2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election
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November 3, 2026
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| Elections in Tennessee |
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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. The primary elections will take place on August 6, 2026.[1] Incumbent Republican Governor Bill Lee is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term.
Democrats have not won a statewide election in Tennessee since Phil Bredesen was re-elected governor in 2006.
Candidates
Declared
- Marsha Blackburn, U.S. senator (2019–present)[2]
- Monty Fritts, state representative from the 32nd district (2023–present)[3]
- John Rose, U.S. representative from Tennessee's 6th congressional district (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, secretary of state of Tennessee (2009–present)[7]
- Diana Harshbarger, U.S. representative from Tennessee's 1st congressional district (2021–present)[8] (running for re-election)
- Pete Hegseth, United States Secretary of Defense (2025–present)[9]
- Glenn Jacobs, mayor of Knox County (2018–present) (endorsed Blackburn)[10]
- Stuart McWhorter, Tennessee Commissioner of Economic & Community Development (2022–present)[11]
- Barry Wilmore, retired NASA astronaut and United States Navy test pilot[12]
Endorsements
Marsha Blackburn
- U.S. representatives
- Tim Burchett, TN-02 (2019–present)[13]
- Chuck Fleischmann, TN-03 (2011–present)[14]
- Jimmy Duncan, former TN-02 (1988–2019)[15]
- State legislators
- Ken Yager, state senator from the 12th district (2009–present)[16]
- Jack Johnson, majority leader of the Tennessee Senate (2019–present) from the 27th district (2007–present)[16]
- William Lamberth, majority leader of the Tennessee House of Representatives (2019–present) from the 44th district (2013–present)[17]
- Aron Maberry, state representative from the 68th district (2025–present)[16]
- Lee Reeves, state representative from the 65th district (2025–present)[16]
- Jake McCalmon, state representative from the 63rd district (2023–present)[18]
- Local officials
- Glenn Jacobs, mayor of Knox County (2018–present)[10]
- Joseph Butler, mayor of Carroll County (2018–present)[18]
- Organizations
Declined to endorse
- Statewide officials
- Bill Lee, governor of Tennessee (2019–present)[21]
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Marsha Blackburn |
John Rose |
Monty Fritts |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VictoryPhones[22][A] | March 18–24, 2026 | 300 (LV) | ± 5.7% | 56% | 14% | 11% | – | 20% |
| Cygnal (R)[23] | March 16–17, 2026 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 58% | 7% | – | 5% | 30% |
| VictoryPhones[24][A] | February 5–8, 2026 | – (LV) | – | 61% | 8% | 5% | – | 26% |
| Targoz Market Research[25][B] | January 11–18, 2026 | 559 (LV) | – | 56% | 9% | 7% | 1%[b] | 27% |
| Targoz Market Research[26][B] | October 26–29, 2025 | 545 (RV) | – | 58% | 9% | 5% | – | 29% |
| Quantus Insights (R)[27] | August 5–7, 2025 | – | – | 35% | 6% | – | 22%[c] | 37% |
| Targoz Market Research[28][B] | July 27 – August 1, 2025 | 623 (RV) | ± 2.8% | 66% | 14% | – | – | 19% |
| Fabrizio Lee & Associates (R)[29][30][C] | 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[31]
- Tim Cyr, home repair business owner[31]
- Jerri Green, Memphis city councilor from the 2nd district (2024–present)[32]
- Adam "Ditch" Kurtz, Nashville pedal steel musician[33]
Declined
- Steve Cohen, U.S. representative from Tennessee's 9th congressional district (2007–present)[34] (running for re-election)
Endorsements
Jerri Green
- State legislators
- Lee Harris, mayor of Shelby County (2018–present) and former minority leader of the Tennessee Senate (2015–2018) from the 29th district (2015–2018)[35]
Independents
Candidates
Declared
- David Hatley, businessman[36]
- Lauren Pinkston, former Lipscomb University professor[37]
- Robert Vick, educator[38]
General election
Endorsements
Lauren Pinkston (I)
- Political party
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[40] | Solid R | September 11, 2025 |
| Inside Elections[41] | Solid R | August 28, 2025 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[42] | Safe R | September 4, 2025 |
| Race to the WH[43] | 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)[27] | August 5–7, 2025 | 600 (RV) | ± 3.5% | 49% | 28% | 7%[d] | 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)[27] | August 5–7, 2025 | 600 (RV) | ± 3.5% | 43% | 27% | 8%[e] | 23% |