2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2026 United States gubernatorial elections.

2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election

←  2022 November 3, 2026 2030 →

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. His second term expires on January 16, 2027.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Senator (2019–present) ^[1]
• Monty Fritts, state representative from the 32nd district (2023–present) ^[2]
• John Rose, U.S. Representative from Tennessee's 6th congressional district (2019–present) ^[3]

Potential

• Joe Baker, attorney and businessman ^[4]
• Damon Hininger, CEO of CoreCivic ^[4]
• Cameron Sexton, Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives (2019–present) ^[4]

Declined

• Mark Green, former U.S. representative from Tennessee's 7th congressional district (2019–2025) ^[5]
• Bill Hagerty, U.S. Senator (2021–present) (running for re-election) ^[6]
• Tre Hargett, Tennessee Secretary of State (2009–present) ^[7]
• Diana Harshbarger, U.S. representative from Tennessee's 1st congressional district (2021–present) ^[8]
• Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense (2025–present) and candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota in 2012 ^[9]
• Glenn Jacobs, mayor of Knox County (2018–present) (endorsed Blackburn) ^[10]
• Stuart McWhorter, Tennessee Commissioner of Economic & Community Development (2022–present) ^[11]

Endorsements

Marsha Blackburn

U.S. representatives

• Tim Burchett, U.S. representative from Tennessee's 2nd congressional district (2019–present) ^[12]
• Chuck Fleischmann, U.S. representative from Tennessee's 3rd congressional district (2011–present) ^[13]
• David McIntosh, former U.S. representative from Indiana's 2nd congressional district (1995–2001) ^[14]

State legislators

• Jack Johnson, majority leader of the Tennessee Senate (2019–present) from the 27th district (2007–present) ^[15]
• William Lamberth, majority leader of the Tennessee House of Representatives (2019–present) from the 44th district (2013–present) ^[16]
• Aron Maberry, state representative from the 68th district (2025–present) ^[15]
• Lee Reeves, state representative from the 65th district (2025–present) ^[15]
• Ken Yager, state senator from the 12th district (2009–present) ^[15]

Local officials

• Glenn Jacobs, mayor of Knox County (2018–present) ^[10]

Organizations

• Club for Growth PAC ^[14]

Declined to endorse

Statewide officials

• Bill Lee, Governor of Tennessee (2019–present) ^[17]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Marsha Blackburn	John Rose	Other	Undecided
Quantus Insights (R) [18]	August 5–7, 2025	–	–	35%	6%	22% [b]	37%
Targoz Market Research [19] [A]	July 27 – August 1, 2025	1,200 (RV)	± 2.8%	66%	14%	–	19%
Fabrizio Lee & Associates (R) [20] [21] [B]	January 13–16, 2025	800 (LV)	± 3.5%	71%	13%	–	16%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Carnita Atwater, museum president, candidate for governor in 2022, and candidate for mayor of Memphis in 2023 ^[22]
• Tim Cyr, home repair business owner ^[22]
• Jerri Green, Memphis city councilor from the 2nd district (2024–present) ^[23]
• Adam Kurtz, guitarist ^[24]

Declined

• Steve Cohen, U.S. representative from Tennessee's 9th congressional district (2007–present) ^[25]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report [26]	Solid R	September 11, 2025
Inside Elections [27]	Solid R	August 28, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball [28]	Safe R	September 4, 2025
Race to the WH [29]	Safe R	September 16, 2025

Polling

Marsha Blackburn vs. Jerri Green

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Marsha Blackburn (R)	Jerri Green (D)	Other	Undecided
Quantus Insights (R) [18]	August 5–7, 2025	600 (RV)	± 3.5%	49%	28%	7% [c]	17%

John Rose vs. Jerri Green

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	John Rose (R)	Jerri Green (D)	Other	Undecided
Quantus Insights (R) [18]	August 5–7, 2025	600 (RV)	± 3.5%	43%	27%	8% [d]	23%

See also

• Elections in Tennessee
• Political party strength in Tennessee
• Tennessee Democratic Party
• Tennessee Republican Party
• Government of Tennessee
• 2026 United States Senate election in Tennessee
• 2026 Tennessee elections

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear
2. "Someone else" with 14%; Tim Burchett with 5%; Cameron Saxton with 3%
3. "Wouldn't Vote for Either" with 7%
4. "Wouldn't Vote for Either" with 8%

Partisan clients

1. This poll was sponsored by the Beacon Center of Tennessee
2. This poll was sponsored by Blackburn's campaign

References

1. Taylor, Sarah Grace (August 6, 2025). "Marsha Blackburn announces run for Governor of Tennessee". Nashville Banner . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
2. Grace Taylor, Sarah (September 8, 2025). "State Rep. Monty Fritts announces 2026 governor run". Nashville Banner. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
3. Jones, Vivian (March 20, 2025). "US Rep. John Rose launches 2026 bid for Tennessee governor". The Tennessean . Retrieved March 20, 2025.
4. Jones, Vivian (March 24, 2025). "Tennessee Republican primary for governor: Who's in, who's out and more for 2026 elections". The Tennessean . Retrieved March 24, 2025.
5. 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.
6. Feinberg, Allie (February 11, 2025). "U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty will seek reelection, quashing talk of a run for Tennessee governor". Knoxville News Sentinel . Gannett . Retrieved August 23, 2025.
7. Sher, Andy (August 28, 2025). "Hargett opts out of joining Tennessee governor's race". State Affairs. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
8. Smith, Ben (July 16, 2025). "Race for the next Tenn. governor begins to take form". Johnson City Press. Six Rivers Media. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
9. Lubold, Gordon; Kube, Courtney; Bowman, Bridget; Tsirkin, Julie (July 29, 2025). "Pete Hegseth has discussed running for political office in Tennessee, sources say". NBC News . Retrieved July 29, 2025.
10. 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 the night of Jan. 14
11. Schelzig, Erik (December 6, 2024). "Gubernatorial rumblings: McWhorter decides against '26 bid, Jacobs launches fundraising arm". State Affairs. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
12. Morgan-Rumsey, Camruinn (August 18, 2025). "Rep. Tim Burchett endorses Blackburn for Tennessee governor". WVLT-TV . Retrieved August 18, 2025.
13. Housler, Kaitlin (March 6, 2025). "Tennessee U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann Endorses Marsha Blackburn for Governor". The Tennessee Star . Retrieved March 9, 2025.
14. Mitola, Will (September 4, 2025). "ICYMI: CfG PAC Endorses Sen. Blackburn in TN-GOV Race" . Retrieved September 5, 2025.
15. Schmidt, Zachery (August 6, 2025). "Tennessee Republicans Back Marsha Blackburn for Tennessee Governor". The Tennessee Star . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
16. Rau, Nate (August 7, 2025). "Blackburn reshapes 2026 race for Tennessee governor". Axios . Retrieved August 7, 2025.
17. Sauter, Danica (August 13, 2025). "Gov. Lee says he won't endorse anyone following Sen. Marsha Blackburn's gubernatorial announcement". WEMU . Retrieved August 13, 2025.
18. "Quantus Insights – Tennessee August 2025". Quantus Insights. August 8, 2025. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
19. "First Statewide Poll Shows Marsha Blackburn as Clear Frontrunner Over John Rose in GOP Primary for Governor". Beacon Center of Tennessee. August 7, 2025. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
20. Caputo, Marc (January 23, 2025). "Sen. Blackburn would be 'clear frontrunner' for Tenn. governor, Trump pollster finds". Axios . Retrieved June 22, 2025.
21. Caputo, Marc [@MarcACaputo] (January 23, 2025). "Poll memo" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
22. Cornell, Josh (September 16, 2025). "The Civic Scoop: Cornell on the ongoing Tennessee governor's race". The Highland Echo. Retrieved September 16, 2025. There are also four democrats running for this position: Jerri Green, Carnita Atwater, Adam Kurtz, and Tim Cyr...
23. Finton, Lucas (July 14, 2025). "Memphis City Councilwoman Jerri Green officially throws hat into Tennessee governor's race". The Commercial Appeal . Retrieved July 17, 2025.
24. Weiner, Natalie (July 8, 2025). "Issue #106: Meet the Pedal Steel Player Running for Governor of Tennessee". Don't Rock The Inbox. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
25. Solender, Andrew [@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.
26. "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
27. "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections . Retrieved February 7, 2025.
28. "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
29. "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.

External links

Official campaign websites

• Carnita Atwater (D) for Governor
• Marsha Blackburn (R) for Governor
• Monty Fritts (R) for Governor
• Jerri Green (D) for Governor
• Adam Kurtz (D) for Governor
• John Rose (R) for Governor