Image Credit: jodybarrettfortennessee.com, votegino.com, parksfortn.com, treswittum.com & Canva
The Tennessee Conservative [ By Olivia Lupia] –
In the second installment of our survey series, the District 7 candidates clarify whether they think elections are safe and secure and how faith shapes both their personal and political lives.
*Note: All 11 qualified Republican candidates were afforded the opportunity to participate in the survey, only 4 completed the questionnaire. Each candidate was asked the same questions, and their responses are presented verbatim. Candidate responses are in the same order in which their names will appear on the ballot.
Do you believe elections (federal down to local) nationwide are secure? Why or why not?
Jody Barrett: Across the nation, mail-in ballots, ballot harvesting, and weak voter ID laws undermine our Constitutional Republic. Tennessee has strong laws, but even here, there is an insidious movement to prevent the closure of our primaries and expand the use of voting machines which allow democrats to influence our primaries and open the door for fraud. I support no-nonsense safeguards: voter ID, same-day voting with limited exceptions (including for our military), cleaning up voter rolls, and banning ballot harvesting. Until every citizen can trust that elections are fair and secure, we must keep strengthening them.
Gino Bulso: No. And I fully support President Trump’s Executive Order No. 14248, which seeks to limit mail-in ballots and expand the use of paper ballots. Elections are the lifeblood of a Republic, but today many Americans no longer trust them. We have seen irregularities, unsecured processes, and partisan manipulation. Tennessee has strong protections, but nationally, vulnerabilities remain. Democrats resist commonsense safeguards like voter ID, and by doing so undermine confidence in the system. Without election integrity, liberty perishes.
Stewart Parks: By-mail ballots are not secure. Period. I’m concerned by voting irregularities that have gone uninvestigated in states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Obviously, the support for President Trump was so significant in 2024 that any efforts at voter fraud were easily overcome.
Tres Wittum: No. Too many weak voter ID laws, ballot harvesting, and unsecured mail-in ballots have shaken trust. Some local races are run well, but at the federal level we’ve seen chaos. Every legal vote must count, and every illegal vote must be thrown out. That’s why I support strong voter ID, verified citizenship, and paper ballots. Election security is the foundation of our republic.
Describe your faith life?
Jody Barrett: My Christian faith is central to who I am and my world view. I strive to follow the command of Jesus Christ every day to love the Lord, my God, with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind, and love my neighbors as myself. As State Representative, my door has always been open to people of all points of view. My faith shapes how I raise my family, serve, and lead. At the heart of my campaign is a calling. I will work to preserve a nation where we put God first, defend liberty, and protect life.
Gino Bulso: My Catholic faith is the foundation of my life, my family, and my public service. Faith teaches that freedom comes not from government but from God, and that without virtue, liberty collapses. I live this through daily prayer, fellowship with my church, and striving to honor Christ in my service. In the legislature, I have defended life, religious liberty, and family values, because these are not political slogans—they are eternal truths. In Congress, I will continue to defend those truths so our children and grandchildren may inherit a country anchored in faith, not swallowed by secular relativism.
Stewart Parks: I’m proud to say that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, and I’m a firm believer that our nation is best when it claims its Judeo-Christian heritage. I attend Faith is the Victory Church in Nashville.
Tres Wittum: I’m a Spirit-filled, born-again believer, and my faith is in Christ alone. My walk with Jesus isn’t about politics — it’s about conviction. I’ve stood up and spoken out because I felt called to, even with no guarantee of reward, only the certainty that I couldn’t stay silent. My faith has shaped my life and my work, and it drives me to serve with courage, humility, and integrity. Everything I do begins and ends with my faith in Him.
Read the first installment HERE where the candidates questions on tackling Illegal Immigration & Fighting For Tennessee In D.C.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
