Governor Tennessee in Statewide, Tennessee

2026 Primary Election

• Marsha Blackburn — Incumbent U.S. Senator in Brentwood, TN

  Marsha Blackburn is a U.S. Senator from Tennessee, serving since January 2019, and the first woman elected to that office from the state. She previously served 16 years in the U.S. House and four years in the Tennessee State Senate. A staunchly conservative Tea Party Republican and ally of President Donald Trump, she chaired the RNC's official party platform in 2024. Blackburn announced her run for Governor of Tennessee in 2026 on August 6, 2025, seeking to succeed term-limited Gov. Bill Lee. If elected, she would become Tennessee's first female governor and its oldest at age 74. She is a frontrunner in the Republican primary, emphasizing her conservative credentials and aiming to bring a "conservative revolution" to the state. Her campaign has seen significant fundraising success.

• Monty Fritts — Incumbent Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives in TN

  Monty Fritts, born in Rockwood, Tennessee, in 1963, is an incumbent Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing District 32 since 2023. An alumnus of Liberty University and the University of Tennessee, he announced his candidacy for Governor of Tennessee in September 2025. Fritts champions nuclear energy innovation and stronger state energy policies. He advocates for constitutional and firearms rights, including protecting manufacturers, and supports property tax reform. He promotes shrinking state government, cutting spending, and ending corporate welfare, having voted against a private-school voucher program. Fritts seeks to reestablish voter confidence, expressing frustration with the political establishment in Nashville.

• John Rose — Incumbent U.S. Representative in Cookeville, TN

  John Rose is an incumbent U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 6th Congressional District, first elected in 2018. A Republican, he previously served as Tennessee's Commissioner of Agriculture and is a businessman who founded two tech companies. Born and raised in Cookeville, Rose announced his candidacy for Governor of Tennessee in March 2025. He positions himself as a farmer, small business owner, and conservative outsider, emphasizing his CEO experience and strong ties to rural Tennessee, where his family has farmed for generations. Rose advocates for education reform, believing the Education Commissioner should have classroom experience and supporting competition in public schools. His campaign highlights his business acumen and conservative values.

• Carnita Atwater — Candidate for Governor in TN

  Carnita Atwater is a political candidate running for the Governor of Tennessee in the 2026 election. She has publicly announced her candidacy, stating her commitment to standing with and fighting for Tennesseans. Atwater indicates a proven record of dedication to the people of the state, and her campaign materials identify her as a Democratic candidate. While her main vision is mentioned, specific policy details are not elaborated upon in the provided information. Campaign merchandise, including signs, flags, and stickers, is available to support her bid for the governorship.

• Tim Cyr — Small farmer and small-engine repairman in TN

  Tim Cyr, a U.S. Army veteran, National Guardsman, and small farmer, is seeking the Democratic nomination for Governor of Tennessee. Describing himself as an old-school Tennessee Democrat and a "fixer," Cyr holds a degree in plant and soil science and also works as a small-engine repairman. Guided by his Christian faith, he emphasizes leading with love, helping the poor, and uplifting all Tennessee families. His platform includes expanding broadband as a public utility, supporting farmers, fully expanding Medicaid to save rural hospitals and improve mental health access, treating addiction as a disease, legalizing marijuana for tax revenue, and honoring veterans. He has pledged to serve only one term if elected.

• Jerri Green — Interim Chief Public Defender in Memphis, TN

  Jerri Green, a Memphis native, is a Democratic candidate for Tennessee Governor in 2026. She earned her B.A. from the University of Tennessee and J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Her career includes serving as a public defender in D.C., practicing international human rights law, leading a nonprofit, teaching at the University of Phoenix, and becoming Shelby County's Interim Chief Public Defender in 2026. Green, a mother of three, campaigns as "One Tough Mother" who puts families over billionaires, contrasting herself as a local officeholder and public defender, not a traditional politician. She acknowledges the challenge of being a Democrat in Tennessee and runs in the August 6th primary.

• Adam "ditch" Kurtz — Nashville musician & activist in Nashville, TN

  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.

• Kevin Lee Mccants — Candidate for Governor in Murfreesboro, TN

  Kevin Lee McCants, a Democratic candidate for Governor of Tennessee in the 2026 primary election on August 6, earned a bachelor's in electrical engineering technologies from the University of Alabama and a master's in industrial and organizational psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. His professional background includes experience as a production supervisor. McCants, who filed on the deadline day, is registering with Democratic primary voters, polling at 11% in a late April 2026 survey. He previously ran for the U.S. Senate from Tennessee multiple times, though he will not appear on the 2026 U.S. Senate primary ballot. His specific education policy positions are not yet publicly detailed.

• Misam Abidi — Businessman in Nolensville, TN

  Misam Abidi, an Independent candidate for Governor of Tennessee in 2026, is a Pakistani-American businessman. He moved to the U.S. as a teenager in 1997 and has since worked across retail, banking, and emerging technologies. Abidi's platform is centered on a proposed "Tennessee Dividend Fund," advocating for workforce skills mandates in K-12 education, and reducing regulatory burdens. He believes every Tennessee student should graduate "with at least one real, usable skill" and champions financial-literacy education to prevent the need for credit repair.

• Dean Brewer — Candidate for Governor in Knoxville, TN

  Dean Brewer is an independent candidate running for Governor of Tennessee in the 2026 election. A resident of Knoxville, he is slated to appear on the ballot for both the August 6 primary and the November 3 general election. Publicly, there is no detailed platform available, and reports indicate a ballot-only candidacy with no visible campaign infrastructure or financial disclosures. He is one of several independent candidates in the gubernatorial race.

• Ray Brown — Candidate for Governor in Oliver Springs, TN

  Ray Brown is an Independent candidate vying for Governor of Tennessee in the 2026 election, a race in which he was one of the earliest filers. Residing in Oliver Springs, his candidacy is noted as primarily a "ballot-only" effort, with no detailed public campaign platform available as of current reporting. Public financial disclosures for his campaign were not on file at the latest data refresh. He is running as an independent among a field that includes both Republican and Democratic primary contenders, as well as other independent hopefuls.

• David Hatley — Businessman and manufacturing executive in Gray, TN

  David Hatley is an Elizabethton-born entrepreneur and manufacturing executive running for Governor of Tennessee in 2026 as an Independent. He built nine companies over three decades, holding seven patents, and created over 750 jobs by keeping manufacturing operations in East Tennessee, including a leading hot tub manufacturer. He champions profit-sharing with employees and built a 740,000 sq ft manufacturing base. His "Elevate Tennessee" platform focuses on economic expansion, workforce development, and strengthening manufacturing and domestic supply chains. He emphasizes his background as a builder, not a bureaucrat, to make Tennessee the best place to live, work, and prosper.

• Wendell Jackson — Candidate for Governor in Clarksville, TN

  Wendell Jackson is an independent candidate seeking to serve as Governor of Tennessee in 2026. Running on a nonpartisan platform focused on constitutional advocacy, Jackson aims to create a prosperous future for Tennesseeans. His core policy priorities include enhancing employment services, creating jobs, supporting local businesses, ensuring housing stability and healthcare for all, and improving the overall quality of life in the state. Jackson is committed to fostering responsible economic growth and stability, and emphasizes the importance of knowledge acquisition. He pledges to run a people-powered, anti-corruption, and civil campaign.

• Charles Van Morgan — Business owner in Knoxville, TN

  Charles Van Morgan is an independent candidate seeking the Governor's office in Tennessee for the 2026 general election. Originally from Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, he is a Knoxville resident. His academic background includes a bachelor's degree from Tennessee Wesleyan College (1996), a graduate degree from the University of Tennessee (2001), and a J.D. from Nashville School of Law (2015). Professionally, Van Morgan has experience as a business owner in logistics and transportation, and previously served as a police officer and trooper. He identifies as Christian. While he has participated in past gubernatorial elections, a detailed public campaign platform for his 2026 bid is not yet available, with his campaign described as a "ballot-only candidacy."

• Eddie Lee Murphy — Candidate for Governor in Spring Hill, TN

  Eddie Lee Murphy is an independent candidate running for Governor of Tennessee in the 2026 election. A resident of Spring Hill, he has declared his candidacy for the general election scheduled for November 3, 2026. Public information indicates he is running as an independent, but a detailed public campaign platform is not currently available. His candidacy has been described as a "ballot-only candidacy," suggesting a minimal public campaign presence.

• Lauren Pinkston — Academic in Columbia, TN

  Lauren Pinkston, an independent candidate for Governor of Tennessee in 2026, holds a Ph.D. and has career experience in business development, education, and counter-trafficking expertise. Shifting her focus from global human trafficking to her homeland's political challenges, she aims to offer independent, solutions-focused leadership. Pinkston advocates for lowering the cost of living, strengthening education and workforce pathways, building reliable infrastructure, restoring government accountability, and supporting rural communities. She believes in putting people ahead of partisan politics and fostering a government that genuinely serves its citizens.

• Victor L. Scoggin — Candidate for Governor in Pegram, TN

  Victor L. Scoggin is an independent candidate seeking the Governor of Tennessee position in the 2026 election. A resident of Pegram, Cheatham, he officially filed his candidacy by the qualifying deadline. Although some initial reports suggested he was a Republican, official state filings confirm his independent status for the November general ballot. Scoggin is noted for presenting a ballot-only candidacy. His presence on one candidate platform highlights an adherence to principles such as independent governance, people-powered campaigns, anti-corruption efforts, and civility in political discourse.

• Dave Seeman — Mechanical Engineer, Entrepreneur, Artist, Designer in Nashville, TN

  Dave Seeman is an Independent candidate for Governor of Tennessee in the 2026 primary election. A Nashville resident, he identifies as a mechanical engineer, entrepreneur, artist, and designer, emphasizing his non-politician background. Seeman states he is running to represent all Tennesseans, free from party politics and corporate influence, guided by Southern values. His platform, outlined in "Five commitments," focuses on "Care" (better healthcare, childcare, and education for children), "Climate" (building a sustainable economy and protecting the environment), "Communities" (uplifting all Tennesseans), and "Costs" (ensuring living wages, affordable housing, and equitable economic investment). He believes his design background helps him solve problems for the benefit of all.

• Karl Knox Smithson — Candidate for Governor in McMinnville, TN

  Karl Knox Smithson is an independent candidate running for Governor of Tennessee in the 2026 primary election. A resident of McMinnville, Warren County, he is also known simply as Karl Smithson. His candidacy is described as "ballot-only," with no detailed public campaign platform or TREF disclosures on file. He emphasizes running outside the two-party system.

• L. Webb Taylor — Candidate for Governor in Memphis, TN

  L. Webb Taylor is an independent candidate running for Governor of Tennessee in the 2026 election, with the general election scheduled for November 3. A resident of Memphis in Shelby County, Taylor filed for candidacy by the qualifying deadline. Public information regarding Taylor's campaign platform is not currently detailed, and their candidacy has been characterized as a "ballot-only candidacy" with no TREF disclosure on file.

• Robert C. Vick — Athletic Director in White Pine, TN

  Dr. Robert C. Vick is an East Tennessee educator with 40 years of experience, serving as a math teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, and athletic director at Cocke County High School. A native of White Pine, he holds multiple degrees, including a doctorate in school leadership. Vick is running for Governor of Tennessee as a Christian Independent, emphasizing a non-partisan, faith-guided approach focused on practical solutions. His "Rural Readiness" initiative aims to improve education, workforce development, healthcare access, and fiscal responsibility, guided by principles of servant leadership and faith.