Republican · Tennessee's 4th District · 2026
Scott DesJarlais
DesJarlais grew up in Sturgis, South Dakota, with a barber for a father and a nurse for a mother.
Biography
Scott DesJarlais's first job was shining shoes for 25 cents a shine, followed by work washing cars and handling parts at a dealership.1 His father was a barber, and his mother spent 44 years nursing at Fort Meade Veterans Hospital.1 He and his wife, Amy, have three children and attend Epiphany Episcopal Church in Sherwood.2
DesJarlais earned degrees in chemistry and psychology and his medical degree at the University of South Dakota.2 He moved to Tennessee to practice general medicine in Marion County before entering politics.1 Voters first elected him to Congress in 2010.2
He serves on the House Armed Services and Agriculture committees and chairs the Strategic Forces Subcommittee.2 In April 2025, he chaired a hearing reviewing American strategic capabilities, with testimony from the commanders of Strategic Command, Space Command and Northern Command.3 He also belongs to the House Freedom Caucus and GOP Doctors Caucus.2
DesJarlais emphasizes reducing federal spending, lowering taxes and limiting the size of government.1 He also identifies protecting gun ownership rights and supporting Tennessee farmers among the priorities he brings to his work in Congress.1 His office also identifies immigration enforcement, national security and changing federal food assistance policy as priorities.2 DesJarlais faces Democrat Victoria Broderick and two independents.4
Record and controversies
Medical board ruling
A May 2013 Tennessee medical board ruling required DesJarlais to pay a $500 fine for sexual relationships with two patients he was treating, plus a separate $1,000 for investigation costs, according to contemporaneous reporting by Roll Call.5 DesJarlais said he took responsibility for past mistakes and wanted the matter resolved; his spokesperson said he accepted the board's ruling.5 This was professional discipline, rather than a criminal conviction established by the cited report.5