# Dennis Powers

Dennis Powers is a Republican member of the Tennessee House for district 36.

- Party: Republican
- Seat: Tennessee House, district 36
- Serving since: 2010-11-02
- Current term: TN 2025–26 session
- Open States ID: ocd-person/67643e56-9e53-437b-999d-987f8b0692c1

Source: https://americaspoliticalpulse.com/p/67643e56-9e53-437b-999d-987f8b0692c1 (America’s Political Pulse, Polarization Research Lab), data through 2026-10-27. Data under CC BY 4.0. Cite as: Westwood, Sean J., and Yphtach Lelkes. 2024. America's Political Pulse [data set].

## Headline

Powers reported $150.2K in the 2026 cycle, in the top quarter of State House Republicans (median $33.7K).

## What Powers says (TN 2025–26 session)

51 classified statements: 51 posts on X. Each rate is the share of statements with the label, against the State House Republicans average; rank 1 is the highest rate.

| Label | Powers | State House Republicans average | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal attacks | 2.0% | 2.9% | 307 of 791 |
| Policy criticism | 2.0% | 9.3% | 593 of 791 |
| Policy discussion | 19.6% | 31.9% | 573 of 791 |
| Bipartisanship | 0.0% | 1.8% | 677 of 791 |
| Credit claiming | 9.8% | 12.7% | 404 of 791 |
| Extreme labels | 2.0% | 1.4% | 198 of 791 |

Most discussed policy areas: Education 40% (State House Republicans 15%); Crime and Law Enforcement 20% (State House Republicans 11%); Immigration 20% (State House Republicans 4.7%); Armed Forces and National Security 10% (State House Republicans 4.9%); Economics and Public Finance 10% (State House Republicans 12%).

## Ideology (CSIP)

CSIP score +0.47 (standard error 0.03), from 68 donors and 807 roll calls. Negative is left of 0, positive right of it, on one scale for every official. 69% of State House Republicans score lower.

## Votes (TN 2025–26 session)

67 roll calls. Attendance 100% (Tennessee House 99.1%). Party unity 100% (96.3%). 1 votes against the party majority.

Key votes:

- 2025-01-30 · voted yea · FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 1/30/2025 Passed · HB 6004 Education - As enacted, enacts the "Education Freedom Scholarship Act." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49; Title 8 and Title 49. · pass · https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114S1/HB6004/
- 2025-01-30 · voted yea · FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR LAY ON THE TABLE MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 11 BY CAMPER PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 1/30/2025 Passed · HB 6004 Education - As enacted, enacts the "Education Freedom Scholarship Act." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49; Title 8 and Title 49. · pass · https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114S1/HB6004/
- 2025-01-30 · voted yea · FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR LAY ON THE TABLE MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 17 BY JOHNSON PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 1/30/2025 Passed · HB 6004 Education - As enacted, enacts the "Education Freedom Scholarship Act." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49; Title 8 and Title 49. · pass · https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114S1/HB6004/
- 2025-01-30 · voted yea · FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 1/30/2025 Passed · SB 6005 Appropriations - As enacted, makes appropriations sufficient for the payment of any lawful expenses of the first extraordinary session of the 114th… · pass · https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114S1/SB6005/
- 2025-01-30 · voted yea · FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR LAY ON THE TABLE MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 7 BY DIXIE PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 1/30/2025 Passed · HB 6004 Education - As enacted, enacts the "Education Freedom Scholarship Act." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49; Title 8 and Title 49. · pass · https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114S1/HB6004/
- 2025-01-30 · voted nay · FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 2 BY MITCHELL PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 1/30/2025 Failed · HB 6004 Education - As enacted, enacts the "Education Freedom Scholarship Act." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49; Title 8 and Title 49. · fail · https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114S1/HB6004/
- 2025-01-30 · voted yea · FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR LAY ON THE TABLE MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 15 BY SALINAS PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 1/30/2025 Passed · HB 6004 Education - As enacted, enacts the "Education Freedom Scholarship Act." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49; Title 8 and Title 49. · pass · https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114S1/HB6004/
- 2025-01-30 · voted nay · FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AMENDMENT # 3 BY PEARSON MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 1 BY CEPICKY PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 1/30/2025 Failed · HB 6004 Education - As enacted, enacts the "Education Freedom Scholarship Act." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49; Title 8 and Title 49. · fail · https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114S1/HB6004/
- 2025-01-30 · voted yea · FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 1/30/2025 Passed · SB 6002 Immigration - As enacted, creates within the department of safety the centralized immigration enforcement division, to be administered by the chief… · pass · https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114S1/SB6002/
- 2025-01-30 · voted yea · FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR LAY ON THE TABLE MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 21 BY HARDAWAY PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 1/30/2025 Passed · HB 6004 Education - As enacted, enacts the "Education Freedom Scholarship Act." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49; Title 8 and Title 49. · pass · https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114S1/HB6004/

## Legislation (TN 2025–26 session)

Sponsored 44 bills: 41 reached committee, 22 passed one chamber, 21 passed both, 21 became law. Cosponsored 0. 75.0% of sponsored bills got out of committee (Tennessee House 71.0%; rank 47 of 97).

Recent sponsored bills:

- HB 2671: Jellico - Subject to local approval, authorizes the levy of a privilege tax, not to exceed two percent, on the purchase of prepared food from restaurants. -… (in committee, 2026-04-21) https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB2671/
- HJR 1162: Memorials, Retirement - William "Ed" Bryant - (became law, 2026-04-22) https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HJR1162/
- HJR 1163: Memorials, Recognition - Claiborne High School Blue Battalion Band - (introduced, 2026-03-26) https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HJR1163/
- HR 166: Memorials, Recognition - Kailei Beeler, appointment to U.S. Naval Academy - (passed one chamber, 2026-03-10) https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HR166/
- HJR 962: Memorials, Retirement - Chief Freddy Stagnolia - (became law, 2026-04-22) https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HJR962/
- HJR 934: Memorials, Recognition - Donnie Poston, Elbert K. Fretwell Award - (became law, 2026-02-27) https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HJR934/
- HJR 935: Memorials, Recognition - Kelli Jo Wright, 2026 Campbell County Good Scout Award - (became law, 2026-02-27) https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HJR935/
- HJR 927: Memorials, Professional Achievement - Mark Goins, 2026-2027 President of the National Association of State Election Directors - (became law, 2026-03-11) https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HJR927/
- HB 2092: Health, Dept. of - As introduced, directs the department to create an outreach campaign regarding the ongoing research of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease;… (in committee, 2026-04-15) https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB2092/
- HJR 813: Memorials, Recognition - Greg Marlow - (became law, 2026-02-12) https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HJR813/

## Campaign money (2026 cycle)

Itemized receipts $150.2K (State House Republicans median $33.7K). 100% of itemized individual money came from in state. Aggregates only; no individual donors.

## Recent statements

Newest first. Posts on X are listed by date and link only.

- 2026-10-24 · Post on X · https://x.com/dennishpowers/status/2113979626678792336
- 2026-10-02 · Post on X · https://x.com/dennishpowers/status/2105868260717535516
- 2026-09-25 · Post on X · https://x.com/dennishpowers/status/2103315113105342517
- 2026-09-23 · Post on X · https://x.com/dennishpowers/status/2102887511257481254
- 2026-09-23 · Post on X · https://x.com/dennishpowers/status/2102887785099341925
- 2026-09-01 · Post on X · labels: policy discussion · https://x.com/dennishpowers/status/2094587466543968259
- 2026-07-24 · Post on X · labels: policy discussion · https://x.com/dennishpowers/status/2080666401140772989
- 2026-07-18 · Post on X · https://x.com/dennishpowers/status/2078442986682159118
- 2026-07-13 · Post on X · https://x.com/dennishpowers/status/2076784705991520608
- 2026-06-16 · Post on X · https://x.com/dennishpowers/status/2066948730620682596

## Links

- Official site: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H36
- X: https://x.com/dennishpowers
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PowersForThePeople/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dennishpowers/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennishpowers/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennis-powers-1349a32a/

Full profile, with every chart and the methods: https://americaspoliticalpulse.com/p/67643e56-9e53-437b-999d-987f8b0692c1