Carnita Atwater

Supports 'common-sense' gun safety measures: reinstating the federal assault-weapons and large-capacity-magazine ban, federal background checks, handgun waiting periods, and curbing permitless carry, while affirming Second Amendment rights and framing the goal as removing guns from criminals.

“Reinstate the law that banned the manufacture, sale, and importation of certain specific semi-automatic 'assault weapons' (such as the Colt AR-15 and TEC-9) and large-capacity ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds. ... Indeed, it is a person's constitutional right to bear arms, but it is the ultimate oath of office for politicians to protect the citizens of the State of Tennessee.”

atwater4governor.com·As of August 2026

Supports Medicaid expansion ('Medicaid for All' / Volunteer 'Orange' Health plan) to close Tennessee's coverage gap of roughly 300,000 uninsured residents, arguing healthcare is a human right and that expansion would help prevent rural hospital closures.

“With the Strategic Planning of the Healthcare Impact Tennessee ORANGE Volunteer Health Committee, I would launch a progressive 'Medicaid for All' Plan to ensure that all Tennesseans have access to quality healthcare. Healthcare should be a human right.”

atwater4governor.com·As of August 2026

Advocates a Homeless Bill of Rights and a Homelessness Innovation Transitional Safety (H.I.T.S.) plan, and opposes the criminalization of homelessness.

“no homeless person should be criminalized for being poor (from the Critical Issues - State of Emergency Agenda, which also lists the 'Homeless Bill of Rights' and 'Homelessness Innovation Transitional Safety (H.I.T.S.)' plans)”

atwater4governor.com·As of August 2026

Campaigns on ending housing displacement and gentrification; proposes the HOUSE plan and building 150,000 affordable homes with HUD and THDA assistance.

“I will stop the hemorrhage of Tennesseans losing their family homes and being displaced from their traditional neighborhoods by aggressive, rich investors, developers, and greedy politicians signing on to this economic and housing genocide.”

atwater4governor.com·As of August 2026

Supports immigrant-family protections and integration (ICE-TEA plan); opposes ICE mistreatment and the separation of Latino immigrant families, and protested the new ICE detention center in Mason, TN.

“While running for Governor, I have fought against ICE mistreatment and the separation of Latino immigrant families. ... I have fought and protested against the new ICE detention center erected in Mason, TN.”

atwater4governor.com·As of August 2026

Supports universal pre-K and public education investment, arguing early-childhood programs benefit children most from low-income families; also opposes discriminatory terminations of teachers.

“UNIVERSAL PRE-K ... Children who experience early care and education programs that provide consistent, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate opportunities for cognitive and social development benefit significantly in both the short and long-term, and children from low-income families benefit the most.”

atwater4governor.com·As of August 2026

Pro-union platform ('Union Strong - Protect Organized Labor for Tennesseans'); supports unions such as the IBEW and organized labor.

“As a lifelong farmer and conservationist, she champions environmental justice, promotes public education, supports unions like the IBEW, and advances public and community health.”

atwater4governor.com·As of August 2026

Supports reproductive rights - 'no woman should be denied accessibility to reproductive rights' - as part of her Critical Issues State of Emergency Agenda.

“no woman should be denied accessibility to reproductive rights, no LGBTQ individual should be afraid to stand up for their rights”

atwater4governor.com·As of August 2026

Opposes school vouchers, describing the program as a 'scam', and advocates instead for funding public education.

“While running for Governor, I have fought and protested against the school voucher scam.”

atwater4governor.com·As of August 2026

Supports eliminating Tennessee's 4% state grocery sales tax and a broader tax-shift - including a Fair Tax Study Committee examining transition from sales to income tax - to relieve middle-, working- and low-income families, offsetting lost revenue by taxing large corporations and data centers.

“Eliminating this tax reduces the burden on this demographic. ... A comprehensive Tax-Shift approach. A Tax Blueprint to Strengthen Tennessee, thus taking the financial burden off middle-class, working-class, and low-income families. ... Create the Fair Tax Study Committee to hold a series of hearings across the state to examine ways Tennessee can transition from sales tax to income tax.”

atwater4governor.com·As of August 2026

Atwater supports term limits for elected officials, arguing that ineffective or disconnected officials should not retain their positions.

“I believe in term limits and if elected officials are ineffective, disconnected to their constituents and no longer consider the 'will of the people', they should no longer hold that position...”

ballotpedia.org·As of May 2025

Makes veterans a top priority: supports 100% disabled veteran property tax reimbursement (HB0436/SB0651), a Veteran Lottery, medical cannabis, and a comprehensive "Operation Hope for Veterans" plan.

“As a gubernatorial candidate, I believe that no veteran should be homeless, waiting on medical treatment, or worried about paying their property taxes as a 100% disabled veteran.”

tnvet.org·As of June 2026