2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2026 United States gubernatorial elections.

2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election
November 3, 2026
 
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. 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.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Endorsements

Marsha Blackburn
U.S. representatives
State legislators
Local officials
Organizations
Declined to endorse
Statewide officials

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Marsha
Blackburn 		John
Rose 		Monty
Fritts 		Other Undecided
VictoryPhones[22][A] February 5–8, 2026 – (LV) – 61% 8% 5% – 26%
Targoz Market Research[23][B] January 11–18, 2026 559 (LV) – 56% 9% 7% 1%[b] 27%
Targoz Market Research[24][B] October 26–29, 2025 545 (RV) – 58% 9% 5% – 29%
Quantus Insights (R)[25] August 5–7, 2025 – – 35% 6% – 22%[c] 37%
Targoz Market Research[26][B] July 27 – August 1, 2025 623 (RV) ± 2.8% 66% 14% – – 19%
Fabrizio Lee & Associates (R)[27][28][C] January 13–16, 2025 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 71% 13% – – 16%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Endorsements

Jerri Green
State legislators

Independents

Candidates

Declared

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[37] Solid R September 11, 2025
Inside Elections[38] Solid R August 28, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball[39] Safe R September 4, 2025
Race to the WH[40] 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)[25] 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)[25] August 5–7, 2025 600 (RV) ± 3.5% 43% 27% 8%[e] 23%

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ^ "Would not vote" with 1%
  3. ^ "Someone else" with 14%; Tim Burchett with 5%; Cameron Sexton with 3%
  4. ^ "Wouldn't Vote for Either" with 7%
  5. ^ "Wouldn't Vote for Either" with 8%
Partisan clients
  1. ^ Poll sponsored by Tennesseans for Student Success
  2. ^ a b c This poll was sponsored by the Beacon Center of Tennessee
  3. ^ This poll was sponsored by Blackburn's campaign

References

  1. ^ "2026 State Primary Election Dates". NCSL. May 9, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  2. ^ Taylor, Sarah Grace (August 6, 2025). "Marsha Blackburn announces run for Governor of Tennessee". Nashville Banner. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  3. ^ Grace Taylor, Sarah (September 8, 2025). "State Rep. Monty Fritts announces 2026 governor run". Nashville Banner. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  4. ^ Jones, Vivian (March 20, 2025). "US Rep. John Rose launches 2026 bid for Tennessee governor". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 20, 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. ^ a b 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. ^ Sauter, Danica (March 8, 2026). "Barry 'Butch' Wilmore opts out of TN governor bid, says candidacy was never official". WVLT-TV. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  13. ^ Morgan-Rumsey, Camruinn (August 18, 2025). "Rep. Tim Burchett endorses Blackburn for Tennessee governor". WVLT-TV. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  14. ^ Housler, Kaitlin (March 6, 2025). "Tennessee U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann Endorses Marsha Blackburn for Governor". The Tennessee Star. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  15. ^ Housler, Kaitlin (September 16, 2025). "Former TN Congressman Jimmy Duncan Endorses Marsha Blackburn for Governor". The Tennessee Star. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  16. ^ a b c d Schmidt, Zachery (August 6, 2025). "Tennessee Republicans Back Marsha Blackburn for Tennessee Governor". The Tennessee Star. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  17. ^ Rau, Nate (August 7, 2025). "Blackburn reshapes 2026 race for Tennessee governor". Axios. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  18. ^ a b Housler, Kaitlin (August 6, 2025). "U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn Launches Bid for Tennessee Governor". Tennessee Star. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  19. ^ Mitola, Will (September 4, 2025). "ICYMI: CfG PAC Endorses Sen. Blackburn in TN-GOV Race". Club for Growth PAC. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  20. ^ Housler, Kaitlin (December 8, 2025). "Turning Point Action Backs Marsha Blackburn in Tennessee 2026 Governor's Race". Tennessee Star. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ "Tennessee Statewide General Election Survey" (PDF). Tennesseans for Student Success. February 17, 2026. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  23. ^ "January 2026 Beacon Poll". TennSight. February 2, 2026. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  24. ^ "November 2025 Beacon Poll Results". Beacon Center of Tennessee. November 5, 2025. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  25. ^ a b c "Quantus Insights – Tennessee August 2025". Quantus Insights. August 8, 2025. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  26. ^ "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.
  27. ^ Caputo, Marc (January 23, 2025). "Sen. Blackburn would be 'clear frontrunner' for Tenn. governor, Trump pollster finds". Axios. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  28. ^ Caputo, Marc [@MarcACaputo] (January 23, 2025). "Poll memo" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  29. ^ a b 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...
  30. ^ 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.
  31. ^ 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.
  32. ^ 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 X (formerly Twitter).
  33. ^ "An early look at how Tennessee's 2026 governor's race is shaping up". The Tennessean (Archived).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  34. ^ Rafferty, Colin (March 10, 2026). "Elizabethton-born entrepreneur announces candidacy for governor". WJHL. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  35. ^ Rayner, Ruby (November 21, 2025). "Lauren Pinkston, an independent running for Tennessee governor, wants to give people a third option". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  36. ^ "40-Year East Tennessee Educator Dr. Vick Announces Independent Run for Governor". Claiborne Progress. January 27, 2026. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  37. ^ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  38. ^ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  39. ^ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  40. ^ "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
Official campaign websites
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