse served in the U.S. Air Force from 2008 to 2012. He earned an associate degree from the Community College of the Air Force in 2011, a bachelor's degree from Tennessee Technological University in 2014, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 2017. His career experience includes working as a physical therapist and a police officer in the Air Force.

Elections

2022

See also: Tennessee's 8th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Tennessee District 8

Incumbent David Kustoff defeated Lynnette Williams, James Hart, and Ronnie Henley in the general election for U.S. House Tennessee District 8 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		David Kustoff (R)	74.0	155,602
	Submit photo	Lynnette Williams (D)	24.3	51,102
		James Hart (Independent)	1.2	2,541
		Ronnie Henley (Independent)	0.5	1,070

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 210,315
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8

Lynnette Williams defeated Tim McDonald in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8 on August 4, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Lynnette Williams	63.3	15,819
		Tim McDonald	36.7	9,187

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 25,006
= 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 U.S. House Tennessee District 8

Incumbent David Kustoff defeated Bob Hendry, Danny Bridger Jr., and Dean Clouse in the Republican primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8 on August 4, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		David Kustoff	83.7	69,538
		Bob Hendry	8.4	6,990
		Danny Bridger Jr.	5.1	4,233
		Dean Clouse	2.8	2,291

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 83,052
= 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.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Dean Clouse completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Clouse's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a fed up American who is tired of self-serving politicians, instead of people who will fight for our rights! I want to see a brighter future for our kids, not be treated like one by those we elect.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• We must stop COVID tyranny and make sure it never happens again!
• We must Fix 2020! Election integrity must be upheld in all future elections as well to make sure our votes counts!
• Time to stop indoctrination of our children! Let's make sure our kids learn facts, not personal narratives from their teachers!

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I feel we need to stop rule by executive orders to reign in tyranny we've seen since COVID began. We need to remind the government that they are only allowed to govern as long as We the People allow it since we are the ultimate people in charge here!

We need to Fix 2020! We all know Biden did not win and there is massive evidence of it which courts are corruptly ignoring! Then, we must make sure that state legislatures take back their power in certification from state executive branches and that the federal government does not initiate involvement in any future elections!

We need to pass legislation that holds educators accountable when they begin pushing their own personal beliefs, narratives, and agendas on our children! They are there to teach facts, not institute biases! On that same coin, we need school choice with the public school system! The competitiveness that would create would force subpar schools to improve and it would allow all students/parents to choose the best school for their needs and desires!

We need to finish the border wall!
We need to hold big tech accountable for violating 1st Amendment rights while they take millions of dollars of taxpayers' money from our government!
We need to get rid of corrupt politicians on BOTH sides of the aisle!

There is much to be done, and I want to be the one fighting for Tennessee and America in Tennessee's 8th District!

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

While I have several people that I look up to and greatly respect, such as my late grandfather and my parents, I tend to find qualities in people that I seek to adopt, instead of their entire example. I want to be the example for my children and show them that it is okay to always fight for what is right, to love your country, to respect everyone worthy of it, and treat everyone as they would want to be treated!

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Very simply, they should actually represent the people who elected them and not themselves. They should work to preserve the Constitution, not alter or bend it. They should use their voice to bring light to those seeking to do the opposite!

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

I believe anyone elected by the people in America have a responsibility, first and foremost, to the Constitution and the people they represent. They are not parents, they are peers and should act as such.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

U.S. House is unique in that these representatives are representing smaller geographical areas than Senate at the Federal level. These reps can bring their constituents' views and values to Congress easier than Senators and these reps, theoretically, should be easier to meet and speak with!

The House are the true representatives of the people in an ideal world that isn't corrupt. I plan to represent my district that way. To stay in touch with those I represent and take their values to the federal government!

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe it can be, however, I believe that more that do not have this experience should be in office. Experience in government creates a unilateral way of thinking when we clearly need people from all walks of life that see things from different perspectives. We need people who bring something different to the table!

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Over the next decade, I think our biggest challenge that lies ahead is getting rid of the corruption (cabal) we clearly have in various levels of government. We need to root them all out and punish those responsible for working against America and our people! I believe the punishment should absolutely fit the severity of the crime as well!

After that, returning our government to how it was meant to be in 1776. Clearly, amendments that reestablish God given rights for everyone regardless of ethnicity or gender should continue, but we need to vastly reduce our government and bring back true freedom to all Americans!

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes. This allows We the People to change our representatives often if they are not doing their job! Its a blessing it's only 2 years if we use it to get rid of the rot we have in Congress!

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I think we should have placed term limits on Congress well over a century ago! It's very clear that people are making a career out of Congress and those seem to be the politicians most questionable as far as whether or not they are honorable! Americans need to serve in Congress for an allotted time and then return to their normal careers! I lean towards thinking that we should have two terms for Senators for a total of 12 years and 3 terms for House members for a total of 6 years.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I bring my own personality to the table, however I would say I ad mire how I've seen Jim Jordan from Ohio handle himself in Congress so far. I would be one to call out a lot of problems like he does and bring attention to the lies that We the People are told everyday!

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

I believe compromise is necessary on some issues, while absolutely not on others. When it comes to the 2nd Amendment or putting Americans on a list through a federal vaccine database, there should be zero compromise. I would allow the government to come to full stop without hesitation to protect the rights of Americans if given that opportunity!

On other issues, like giving money for infrastructure in America in order to something my constituents want, I'd be willing to compromise as long as the money is clearly going to American infrastructure. I don't think we should be sending money to foreign countries when we are $30 trillion in debt and we have Americans that could benefit!

Basically, I believe the policy matters and the situation matters whether or not a compromise should be made!

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

I would speak with my constituents and find out what they think and want. I'd use that knowledge gained to make decisions on any bills related to revenue.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2022 Elections

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Government

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External links

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Candidate

U.S. House Tennessee District 8

Website

Facebook

Footnotes

[show]

Tennessee's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Marsha Blackburn (R)

Bill Hagerty (R)

Representatives

District 1

Diana Harshbarger (R)

District 2

Tim Burchett (R)

District 3

Charles Fleischmann (R)

District 4

Scott DesJarlais (R)

District 5

Andy Ogles (R)

District 6

John Rose (R)

District 7

Vacant

District 8

David Kustoff (R)

District 9

Steve Cohen (D)

Republican Party (9)

Democratic Party (1)

Vacancies (1)