2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election
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. Incumbent Republican governor Bill Lee is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term.
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2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election
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. 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 (/wiki/2006Tennesseegubernatorialelection).
Republican primary
Declared
• Marsha Blackburn, U.S. senator (2019–present) • Monty Fritts, state representative from the 32nd district (2023–present) • John Rose, U.S. representative from Tennessee's 6th congressional district (2019–present)
Declined
• Mark Green, former U.S. representative from Tennessee's 7th congressional district (2019–2025) • Bill Hagerty, U.S. senator (2021–present) (running for re-election) • Tre Hargett, secretary of state of Tennessee (2009–present) • Diana Harshbarger, U.S. representative from Tennessee's 1st congressional district (2021–present) (running for re-election) • Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense|secretary of defense (2025–present) • Glenn Jacobs, mayor of Knox County (2018–present) (endorsed Blackburn) • Stuart McWhorter, Tennessee Commissioner of Economic & Community Development (2022–present) • Barry Wilmore, retired NASA astronaut and United States Navy test pilot
Polling
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Marsha Blackburn</th><th>John Rose</th><th>Monty Fritts</th><th>Other</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>VictoryPhones</td><td>March 18–24, 2026</td><td>300 (LV)</td><td>± 5.66%</td><td>56%</td><td>14%</td><td>11%</td><td>–</td><td>20%</td></tr><tr><td>Cygnal (R)</td><td>March 16–17, 2026</td><td>500 (LV)</td><td>± 4.4%</td><td>58%</td><td>7%</td><td>–</td><td>5%</td><td>30%</td></tr><tr><td>VictoryPhones</td><td>February 5–8, 2026</td><td>– (LV)</td><td>–</td><td>61%</td><td>8%</td><td>5%</td><td>–</td><td>26%</td></tr><tr><td>Targoz Market Research</td><td>January 11–18, 2026</td><td>559 (LV)</td><td>–</td><td>56%</td><td>9%</td><td>7%</td><td>1%</td><td>27%</td></tr><tr><td>Targoz Market Research</td><td>October 26–29, 2025</td><td>545 (RV)</td><td>–</td><td>58%</td><td>9%</td><td>5%</td><td>–</td><td>29%</td></tr><tr><td>Quantus Insights (R)</td><td>August 5–7, 2025</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>35%</td><td>6%</td><td>–</td><td>22%</td><td>37%</td></tr><tr><td>Targoz Market Research</td><td>July 27 – August 1, 2025</td><td>623 (RV)</td><td>± 2.8%</td><td>66%</td><td>14%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>19%</td></tr><tr><td>Fabrizio Lee & Associates (R)</td><td>January 13–16, 2025</td><td>800 (LV)</td><td>± 3.5%</td><td>71%</td><td>13%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>16%</td></tr></tbody></table>
Democratic primary
Declared
• Carnita Atwater, museum president, candidate for governor in (/wiki/2022Tennesseegubernatorialelection), and candidate for mayor of Memphis in (/wiki/2023Memphismayoralelection) • Tim Cyr, home repair business owner • Jerri Green, Memphis city councilor from the 2nd district (2024–present) • Adam "Ditch" Kurtz, Nashville pedal steel musician
Declined
• Steve Cohen, U.S. representative from Tennessee's 9th congressional district (2007–present) (running for re-election)
Independents
Declared
• David Hatley, businessman • Lauren Pinkston, former Lipscomb University professor • Robert Vick, educator
General election
Predictions
<table><thead><tr><th>Source</th><th>Ranking</th><th>As of</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>The Cook Political Report</td><td>Solid R</td><td>September 11, 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Inside Elections</td><td>Solid R</td><td>August 28, 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Sabato's Crystal Ball</td><td>Safe R</td><td>September 4, 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Race to the WH</td><td>Safe R</td><td>September 16, 2025</td></tr></tbody></table>
Polling
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Marsha Blackburn (R)</th><th>Jerri Green (D)</th><th>Other</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Quantus Insights (R)</td><td>August 5–7, 2025</td><td>600 (RV)</td><td>± 3.5%</td><td>49%</td><td>28%</td><td>7%</td><td>17%</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>John Rose (R)</th><th>Jerri Green (D)</th><th>Other</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Quantus Insights (R)</td><td>August 5–7, 2025</td><td>600 (RV)</td><td>± 3.5%</td><td>43%</td><td>27%</td><td>8%</td><td>23%</td></tr></tbody></table>