Who is running for Tennessee Governor 2026?
The 2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election is an open-seat contest to choose the state’s next governor, as incumbent Republican Bill Lee is term-limited and cannot seek re-election. Scheduled for November 3, 2026, with primaries on August 6, this election will determine Tennessee’s executive leadership for the coming four years. Tennessee is known for its Republican lean in recent elections, but the race features candidates from Republican, Democratic, and Independent backgrounds. This article helps readers understand each candidate and the mechanics of the 2026 Tennessee governor election.
Who is Running for Tennessee Governor in 2026?
The 2026 Tennessee governor election is a statewide contest to determine who will serve as Tennessee’s next chief executive. As the current Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, is term-limited and cannot seek re-election, the office is open for new leadership. The state’s electoral landscape is rated as ‘Solid Republican’ by various political analysts based on Tennessee’s recent history and voting patterns. Tennessee is located in the southeastern United States and is home to approximately 6.9 million people as of 2023, with diverse demographics and a history of Republican control in state-level elections. The governor’s race draws attention given the state’s consistent Republican advantage and the mix of candidates seeking the office.
Candidates in the 2026 Tennessee Governor Election
Democratic candidates include Carnita Atwater, president of a museum and former candidate for governor and Memphis mayor, who has officially declared and filed for the race. Tim Cyr, known as ‘Tennessee Tim,’ moved to Tennessee in 2017 and previously ran for the Illinois House of Representatives in 2010; he has officially declared and filed in the Democratic primary. Jerri Green, who serves on the Memphis City Council and has a legal background as a public defender and deputy chief of staff to Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, is also an officially declared and filed candidate. Adam Kurtz, a pedal steel guitarist running under the slogan ‘By the people. For the people. I’m a people,’ brings a musician’s perspective to the race and is officially declared and filed as well. On the Republican side, candidates include Marsha Blackburn, a U.S. Senator since 2019 and the state’s first female senator, who has served in Congress and the Tennessee Senate. According to the summary, she has received endorsements from U.S. representatives, state legislators, local officials, and organizations such as Club for Growth PAC. Her campaign focuses on issues like opposition to abortion, job growth in Tennessee, and immigration policies. Monty Fritts, a current state representative from the 32nd district, and Cito Pellegra, who has also filed to run, are officially declared Republican candidates. John Rose, U.S. Representative for Tennessee’s 6th congressional district, is an IT businessman, family farmer, and former Commissioner of Agriculture, and is officially running as well. Among Independent candidates, Stephen Maxwell is a military veteran and nonprofit leader who advocates for limiting federal government overreach, year-round separate-sex education, support for farmers and veterans, and financial transparency. He has filed to run and maintains a public campaign website. Manasa Reddy has also filed as an independent candidate in the race. Every candidate listed above has officially declared and filed according to the input data, representing a broad political spectrum in the upcoming Tennessee governor election.
The 2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election detials
The 2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election is set for November 3, 2026. Primary elections will be held on August 6, 2026, to determine each party’s nominee, and the filing deadline for candidates is March 10, 2026. The general election is conducted using a traditional, single-choice format by ballot, consistent with Tennessee state law. The Republican and Democratic parties each hold primaries, while Independent candidates proceed directly to the general election ballot. The governor-elect will take office in January 2027. In line with Tennessee’s established voting regulations, polling place hours and procedures may vary by county. In recent elections, Tennessee has operated under a Republican trifecta with Republican control of the governorship and both legislative chambers; this is reflected in demographic and voting trends showing the state’s consistent Republican lean. The 2026 race includes all officially filed candidates from the Republican, Democratic, and Independent ranks, ensuring voters have a range of options on Election Day. The contest will coincide with other state and local elections.
Polling and Race Outlook: Tennessee Governor 2026
Polling data from 2025 indicates Marsha Blackburn is the leading candidate in the Republican primary, with significant advantages in various surveys. In hypothetical general election matchups, Blackburn leads Memphis city councilor Jerri Green by margins such as 49% to 28% according to an August 2025 poll. John Rose is also polling ahead of Democratic challengers, though by smaller margins. A notable portion of voters remain undecided at this stage in the race. Major political analysis outlets including The Cook Political Report, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections currently rate the 2026 Tennessee governor race as ‘Solid Republican’ or ‘Safe Republican,’ highlighting a strong advantage for the Republican Party. Past results, such as Bill Lee’s nearly 65% of the vote in 2022, support these assessments. However, the race includes participants from both major parties and independents, making for a dynamic electoral environment.
Key Issues in the 2026 Tennessee Governor Race
Leading issues in the 2026 Tennessee governor election reflect both the statewide context and candidate priorities. Key topics include limiting federal government involvement in state affairs, reforming education with year-round, sex-separate programs, and increasing financial support for farmers, teachers, veterans, and clergy. Health care reform is also central, with emphasis on controlling costs and improving quality of care for Tennessee residents. Strict immigration enforcement and policies ensuring financial transparency and government accountability are recurring themes in candidate platforms. These issues, drawn from candidate statements and election analyses, will shape campaign debates and voter conversations going into the election. Economic growth, education improvements, and governance reforms are likely to remain at the forefront as the race develops.
Partner with Sutton & Smart for Campaign Services
Sutton & Smart offers professional support to campaigns, candidates, and political organizations in Tennessee. Our services include petition gathering, canvassing, voter contact strategies, and consulting to help your campaign or advocacy effort achieve its goals in the 2026 election cycle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Tennessee_gubernatorial_election
2026 Tennessee Governor Race: Candidates and Key Dates
https://action.aclu.org/legal-intake/tn-problems-at-the-polls-legal-intake
Ready to launch a winning campaign? Let Sutton & Smart political consulting help you maximize your budget, raise a bigger war chest, and reach more voters.
Jon Sutton
An expert in management, strategy, and field organizing, Jon has been a frequent commentator in national publications.
AutoAuthor | Partner
Hello I am so thrilled I found your webpage, I really found you by error, while I was researching on Digg for something else, Regardless I am here now and
would just like to say many thanks for a marvelous post
and a all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it
all at the minute but I have bookmarked it and also included your RSS
feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more,
Please do keep up the excellent work.
I visit every day some websites and sites to read articles, but this blog gives feature based articles.
Highly descriptive post, I liked that a lot.
Will there be a part 2?
I’m not sure exactly why but this weblog is loading extremely slow for me.
Is anyone else having this problem or is it a issue
on my end? I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.
Great web site you’ve got here.. It’s difficult to
find high quality writing like yours nowadays. I seriously appreciate people like you!
Take care!!
Now I am going to do my breakfast, after having my breakfast coming yet again to read
more news.