Catherine Barcel "Barcy" Whitson is running as an Independent for U.S. Senate in Tennessee's Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

Whitson, a Chattanooga resident, filed for the ballot by petition on Feb. 27, 2026, according to Tennessee Firefly. She said on her campaign website that her campaign is focused on "What Tennesseans Want" and that she is not beholden to any party.

The race includes Republican Bill Hagerty and Democratic candidate Marquita Bradshaw. Eight Independent candidates are also running: Whitson, Andrew Gerena, David Sutman Jr., James William Macon III, Jeremy Dean Hearn, Robert Jones, Tharon Chandler and Yoshi D. Matthews, according to BallotReady election data.

Candidate information

  • Full name: Catherine Barcel Whitson
  • Nickname: Barcy (short for her middle name Barcel), according to her campaign website
  • Party: Independent
  • Residence: East Brainerd area of Chattanooga, Tennessee, according to her campaign website
  • Family: Married to Randy Whitson; 42 years of marriage, according to her campaign website. They have lived in the East Brainerd area for 40 years.
  • Education: Bachelor of fine arts in dance and physical education, with a minor in science, according to her campaign website

Experience and public service

Whitson described her background on her campaign website as including work as an insurance professional and volunteer roles as a life coach, pastor, prayer minister and mentor. She listed no prior elected office.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Whitson's campaign website. They reflect the candidate's stated priorities.

Healthcare: Whitson said she supports maximizing cooperation across healthcare entities, improving accessibility, reducing prescription drug costs, protecting rural hospitals and promoting and protecting programs for veterans, senior citizens and those in need.

Education: Whitson said she supports boosting funding for public schools, expanding vocational training, promoting private and home schooling, finding ways to pay off student debt and making every school venue safe and secure.

Affordable housing: Whitson said she advocates for assistance for what she described as approximately 10,000 unhoused Tennesseans. She proposed partnering with churches and businesses to create safe tiny house communities.

Economic growth: Whitson said she supports lowering costs, creating high-paying jobs and supporting local small businesses. She also promoted green energy, safe water, waste management, and recycling and repurposing initiatives.

Transportation: Whitson said she supports building mass transit options connecting Tennessee cities and reviving a bullet train initiative between Chattanooga and Atlanta.

Candidate responses were gathered from Whitson's campaign website. The Franklin Beacon did not interview the candidate for this profile. Voters can learn more at senatorbarcy.org.