Charles Van Morgan
Independent | Tennessee
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
Nashville School of Law, Nashville, Doctor of Jurisprudence, 2015-
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Master of Arts Sociology, 2001
Tennessee Wesleyan College, Athens, Bachelor of Science, 1996
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
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OTHER INFORMATION
Daughter of Tennessee interview, includes 3 candidates for Governor. July 31, 2026.
Morgan completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection Survey in 2022.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Agree
Agree. Taxpayer money should not fund abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood. Abortion should be limited to legitimate medical emergencies, such as when the mother’s life is in danger—not used as a form of birth control.
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Abortion should be allowed when the mother’s life is in danger or the unborn child has a condition incompatible with life. After appropriate counseling, exceptions may also be considered in cases of rape, incest, or a severe fetal abnormality—but not simply because the child may have a disability or a condition the child can live with. We should not decide that another person’s life has less value because of a disability.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Strongly agree. Human life is a gift from God and should be protected from conception until natural death whenever reasonably and humanly possible.
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Agree
Agree. Human embryos created through artificial reproductive methods are human lives and should be protected from intentional destruction.
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Disagree
Agree. The Comstock Act should be enforced against the interstate shipment of drugs intended for unlawful elective abortions, while preserving access for legitimate medical treatment and lawful emergencies, including situations in which the mother’s life is in danger.
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
The minimum wage should be increased to approximately $25 per hour, with very few exceptions, so that people who work full-time can afford life’s basic necessities.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Strongly agree. Government should generally stay out of private business, except to ensure that large corporations treat workers fairly. Too many powerful companies currently exploit American workers.
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
1. End nepotism, patronage, and useless government jobs. 2. Require competitive contracts and stop political favoritism. 3. Eliminate offices and positions that do not serve the public. 4. Prioritize Tennessee-made and American-made products. 5. Reduce excessive salaries for judges and high-ranking officials.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
1. The government must stay out of religion. It cannot establish, control, favor, or interfere with religion, except through neutral laws that apply equally to everyone.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Disagree
Disagree. Private businesses should generally make their own decisions, but that freedom does not permit unlawful discrimination in public services, such as refusing to serve someone because of race.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
B. In a civilized society, everyone should have access to a decent minimum level of healthcare, while preserving private healthcare options.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Disagree
Disagree. The government should not maintain a database identifying people by their illnesses. However, anonymous statistics should be used to anticipate healthcare needs and costs. No one in a civilized society should suffer without medical care because they are unable to pay.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
Strongly agree. China is a major competitor that sometimes uses unfair or illegitimate methods. The Chinese surveillance balloon that crossed the United States showed why federal and state governments must remain vigilant against military, cybersecurity, intellectual-property, and economic threats.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes. Israel is a valuable strategic partner and ally against terrorism and threats from Iran. My Christian faith also teaches that God blesses those who bless Israel. That does not mean doing everything Israel asks; cooperation must serve America’s interests. We must reject antisemitism and stand for Israel’s right to exist and defend itself, especially after Hamas brutally killed civilians and took hostages on October 7.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree. I support legal immigration that benefits America, but I do not support sanctuary cities that shield undocumented immigrants from lawful enforcement.
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Disagree
Disagree. I support keeping the U.S. Department of Education to assist states and communities while preserving local control. We must provide every reasonable resource available to help educate our children.
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Disagree
Disagree. Foreign governments should not be allowed to buy influence over American education, curriculum, or research. However, limited and fully disclosed educational partnerships may be permitted when they benefit the United States and leave American institutions in control.
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Agree
Agree. Parents have the primary responsibility for their children and are generally in the best position to direct their health and education. Government should respect and support those parental decisions.
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
Strongly agree. Children are not mature enough to make life-altering or permanent decisions about gender transition. They should receive compassionate care and protection until they are old enough to make informed adult decisions.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Agree
Agree. Marriage is a sacred union between one man and one woman. However, other legal unions should be available so people in committed households can share healthcare and other necessary benefits that protect human life.
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Disagree
Disagree. Gambling acts like a self-imposed tax and can be highly addictive. Tennessee already has enough gambling and should not expand it further.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian. I believe that God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, and that the Bible is the holy, perfect, and inspired Word of God. My values are love, forgiveness, and compassion for all. God gave me a fighter’s spirit to peacefully confront evil and work toward a better life for everyone.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
Disagree. Voters should be required to present a legitimate photo ID to protect the fairness and integrity of our elections. Government-issued voter identification should be free and reasonably accessible to every eligible voter.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Disagree
Disagree. Government should not award benefits based solely on race. We should acknowledge past injustice while moving forward by ending present discrimination and creating a fair society with equal opportunity for everyone.
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
Strongly agree. Allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports is unfair, and women deserve privacy and safety in sex-separated spaces such as bathrooms, locker rooms, shelters, sorority houses, and prisons.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Agree
Agree. Man-made climate change requires responsible action, but not policies that destroy the economy or unfairly burden American workers. The responsibility and costs must be shared fairly across industries and nations.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Nuclear energy is the most reliable option for meeting our growing electricity needs. I support expanding nuclear power with strong safety standards and responsible waste management .
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Lean Conservative
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
The criminal justice system should protect society, prevent and reduce crime, support victims, and treat offenders with reasonable compassion while holding them accountable. Justice must apply equally to everyone, including wealthy and privileged offenders. We need greater attention to white-collar crime, fraud, and corruption that harm large numbers of people—not just street crime. A suit, wealth, or political connections should never shield anyone from accountability.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
Agree. Internet crimes units across America should continue identifying and catching offenders who sexually exploit children online. Protecting our children must remain a government priority.
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Agree
Agree. Sharia law should not be incorporated into American law. Our legal system must uphold the Constitution and equal rights for everyone while respecting each person’s freedom to practice their religion.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I support the right to own firearms, including rifles. Restrictions should focus on bombs and weapons of mass destruction, not taking firearms away from law-abiding citizens.
