Mandy Cook, a Democrat and Hendersonville physical therapist assistant, is running for Tennessee House of Representatives District 45 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. She faces Republican Brian Stewart.

Asked in the Hendersonville Register's candidate questionnaire why she is running, Cook said: "I felt my current state house representative was not focused on improving the lives of Tennesseans. Too often our state legislators are caught up in trying to amplify culture wars and advance a federal agenda instead of focusing on the constituents right in front them … We want strong public schools, cheaper groceries and gas, and roads that meet our expectations."

Cook said in our questionnaire that this is her first race: "This is my first time running for office!"

Candidate information

Hometown: Cook said she is "originally from Mount Gilead, Ohio, a small farm town" and moved to Tennessee in 2007, according to her campaign website.

Residence: Cook and her husband moved to Hendersonville in 2019, according to her campaign website.

Family: "My husband and I have one son who is four and a half. His name is Archer but we usually call him Archie. In 2020 we adopted a husky from Proverbs Rescue, and his name is Ziggy," Cook said in our questionnaire.

Education: "I was very fortunate to benefit from Governor Haslam's Tennessee Reconnect program. After some college in my early twenties, I went back to school at 28 for my Associates in Health Sciences from Vol State," Cook said in our questionnaire.

Occupation: "I work in physical therapy at one of Nashville's major hospitals helping patients recover and get stronger after major health issues … I originally came to the Nashville area to pursue a career in music, which was my full time job for most of my twenties," Cook said in our questionnaire.

Military connections: "I am the proud sister of a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps and the daughter of a Navy veteran," Cook said in our questionnaire.

Experience and public service

Cook said she founded Indivisible Sumner, a community organizing group, according to her campaign website. Asked what qualifies her, she said in our questionnaire: "I've spent many hours down at our state legislature engaging with our state legislative process … In my work in healthcare, I interact with people from all walks of life on a daily basis."

On the issues

Education: Cook said on her campaign issues page that one of her top priorities is repealing the school voucher program. She also called for reducing class sizes, upgrading facilities, increasing educator pay and expanding support services, according to her BallotReady profile.

Healthcare: Cook said she believes "everybody has a right to the full spectrum of care, no matter their job, income level, or zip code," according to her BallotReady profile. She took the Patients Over Profits pledge, according to her campaign issues page. She supports keeping medical decisions "between patients, families, and doctors — not politicians," according to her BallotReady profile.

Economy and taxes: Cook called for eliminating the grocery tax and raising the minimum wage, according to her BallotReady profile.

Cannabis: Cook said she supports legalizing cannabis in Tennessee and backs the "Pot for Potholes" bill that would direct tax revenue to infrastructure repairs, according to her campaign website.

Data centers: Cook said on her campaign issues page that she opposes AI data centers that "harm land, contaminate water, pollute air, raise utility bills, and exploit communities." She supports requiring data centers to offset utility cost increases, according to her BallotReady profile.

Contrast with opponent: Asked about differences with Stewart, Cook said in our questionnaire: "I don't take any corporate money, because I believe that compromises a candidate's values … My funding has come from voters in my district."

Endorsements

Cook has received endorsements from these organizations, according to her campaign website and BallotReady:

  • TAPP
  • Change TN
  • SEIU Local 205
  • Run for Something
  • Harvesting Democracy PAC
  • National Women's Political Caucus Tennessee
  • Progressive Voters Network
  • The Tennessee Report
  • Tennessee Women's Political Caucus
  • Her Bold Move

Candidate responses were collected through the Hendersonville Register's candidate questionnaire. Answers are presented in the candidate's own words.