Adam "ditch" Kurtz

Adam "Ditch" Kurtz is a Nashville musician and activist running for Governor of Tennessee in the 2026 Democratic primary. He launched his campaign with the slogan "By the people, for the people, I'm a people," emphasizing a grassroots, small-donor-only approach that explicitly rejects corporate money. Kurtz advocates for making Tennessee public schools number one in the country, raising teacher pay, supporting teachers' unions, and directing marijuana tax revenue toward education. He brings genuine populist energy to the race, despite having no prior political experience or established fundraising infrastructure.