Clay
Faircloth
Independent Clay Faircloth, pastor and career coach, challenges incumbent Scott DesJarlais in Tennessee's 4th District in 2026
- sources
- 5
- positions
- 12
- endorsements
- 0
Background
Clay Faircloth is an Independent candidate running for U.S. House in Tennessee's 4th Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 general election. He lives in Donelson, Tennessee, and describes himself as born and raised just east of Nashville. [1, 17]
Faircloth currently serves as a pastor at an East Nashville church and provides career coaching for Metro Nashville. Before entering pastoral and counseling work, he worked in his family's plumbing business and at Nissan's Smyrna plant, where he was promoted to management within three years. [1, 17]
He holds a bachelor's degree in leadership from Williamson Christian College and a master's degree in counseling from Trevecca Nazarene University. 1 Faircloth has not held elected office; he previously ran for Tennessee's 6th Congressional District in 2022 and 2024 without winning. [1, 3]
His 2026 opponents include Republican incumbent Scott DesJarlais and Democrat Victoria Broderick. [9, 11] His campaign website and X account still reference his prior District 6 campaign. [3, 17]
At a glance
- Party
- Independent
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 4, Tennessee
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Pastor and Metro Nashville career coach
- Website
- fairclothforcongress.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Sep 30filingNashville Banner confirms Faircloth on TN-04 general-election ballot as independent
The Nashville Banner reported that 'Jacob Anders and Clay Faircloth are on the ballot as independents' for the TN-04 general election on November 3, 2026. The report did not provide details on the date or specifics of his ballot qualification filing.
Broderick, DesJarlais meet again in redrawn 4th district · Sep 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 28newsWSMV profiles Faircloth as independent candidate for TN-04, notes prior runs in 6th District
WSMV listed Clay Faircloth as an independent candidate for Tennessee's 4th Congressional District and summarized his background, including previous campaign runs in the 6th District. No new policy announcement or campaign development was reported.
Here's everything you need to know about TN's candidates ... · Sep 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 13newsFaircloth posts campaign video calling for 'liberty and justice for ALL' in TN-04
Smarter.Vote reports that Clay Faircloth posted a campaign video calling on voters to 'make your voice heard to restore liberty and justice for ALL in Tennessee's Fourth District.' No specific policy proposal was identified.
Clay Faircloth (I) – TN-04 House 2026 | Smarter.Vote · Sep 27, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Sources 5
- [1] Broderick, DesJarlais meet again in redrawn 4th district(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [2] Here's everything you need to know about TN's candidates ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 28, 2026
- [3] Clay Faircloth (I) – TN-04 House 2026 | Smarter.Vote(opens in a new tab) Sep 27, 2026
- [4] Clay Faircloth(opens in a new tab) Jul 17, 2024
- [5] Clay Faircloth | BallotReady(opens in a new tab) Aug 4, 2022