2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election
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The 2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Tennessee. Primary elections took place on August 6, 2026.[1] Republican incumbent Bill Lee is term-limited and cannot seek a third consecutive term.
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November 3, 2026
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Democrats have not won a statewide election in Tennessee since Phil Bredesen was re-elected governor in 2006.
Republican primary
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, and later appointed as campaign treasurer to, Blackburn)[10][11]
- Stuart McWhorter, Tennessee Commissioner of Economic & Community Development (2022–present)[12]
- Barry Wilmore, retired NASA astronaut and United States Navy test pilot[13]
Endorsements
Marsha Blackburn
- U.S. senators
- Bill Hagerty, Tennessee (2021–present)[14]
- U.S. representatives
- Tim Burchett, TN-02 (2019–present)[15]
- Chuck Fleischmann, TN-03 (2011–present)[16]
- Matt Van Epps, TN-07 (2025–present)[17]
- Jimmy Duncan, former TN-02 (1988–2019)[18]
- State legislators
- Jack Johnson, majority leader of the Tennessee Senate (2019–present) from SD-27 (2007–present)[19]
- William Lamberth, majority leader of the Tennessee House of Representatives (2019–present) from HD-44 (2013–present)[20]
- 3 other state senators[a]
- 3 other state representatives[b]
- Local officials
- Glenn Jacobs, mayor of Knox County (2018–present)[10]
- Individuals
- Riley Gaines, conservative activist and former college athlete[24]
- Dave Ramsey, radio personality[24]
- Organizations
John Rose
- U.S. representatives
- Diane Black, former TN-06 (2011–2019)[31]
- State legislators
- Mae Beavers, SD-17 (2003–2017)[32]
- Individuals
Declined to endorse
- Executive branch officials
- Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)[34]
- Statewide officials
- Bill Lee, governor of Tennessee (2019–present)[35]
Polling
Aggregate polls
| Source of poll aggregation |
Dates administered |
Dates updated |
Marsha Blackburn |
John Rose |
Monty Fritts |
Other/ Undecided[c] |
Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race to the WH[36] | through August 1, 2026 | August 5, 2026 | 39.1% | 28.3% | 22.1% | 10.5% | Blackburn +10.8% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[d] |
Margin of error |
Marsha Blackburn |
John Rose |
Monty Fritts |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wick[37][e][A] | July 29 – August 1, 2026 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 51% | 32% | 17% | – | – |
| 45% | 28% | 17% | – | 9% | ||||
| Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)[38][B] | July 26–28, 2026 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 42% | 25% | 22% | – | 11% |
| OnMessage Inc.[39] | July 23–25, 2026 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 35% | 31% | 26% | – | 9% |
| Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)[40][B] | June 28–30, 2026 | – (LV) | – | 51% | 20% | 12% | – | 17% |
| McLaughlin & Associates (R)[41][C] | June 28–30, 2026 | 600 (LV) | – | 44% | 29% | 13% | – | 14% |
| Targoz Market Research[42][D] | April 20–27, 2026 | 529 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 63% | 10% | 5% | – | 22% |
| VictoryPhones[43][E] | March 18–24, 2026 | 300 (LV) | ± 5.7% | 56% | 14% | 11% | – | 20% |
| Cygnal (R)[44] | March 16–17, 2026 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 58% | 7% | – | 5% | 30% |
| VictoryPhones[45][E] | February 5–8, 2026 | – (LV) | – | 61% | 8% | 5% | – | 26% |
| Targoz Market Research[46][D] | January 11–18, 2026 | 559 (LV) | – | 56% | 9% | 7% | 1%[f] | 27% |
| Targoz Market Research[47][D] | October 26–29, 2025 | 545 (RV) | – | 58% | 9% | 5% | – | 29% |
| Quantus Insights (R)[48] | August 5–7, 2025 | – | – | 35% | 6% | – | 22%[g] | 37% |
| Targoz Market Research[49][D] | July 27 – August 1, 2025 | 623 (RV) | ± 2.8% | 66% | 14% | – | – | 19% |
| Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)[50][51][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[52]
- Tim Cyr, home repair business owner[52]
- Jerri Green, Memphis city councilor from the 2nd district (2024–present)[53]
- Adam "Ditch" Kurtz, Nashville pedal steel musician[54]
- Kevin Lee McCants, pastor[55]
Declined
- Steve Cohen, U.S. representative from Tennessee's 9th congressional district (2007–present)[56]
Endorsements
Jerri Green
- State legislators
- Heidi Campbell, SD-20 (2020–present)[57]
- Local officials
- Lee Harris, mayor of Shelby County (2018–present)[58]
- Organizations
Polling
Independents
Candidates
Declared
- David Hatley, businessman[61]
- Lauren Pinkston, former Lipscomb University professor[62]
- Robert Vick, educator[63]
General election
Endorsements
Lauren Pinkston (I)
- Statewide officials
- Christine Todd Whitman, former governor of New Jersey (1994–2001) (Forward)[64]
- Kerry Healy, lieutenant governor of Massachusetts (2003–2007) (Forward)[64]
- Political parties
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Elections[66] | Solid R | August 28, 2025 |
| Race to the WH[67] | Safe R | June 19, 2026 |
| Fox News[68] | Solid R | July 23, 2026 |
| RealClearPolitics[69] | Solid R | June 5, 2026 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[70] | Safe R | September 4, 2025 |
| The Cook Political Report[71] | Safe R | September 11, 2025 |
Polling
- Marsha Blackburn vs. Jerri Green
- John Rose vs. Jerri Green
See also
Notes
- Tom Hatcher, SD-02 (2025–present)[21]
- Ken Yager, SD-12 (2009–present)[19]
- Page Walley, SD-24 (2021–present)[22]
- Aron Maberry, HD-68 (2025–present)[19]
- Jake McCalmon, HD-63 (2023–present)[23]
- Lee Reeves, HD-65 (2025–present)[19]
- Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - Password to access poll is "govols"
- "Would not vote" with 1%
- "Someone else" with 14%; Tim Burchett with 5%; Cameron Sexton with 3%
- "Wouldn't Vote for Either" with 7%
- "Wouldn't Vote for Either" with 8%
- Partisan clients