Joshua
Ray Ashburn
Independent candidate for Tennessee's 1st Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 general election
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- positions
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- endorsements
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Background
Joshua Ray Ashburn is an independent candidate running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee's 1st Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 general election. He is from Bristol, Tennessee, and is challenging incumbent Republican Diana Harshbarger. 110
Ashburn's LinkedIn profile lists his current occupation as head custodian at Bristol Tennessee City Schools, a position he has held since August 2022. Prior to that role, his profile records work in construction maintenance, stock control, customer service, cellular sales, recycling coordination, and bar work between 2016 and 2022. 16
He attended Northeast State Community College, studying Business Administration and Management, General, from 2011 to 2012; the profile does not specify a degree. Ashburn previously filed as an independent candidate for the same seat in 2024 but withdrew from that race. Politics1 also lists him as a 2010 Tennessee state-representative candidate, though no prior elected office is documented in available sources. 15167
At a glance
- Party
- Independent
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 1, Tennessee
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Head Custodian, Bristol Tennessee City Schools
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
No sourced positions are on file yet.
Timeline
- Oct 12newsAshburn named among independent candidates in TN-01 race against Harshbarger and Burke
A report by The Center Square listed Ashburn among the independent candidates running in Tennessee's 1st Congressional District alongside Republican incumbent Diana Harshbarger and Democrat Kristi Burke, ahead of early voting beginning that day.
Early voting begins Wednesday in Tennessee · Oct 12, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 9newsAshburn listed as independent TN-01 candidate in iVoterGuide general election voter guide
iVoterGuide listed Joshua Ray Ashburn as an independent candidate for Tennessee's 1st District in the November 3, 2026 general election.
TN voter guide for the General election on Nov 03, 2026. - iVoterGuide · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 30newsAshburn releases first campaign ad, takes jabs at 'politicians'
The Kingsport Times News reported that Ashburn, described as a rookie political candidate, released his first campaign ad. The ad reportedly jabbed at 'politicians,' though specific contents could not be fully verified from available source text.
Election 2026: Rookie political candidate releases 1st ad, ... · Sep 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 28filingJoshua Ray Ashburn listed as independent candidate on TN-01 general election ballot
ChamberLight's district guide listed Ashburn among seven candidates on the November 3 general election ballot for Tennessee's 1st Congressional District, running as an independent. Campaign receipts were listed as '—'.
Tennessee's 1st Congressional District 2026: Burke vs. Harshbarger | ChamberLight · Sep 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Sources 4
- [1] Early voting begins Wednesday in Tennessee(opens in a new tab) Oct 12, 2026
- [2] TN voter guide for the General election on Nov 03, 2026. - iVoterGuide(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [3] Election 2026: Rookie political candidate releases 1st ad, ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [4] Tennessee's 1st Congressional District 2026: Burke vs. Harshbarger | ChamberLight(opens in a new tab) Sep 28, 2026