Tennessee governor 2026

Compare candidates running in this Tennessee federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

Carnita Atwater

Party: Democrat

Jerri Green

Party: Democrat

John Rose

Party: Republican

OBJ SPEAKING

Create StoryTimelinesVoter ToolsRegional AnalysisPolicy GuideAll StoriesCommunity PicksUSWorldPoliticsBusinessHealthEntertainmentTechnologyAbout
← US Map>Tennessee>governor
governor

Tennessee governor

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 10, 2026
safe r— Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball, Inside Elections

Tennessee is a solidly Republican state where Democrats have not won statewide office since 2006. The 2026 gubernatorial race is rated 'Solid Republican' or 'Safe Republican' by major analysts. Trump won Tennessee by nearly 30 points in 2024, and Gov. Lee defeated his 2022 Democratic opponent by 32 points, indicating the seat will almost certainly remain Republican regardless of which GOP candidate wins the primary.

Carnita AtwaterD
Jerri GreenD
John RoseR

Summary

Carnita Atwater is a Memphis-based community advocate, museum president, and Democratic candidate for Tennessee governor. She previously ran for governor in 2022 and for mayor of Memphis in 2023. Atwater frames her campaign around being the 'People's Governor' with a focus on equity, transparency, and rural economic development. She is the first woman of color to run for Tennessee governor.

Jerri Green is a 40s-year-old Democrat, Memphis City Councilwoman (since 2024), lawyer, and public defender who is the leading Democratic candidate for Tennessee governor. A Memphis native educated at the University of Tennessee and Georgetown University School of Law, Green has worked as a juvenile public defender and legal counsel for Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris. As the first Democratic Memphis City Council member in her district and member of the first majority-woman-run Memphis City Council, Green focuses on gun violence reduction, education, affordable childcare, labor rights, and repealing conservative social policies.

John Rose is a 60-year-old U.S. Representative (serving since 2019) from Tennessee's 6th Congressional District who announced his candidacy for governor in March 2025. A Cookeville businessman and farmer, Rose has business and agriculture experience, previously serving as Tennessee's Commissioner of Agriculture and state chair of the Future Farmers of America. He is a Trump supporter but distinguishes himself from Blackburn by emphasizing practical governance and constituent-focused problem-solving over ideological positioning.

View Carnita Atwater's Full Profile →View Jerri Green's Full Profile →View John Rose's Full Profile →

Campaign Promises

Other
  • Bring transparency back to Tennessee government and place people back in politics
  • Provide fair and equitable leadership for all
Economy
  • Address rural economic disinvestment and hospital closures
  • Ensure economic opportunity for all Tennesseans
Other
  • Restore empathy, accountability, and backbone to Tennessee government
  • Repeal recent Tennessee laws targeting homeless people, abortion providers, and LGBTQ community
  • Establish affordable childcare access statewide
Education
  • Prioritize public education funding and reform
Public Safety
  • Address gun violence and gun safety
Economy
  • Support living wages and labor rights for working Tennesseans
Other
  • Focus on practical solutions to Tennessee problems: schools, roads, energy, and healthcare
  • Support for Trump's conservative vision at state level
Economy
  • Business and executive leadership

Key Issue Positions

Rural Economic Development
Pro-rural equity and investment
Atwater focuses on addressing hospital closures and economic disinvestment in rural Tennessee communities.
Government Transparency and Anti-Corruption
Anti-establishment, transparency focus
Atwater promises to bring transparency to government and stand against political corruption.
Equity and Inclusion
Pro-equity across race, creed, nationality, religion, gender identity
Atwater states she will 'stand up against the injustice of all Tennesseans no matter what race, creed, nationality, religion, gender identity, disability, social economic status or zip code.'
Gun Violence Prevention
Strong gun safety advocate
Green is a three-time gun violence survivor who lost people dear to her. She implemented Tennessee's first free gun lock-by-mail program, which decreased stolen car guns by 20% and gun violence incidents by 25%.
Education and Funding
Pro-public education, increased funding
Green believes public schools are chronically underfunded in Tennessee and should receive adequate resources. She advocates education reform focused on student needs.
LGBTQ and Reproductive Rights
Opposition to recent Tennessee conservative laws
Green opposes the Adult Entertainment Act (drag bill), bathroom bills, and restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors.
Labor Rights
Strong union and worker protections supporter
Green backs UAW unionization efforts and broader labor rights for working Tennesseans.
Democratic Party Expansion in Tennessee
Challenge conservative Republican dominance
Green believes Democratic party must expand in Republican-dominated Tennessee through grassroots community engagement.
Business-Focused Governance
Executive experience as differentiator
Rose emphasizes that his experience running businesses is closer to the governor's job than legislative experience.
Constituent Services
Problem-solving orientation
Rose claims to listen to constituents about practical problems rather than pursuing ideological agendas.

Top Donors

Personal/grassroots funding
Under $4,000Small Donor
Atwater reported raising less than $4,000 as of 2022, among lowest of all candidates
Grassroots small donors
$125,000Small Donor
Green had raised approximately $125,000 as of February 2026, significantly less than Republican candidates
John Rose personal loan to campaign
$5,000,000Individual
Rose lent his own campaign $5 million and raised an additional $1.1 million from donors through June 2025

Contradictions

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

What Opponents Say

No opponent claims documented.

Marsha Blackburn / John Rose (Republican candidates)

Democratic candidate cannot win in a 'Safe Republican' state

Tennessee rated 'Safe Republican' for 2026; no Democratic statewide victory since 2006; Trump won by 30 points in 2024; Lee won by 32 points in 2022

Marsha Blackburn

Blackburn's superior name recognition and fundraising give her a massive advantage

Polling shows Blackburn leading Rose by 51-58 points in primary matchups

Endorsements

No endorsements listed.

Democratic grassroots organizationsorganization
Civil Rights leadersindividual
Republican establishment figures (initially)organization