2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election

Last updated

2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election
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Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent Governor

Bill Lee
Republican



The 2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the next governor of Tennessee, alongside other state and local elections. Incumbent Republican Governor Bill Lee is prohibited by the Constitution of Tennessee from seeking a third consecutive term.

Contents

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Declined

Endorsements

Marsha Blackburn (not declared)
Local officials

Polling

Hypothetical polling
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		John
Rose		Marsha
Blackburn		Undecided
Fabrizio Lee & Associates [11] [A] January 13–16, 2025800 (LV)± 3.46%13%71%16%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Potential

Declined

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
270toWin [13] Safe RJanuary 5, 2025
The Cook Political Report [14] Solid RJanuary 23, 2025

See also

Notes

    Partisan clients
    1. ↑ Poll sponsored by Blackburn

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    References

    1. ↑ Sher, Andy (January 27, 2025). "Rose tells friends, supporters he's on go for 2026 governor's race". State Affairs. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
    2. ↑ Wethington, Caleb (January 20, 2025). "Sen. Blackburn says she will seriously consider run for TN governor after Inauguration Day". WVLT-TV . Retrieved January 22, 2025.
    3. 1 2 Solender, Andrew (November 27, 2024). "Scoop: A huge wave of House members is eyeing runs for other offices in 2026". Axios . Retrieved November 27, 2024.
    4. 1 2 3 4 5 Jones, Vivian (December 16, 2024). "Who could run for Tennessee governor in the 2026 GOP primary? The early possibilities". The Tennessean . Retrieved December 17, 2024.
    5. 1 2 3 4 5 Rau, Nate (June 20, 2024). "An early look at Tennessee's 2026 governor's race". Axios .
    6. ↑ Feinberg, Allie (December 4, 2024). "Glenn Jacobs lays the groundwork for run for Tennessee governor with Big Red PAC". Knoxville News Sentinel . Retrieved December 11, 2024.
    7. ↑ Rau, Nate (February 21, 2024). "Mark Green's retirement could kickstart governor's race". Axios .
    8. ↑ Solender, Andrew (December 12, 2024). "GOP Rep. Ciscomani passes on run for Arizona governor". Axios . Retrieved December 12, 2024. Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) will not run for governor in 2026, according to a source familiar with his thinking.
    9. 1 2 Feinberg, Allie (January 14, 2025). "Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs endorses Sen. Marsha Blackburn for governor". Knoxville News Sentinel . Retrieved January 14, 2025. Jacobs spent months laying the groundwork for a run for governor in 2026, but endorsed Blackburn
    10. ↑ Schelzig, Erik (December 6, 2024). "Gubernatorial rumblings: McWhorter decides against '26 bid, Jacobs launches fundraising arm". State Affairs. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
    11. ↑
    12. ↑ Andrew Solender [@andrewsolender] (November 27, 2024). "Here's what he told me: 'I'm flattered that I'm considered a gubernatorial candidate. But in Tennessee, the Democrat nominee has a better chance of winning than I have of being Super Bowl MVP, but not much better.'" (Tweet). Retrieved November 28, 2024– via Twitter.
    13. ↑ "2025-26 Gubernatorial Elections Map". 270toWin . Retrieved January 22, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
    14. ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
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