2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election

2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election
	November 3, 2026
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

Declined

Mark Green, former U.S. representative from Tennessee's 7th congressional district (2019–2025)^[6]
Bill Hagerty, U.S. Senator (2021–present) (running for re-election)^[7]
Glenn Jacobs, mayor of Knox County (2018–present) (endorsed Blackburn)^[8]
Stuart McWhorter, Tennessee Commissioner of Economic & Community Development (2022–present)^[9]

Endorsements

Marsha Blackburn (not declared)

U.S. representatives

Chuck Fleischmann, TN-03 (2011–present)^[10]

Local officials

Glenn Jacobs, mayor of Knox County (2018–present)^[8]

Polling

Hypothetical polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size^[a]	Margin of error	John Rose	Marsha Blackburn	Undecided
Fabrizio Lee & Associates (R)^[11]^[12]^[A]	January 13–16, 2025	800 (LV)	± 3.46%	13%	71%	16%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Potential

John Ray Clemmons, state representative from the 55th district (2015–present)^[5]
Jim Cooper, former U.S. representative from Tennessee's 5th congressional district^[b] (1983–1995, 2003–2023) and son of former governor Prentice Cooper^[5]

Declined

Steve Cohen, U.S. representative from Tennessee's 9th congressional district (2007–present)^[13]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report^[14]	Solid R	January 23, 2025
Inside Elections^[15]	Solid R	February 6, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball^[16]	Safe R	May 1, 2025
Race to the WH^[17]	Safe R	June 30, 2025

Notes

^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
^ Numbered as the 4th district prior to the 2000 redistricting cycle

Partisan clients

^ Poll sponsored by Blackburn's campaign

References

^ Jones, Vivian (March 20, 2025). "US Rep. John Rose launches 2026 bid for Tennessee governor". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
^ Wethington, Caleb (January 20, 2025). "Sen. Blackburn says she will seriously consider run for TN governor after Inauguration Day". WVLT-TV. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
^ Pappert, Tom (January 28, 2025). "Rep. Diana Harshbarger Confirms Interest in Campaign for Tennessee Governor if Blackburn Does Not Run, Joining U.S. Senate". The Tennessee Star. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c 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.
^ ^a ^b ^c Motycka, Eli (February 19, 2025). "The Too-Early Short List for Tennessee's Next Governor". Nashville Scene. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
^ 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.
^ Housler, Kaitlin (February 11, 2025). "Tennessee U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty to Run for Reelection in 2026". The Tennessee Star. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
^ ^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
^ Schelzig, Erik (December 6, 2024). "Gubernatorial rumblings: McWhorter decides against '26 bid, Jacobs launches fundraising arm". State Affairs. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
^ Housler, Kaitlin (March 6, 2025). "Tennessee U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann Endorses Marsha Blackburn for Governor". The Tennessee Star. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
^ Caputo, Marc (January 23, 2025). "Sen. Blackburn would be 'clear frontrunner' for Tenn. governor, Trump pollster finds". Axios. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
^ Caputo, Marc [@MarcACaputo] (January 23, 2025). "Poll memo" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ Andrew Solender [@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.
^ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
^ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
^ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
^ "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.

External links

Official campaign websites

John Rose (R) for Governor

[Key-11] Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear

[15] Numbered as the 4th district prior to the 2000 redistricting cycle

[14] Poll sponsored by Blackburn's campaign

[1] Jones, Vivian (March 20, 2025). "US Rep. John Rose launches 2026 bid for Tennessee governor". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 20, 2025.

[2] Wethington, Caleb (January 20, 2025). "Sen. Blackburn says she will seriously consider run for TN governor after Inauguration Day". WVLT-TV. Retrieved January 22, 2025.

[3] Pappert, Tom (January 28, 2025). "Rep. Diana Harshbarger Confirms Interest in Campaign for Tennessee Governor if Blackburn Does Not Run, Joining U.S. Senate". The Tennessee Star. Retrieved February 4, 2025.

[WhosIn-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.

[nsShortlist-5] Motycka, Eli (February 19, 2025). "The Too-Early Short List for Tennessee's Next Governor". Nashville Scene. Retrieved February 19, 2025.

[6] 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.

[7] Housler, Kaitlin (February 11, 2025). "Tennessee U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty to Run for Reelection in 2026". The Tennessee Star. Retrieved February 11, 2025.

[Kane-8] 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

[9] Schelzig, Erik (December 6, 2024). "Gubernatorial rumblings: McWhorter decides against '26 bid, Jacobs launches fundraising arm". State Affairs. Retrieved December 9, 2024.

[10] Housler, Kaitlin (March 6, 2025). "Tennessee U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann Endorses Marsha Blackburn for Governor". The Tennessee Star. Retrieved March 9, 2025.

[12] Caputo, Marc (January 23, 2025). "Sen. Blackburn would be 'clear frontrunner' for Tenn. governor, Trump pollster finds". Axios. Retrieved June 22, 2025.

[13] Caputo, Marc [@MarcACaputo] (January 23, 2025). "Poll memo" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

[:1-16] Andrew Solender [@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.

[17] "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.

[18] "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 7, 2025.

[19] "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.

[20] "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.

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Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Declined

Endorsements

Polling

Democratic primary

Candidates

Potential

Declined

General election

Predictions

See also

Notes

References

External links