Van Hilleary
TN-06 Republican nominee?
$17.4K
AUG 7, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer U.S. Representative
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age66 years old (Jun 20, 1959)
GenderMale
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LocationTennessee
BackgroundPolitician
EducationB.S., University of Tennessee, Knoxville (1981)
Notable personal detailsWilliam Vanderpool “Van” Hilleary is an American politician, attorney, and former U.S. Air Force officer who represented Tennessee’s 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House (1995–2003). He later ran for Tennessee governor (2002) and sought the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate (2006). He has worked in private-sector roles and served on the staff of U.S. Rep. John Rose before launching a campaign for Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District.
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Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports lower taxes and opposes new or higher income taxes, including any form of a state income tax; frames past votes and rhetoric as resisting large tax increases and promoting limited government spending. Positions emphasize tax cuts and reducing the tax burden rather than expanding taxation or redistribution.
Healthcare
Supports market-oriented reforms such as medical savings accounts and prescription drug subsidies while advocating cost-containment measures for state Medicaid/TennCare (for example greater use of generics). Voting record and campaign statements indicate preference for private-market solutions rather than single-payer or universal-government coverage expansions.
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Immigration & Border
Supports stronger border security and enforcement of existing immigration laws and opposes amnesty for individuals in the U.S. illegally. Has criticized Biden administration immigration policies and emphasizes securing the border.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Opposes abortion and has a pro-life voting record, supporting federal bans such as the partial-birth abortion ban and generally aligning with anti-abortion positions. Past public record and ratings indicate consistent opposition to abortion rights.
Climate & Energy
Van Hilleary has a long congressional voting record with low scores from environmental groups and votes supporting fossil fuel development and opposing some renewables and international climate actions. His lifetime League of Conservation Voters score is very low, and historical roll-call votes include opposing implementation of the Kyoto Protocol and supporting drilling and measures that reduce renewables funding.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports protecting Second Amendment rights and opposes efforts to roll back existing gun rights; supports fully funding and backing local law enforcement and holding violent repeat offenders accountable. Emphasizes alignment with President Trump’s law-and-order priorities on public safety and border security.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
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We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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