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State

Governor

Vote for
1
Term
4 years
Candidates
15
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The governor is Tennessee's chief executive: proposes the state budget, signs or vetoes laws and appoints judges and department heads.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Taxes & budget

Public safety

  • Marsha BlackburnRepublican

    • Pledges state cooperation with federal mass deportations.
    • Pledges to remove district attorneys she calls 'do-nothing.'

  • Jerri GreenDemocratic

    • Pledges to end Highway Patrol cooperation with ICE.
    • Supports universal background checks and red flag laws.

  • Misam AbidiIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Dean BrewerIndependent

    • Supports continuing and expanding Gov. Lee's Memphis crime plan.

  • Ray BrownIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • David HatleyIndependent

    • Supports banning Flock cameras, calling the system invasive.

  • Wendell JacksonIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Charles Van MorganIndependent

    • Supports funding school resource officers and secure entrances.

  • Eddie Lee MurphyIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Lauren PinkstonIndependent

    • Opposes the Highway Patrol joining the federal 287(g) program.
    • Proposes secure-storage rules and background checks on private sales.

  • Victor L. ScogginIndependent

    • Supports more funding for law enforcement.

  • Dave SeemanIndependent

    • Supports ending ICE cooperation and local-first policing.

  • Karl Knox SmithsonIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • L. Webb TaylorIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Robert C. VickIndependent

    • Supports background checks before gun purchases.

Education

  • Marsha BlackburnRepublican

    • Proposes banning student cell phones from bell to bell.
    • Supports school choice and fully implementing Tennessee's new law.

  • Jerri GreenDemocratic

    • Pledges to defund school vouchers in her first budget.

  • Misam AbidiIndependent

    • Proposes a state-funded job certification for every high school graduate.
    • Supports school choice with audits and outcome reporting.

  • Dean BrewerIndependent

    • Supports keeping state money in public schools, raising teacher pay.

  • Ray BrownIndependent

    • Pledges to raise academic standards across the state.

  • David HatleyIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Wendell JacksonIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Charles Van MorganIndependent

    • Supports both public schools and school vouchers.

  • Eddie Lee MurphyIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Lauren PinkstonIndependent

    • Opposes the 2025 voucher expansion, redirecting money to early childhood.

  • Victor L. ScogginIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Dave SeemanIndependent

    • Proposes repealing vouchers and a wealth-tax schools endowment.

  • Karl Knox SmithsonIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • L. Webb TaylorIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Robert C. VickIndependent

    • Opposes school vouchers; wants standards for current recipients.
    • Pledges a counselor and a resource officer in every school.

Housing

Economy & jobs

Roads & infrastructure

Environment & parks

  • Marsha BlackburnRepublican

    No documented position found.

  • Jerri GreenDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Misam AbidiIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Dean BrewerIndependent

    • Opposes new data centers in Tennessee.

  • Ray BrownIndependent

    • Supports grouping any data centers in one area.

  • David HatleyIndependent

    • Supports pausing data centers and ending their tax breaks.

  • Wendell JacksonIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Charles Van MorganIndependent

    • Supports giving local communities the final say on data centers.

  • Eddie Lee MurphyIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Lauren PinkstonIndependent

    • Supports a statewide data center moratorium until standards are set.

  • Victor L. ScogginIndependent

    • Opposes a Duck River dam at Columbia.
    • Supports biodegradable consumer products and banning styrofoam.

  • Dave SeemanIndependent

    • Proposes state-owned renewable power and residential solar.
    • Proposes a 24-month moratorium on new data centers.

  • Karl Knox SmithsonIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • L. Webb TaylorIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Robert C. VickIndependent

    • Proposes expanding the Farmland Preservation Fund.

Health & human services

  • Marsha BlackburnRepublican

    • Opposes abortion, calling herself '100 percent pro-life.'

  • Jerri GreenDemocratic

    • Supports expanding Medicaid and lowering drug costs.
    • Pledges an order shielding women's health doctors from prosecution.

  • Misam AbidiIndependent

    • Proposes a state reinsurance program to cut premiums 30–40%.
    • Supports clear abortion-law protections for threats to mothers' health.

  • Dean BrewerIndependent

    • Proposes housing, counseling and job training for homeless veterans.
    • Supports legalizing cannabis.

  • Ray BrownIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • David HatleyIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Wendell JacksonIndependent

    • Supports health care and housing stability for all.

  • Charles Van MorganIndependent

    • Supports expanding Medicaid to keep rural hospitals open.

  • Eddie Lee MurphyIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Lauren PinkstonIndependent

    • Pledges to repeal the total abortion ban and add exceptions.

  • Victor L. ScogginIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Dave SeemanIndependent

    • Supports Medicaid expansion to close the coverage gap.

  • Karl Knox SmithsonIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • L. Webb TaylorIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Robert C. VickIndependent

    • Proposes long-term funding for rural ERs and maternity wards.
    • Opposes the current abortion ban as too restrictive.

Government & transparency

  • Marsha BlackburnRepublican

    • Supports closed primaries and party registration.

  • Jerri GreenDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Misam AbidiIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Dean BrewerIndependent

    • Proposes audits in every area to cut red tape.

  • Ray BrownIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • David HatleyIndependent

    • Proposes an elected, independent state auditor.
    • Proposes banning campaign contributions from state contractors.
    • Proposes posting state contracts and payments online within 30 days.

  • Wendell JacksonIndependent

    • Pledges public access to the governor's inner workings.

  • Charles Van MorganIndependent

    • Proposes real-time disclosure of donor money tied to legislation.

  • Eddie Lee MurphyIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Lauren PinkstonIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Victor L. ScogginIndependent

    • Supports campaign spending limits on politicians.
    • Opposes mail ballots except for overseas military voters.
    • Opposes unions for government employees.

  • Dave SeemanIndependent

    • Supports automatic voter registration and no-excuse absentee voting.

  • Karl Knox SmithsonIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • L. Webb TaylorIndependent

    No documented position found.

  • Robert C. VickIndependent

    No documented position found.

Courts & justice

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 10 issues covered in this race.