There's just under a year until the 2026 primary elections.
On Aug. 6, 2026, voters will solidify which names will appear on the November 2026 ballot, including which candidates will face off in the race for Tennessee governor.
The gubernatorial race is just starting to heat up. On Aug. 6, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn formally announced her campaign. She posted the announcement on her X account on Wednesday morning.
"It’s official!" the post reads. "I’m running for Governor to ensure Tennessee is America’s conservative leader for this generation and the next."
Blackburn is not the first candidate to announce for the 2026 Tennessee governor's race. U.S. Rep. John Rose, R-Cookeville, was the first to formally announce a bid in March. Both candidates represent the Republican Party.
Others have also announced plans to run for office. This includes several Democrats like Memphis city councilmember Sherri Green who announced in July, Memphis community advocate Carnita Atwater, musician Adam “Ditch” Kurtz and Tim Cyr from Gallatin, according to BallotPedia.
Here's what to know about each candidate, election dates and more.
When is the next election for governor of Tennessee?
The election to determine who will be the next governor of Tennessee will be on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Voters will then decide who may succeed current Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, who is term-limited and will leave the Tennessee governor’s office in January 2027.
The primary elections will happen on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026 according to the Tennessee Secretary of State. This is also the primary for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Tennessee Senate (odd-numbered districts), Tennessee House, and Republican and Democratic State Executive Committees.
Who is U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn?
Blackburn, 73, is a senior U.S. senator from Tennessee now serving her second term in office. She is looking to leave Congress to serve as the next governor of Tennessee
Blackburn is a prominent member of the Republican Party and vocally opposes abortion and supports deporting undocumented residents, creating more jobs in the Volunteer State and "fighting wokeness." All are issues cited on her Senate website.
Before serving in the U.S. Senate, Blackburn was elected to the Tennessee Senate in 1998 and served until 2003. She also served eight terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In 2018, she was elected to represent Tennessee in the U.S. Senate, a position she remains in after voters reelected her in 2024. Blackburn was the first woman to represent the Volunteer State in the Senate.
Who is Rep. John Rose?
Rose, 60, was the first candidate to announce their run for governor ahead of the 2026 election.
Rose was elected to the U.S. House in 2019 and currently represents Tennessee's Sixth Congressional District on the House Agriculture Committee and House Financial Services Committee.
A family farmer and IT businessman, Rose was previously Tennessee’s Commissioner of Agriculture, and state chair of the Future Farmers of America, according to his campaign website.
He announced his decision to run in March.
Are there any Democrats running for Governor in Tennessee?
Rose and Blackburn are not the only candidates currently vying to be the next governor of Tennessee. Here are a few Democrats who have announced plans to run for office.
Memphis city councilmember Sherri Green: Green has a legal background as a public defender. She went on to be legal counsel for Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and now works as his deputy chief of staff, according to Commercial Appeal reporting.
Memphis community advocate Carnita Atwater: Atwater currently serves as the President and CEO of the African American International Museum Foundation. She also ran for governor in 2022, but was unsuccessful in her endeavor. In 2023, Atwater also ran for mayor of Memphis, but was ultimately beaten by Paul Young, according to BallotPedia.
Musician Adam “Ditch” Kurtz: Kurtz is a pedal steel guitarist who is running for governor of Tennessee with the slogan "By the people. For the people. I'm a people." Kurtz launched his campaign in May, according to his personal Instagram.
Tim Cyr from Gallatin: Cyr, also known as "Tennessee Tim," moved to the Volunteer State in 2017, according to his personal Facebook page. This is not Cyr's first time running for office. The candidate also ran an unsuccessful campaign in 2010 for Illinois House of Representatives District 109, according to BallotPedia.
How to register to vote in Tennessee
Tennessee voters can register by submitting an online application, according to GoVoteTN. Register to vote at ovr.govote.tn.gov.
Voters must have a Tennessee driver's license or Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security ID in order to submit this application online. You can also register to vote by mail.
Who is eligible to vote absentee in Tennessee?
You are 60 years of age or older.
You will be outside the county where you are registered during the early voting period and all day on Election Day.
You are hospitalized, ill or physically disabled and unable to appear at your polling place to vote. A physician’s statement is not required.
You are the caretaker of a person who is hospitalized, ill or disabled. A physician’s statement is not required.
You or your spouse are a full-time student in an accredited college or university outside the county where you are registered.
You reside in a nursing home, assisted living facility or home for the aged outside your county of residence.
You are a candidate for office in the election.
You are observing a religious holiday that prevents you from voting in person during the early voting period and on Election Day.
You serve as an Election Day official or as a member or employee of the election commission.
You will be unable to vote in-person due to jury duty.
You have a physical disability and an inaccessible polling place.
You or your spouse possess a valid commercial drivers license or Transportation Worker Identification Credential card and you will be working outside the state or county of registration during the open hours of early voting and Election Day and have no specific out-of-county or out-of-state address to which mail may be sent or received during such time.
You are on the permanent absentee list.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Who's running for Tennessee governor? Blackburn not the only one
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