Rodney
Joe King
Independent candidate Rodney Joe King, retired Navy captain and former science teacher, seeks Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District seat in 2026.
- sources
- 5
- positions
- 9
- endorsements
- 0
Background
Rodney Joe King is an independent candidate running in the November 3, 2026 general election for Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District. He is listed on the Hamilton County official sample ballot among the district's candidates. 1313
According to his campaign biography as summarized by Smarter.Vote, King served in the U.S. Navy from 1982 to 2006, retiring as a captain. He subsequently worked as a public-school science teacher in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and sources also note CEO experience, though the organization and dates are not specified. 2
King graduated from Marion County High School, earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1978, and a graduate degree from East Tennessee State University in 1996. He is listed as residing in Powell, Tennessee. 213
No prior elected office or legislative voting record has been identified in available sources. The district's incumbent is Republican Chuck Fleischmann. 82
At a glance
- Party
- Independent
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 3, Tennessee
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Website
- rodneyjoeking.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 12filingKing confirmed among seven candidates on Nov. 3 general-election ballot for TN-03
The Center Square reported that King was among seven candidates on the November 3 general-election ballot for Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District, alongside Republican Chuck Fleischmann, Democrat Anna Golladay, and four other independents.
Early voting begins Wednesday in Tennessee · Oct 12, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 7newsRodney Joe King schedules town hall at Oak Forest Farm in Powell, TN
The Oak Ridger reported that King, running as an independent in Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District, invited the public to a town hall at Oak Forest Farm in Powell. Announced topics included fuel, food and housing affordability, the Iran war, national debt, artificial intelligence, data centers, Flock cameras, and nuclear-waste disposal. The article noted firearms were welcome under stated safety and legal conditions. The event was scheduled for Oct. 10; no account of whether it took place was reported.
Candidate for congressional seat schedules town hall meeting - NewsBreak · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 28newsChamberLight election overview lists King as independent in TN-03 with no fundraising total reported
A September 28 election overview, updated October 4, listed Rodney Joe King as an independent candidate in TN-03 but showed no campaign fundraising amount for him, while reporting totals for the major-party candidates. This is not confirmed proof that King had no campaign funds.
Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District 2026: Golladay vs. Fleischmann | ChamberLight · Sep 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Sources 5
- [1] Early voting begins Wednesday in Tennessee(opens in a new tab) Oct 12, 2026
- [2] Candidate for congressional seat schedules town hall meeting - NewsBreak(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
- [3] Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District 2026: Golladay vs. Fleischmann | ChamberLight(opens in a new tab) Sep 28, 2026
- [4] Rodney Joe King for Congress(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
- [5] Rodney Joe King — 2026 Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District Election | Smarter.Vote(opens in a new tab) Aug 30, 2026