Dean
Arnold
Chattanooga journalist and author running as an independent for Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District in 2026
- sources
- 3
- positions
- 6
- endorsements
- 0
Background
Dean Arnold is an independent candidate running for U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 general election. He is based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he has worked as a journalist, writer, and publisher for decades, having moved to Chattanooga in 1982 to attend Covenant College. [13, 14, 17]
Arnold graduated from Covenant College with an emphasis in philosophy and history. His career has included writing books, articles, newsletters, investigative reports, and corporate histories, as well as ghostwriting and publishing The Chattanooga Fax for many years. [13, 14, 17]
Arnold initially filed to run as a Republican but withdrew and re-filed as an independent on March 5, 2026. He faces Republican incumbent Chuck Fleischmann on the November ballot. The sources reviewed do not document any prior elected office held by Arnold; he has noted a 2010 school board run in which he lost by 59 votes. [3, 7, 14, 15]
At a glance
- Party
- Independent
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 3, Tennessee
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Website
- dean-w-arnold.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 12newsDean Arnold confirmed among TN-03 candidates as early voting approaches
The Center Square reported that the District 3 ballot includes Republican incumbent Chuck Fleischmann, Democrat Anna Golladay, Independent Dean Arnold, and four other Independent candidates, ahead of early voting beginning October 14 and Election Day on November 3.
Early voting begins Wednesday in Tennessee · Oct 12, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 28newsDean Arnold listed as Independent candidate on TN-03 ballot by ChamberLight
ChamberLight listed Arnold as one of seven candidates on the ballot in Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District, in a race with nine candidates filed total. Research on Arnold's policy positions was noted as incomplete across the 15 tracked topics.
Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District 2026: Golladay vs. Fleischmann | ChamberLight · Sep 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Sources 3
- [1] Early voting begins Wednesday in Tennessee(opens in a new tab) Oct 12, 2026
- [2] Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District 2026: Golladay vs. Fleischmann | ChamberLight(opens in a new tab) Sep 28, 2026
- [3] Dean Arnold — 2026 Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District Election | Smarter.Vote(opens in a new tab) Aug 30, 2026