2026 Midterms State GuideTennessee
Hold on to your Hot chicken and Dolly records.
- PrimaryStatewideAug. 6This date has passed.
- Election DayGeneralNov. 3
Updated
Hi! It’s me, Shadrach. Apparently, I’m your civic guide today. If you’ve been complaining about how things are going (and I’ve heard you, the walls are thin), this guide will help you feel informed and able to vote in this year’s midterms. Now, hold on to your Hot chicken and Dolly records, and let’s get into it.
Tennessee at a glance
Tennessee votes on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, for governor, U.S. Senate, all 9 U.S. House seats and three statewide ballot measures.
- Election Day
- Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026
- Voter registration
- Oct. 5: Voter registration deadline
- Early voting
- Oct. 14 to Oct. 29: Early voting in person
- Governor
- 15 candidates
- U.S. Senate
- 10 candidates
- U.S. House
- 9 seats
- Statewide ballot measures
- 3
Your to-do list
0 of 3 doneImportant dates
- Aug. 6Primary This date has passed.
- Oct. 5Voter registration deadline
- Oct. 14 to Oct. 29Early voting in person
- Oct. 24Deadline to request an absentee ballot
- Nov. 3Election Day. Absentee ballots must be received by the time polls close.
What’s at stake
The Volunteer State is poised to make history. The state’s two major-party nominees for governor are Marsha Blackburn and Jerri Green. With third parties not moving the polling needles, it’s nearly guaranteed that whoever wins will be Tennessee’s first female governor. And voters hope one of them can wrangle the cost of living. Tennesseans have money on their minds, and it’s not making them feel good. According to a 2026 Vanderbilt poll, 88% of voters characterize the cost of living in the state as expensive, and they’re split on whether the state is going in the right direction or not. When it comes to the country’s direction, 58% believe it’s on the wrong track. According to a 2025 poll, Tennessee voters on both sides overwhelmingly oppose cuts to major programs (think: Social Security, Medicaid, or veterans services).
Who’s on your ballot
Tap a race to see the candidates.
Tennessee is choosing a governor
See whose priorities line up with yours
Here are the top priorities each candidate lists, in their own words. Pick the 2 that matter most to you. Names stay hidden until you see your results.
0 of 2 picked
- Top priorities
Marsha BlackburnRepublican- Stimulating the state’s economic growth by keeping taxes and prices low and reducing unnecessary spending and regulations so more companies continue to relocate to Tennessee.
- Protecting girls' sports and keeping girls' sports and locker rooms limited to female athletes.
- Stemming illegal immigration by enforcing the rule of law and fighting to end the illegal flow of drugs from across the border.
- Top prioritiesJerri GreenDemocrat
- Supporting working families with paid leave, affordable childcare, and living wages.
- Strengthening public schools with fully funded classrooms, respected teachers, and honest education free from censorship or political agenda.
- Expanding Medicaid access in rural areas and respecting a woman’s decision regarding her own health.
- Misam AbidiIndependent
- Dean BrewerIndependent
- Ray BrownIndependent
- David HatleyIndependent
- Wendell JacksonIndependent
- Charles Van MorganIndependent
- Eddie Lee MurphyIndependent
- Lauren PinkstonIndependent
- Victor ScogginIndependent
- Dave SeemanIndependent
- Karl SmithsonIndependent
- L. Webb TaylorIndependent
- Robert VickIndependent
- Get to know ’emMarquita BradshawDemocrat
- Tharon ChandlerIndependent
- Andrew GerenaIndependent
- Jeremy HearnIndependent
- Robert JonesIndependent
- James Macon IIIIndependent
- Yoshi MatthewsIndependent
- David Sutman Jr.Independent
- Catherine WhitsonIndependent
All U.S. House of Representatives seats are up for election every two years. Find your district here.
This year, Tennessee is debuting some new
MoonPie flavorsdistrict boundaries, making it one of nine states to feature a new Congressional map in 2026.- Shadrach’s big picture
Tennessee will elect nine candidates to represent it in the U.S. House. Under the new map, Republicans are expected to hold all nine of those seats (up from eight under the previous map).
- Open seats
Three: Rep. Andy Ogles (R-5) lost his primary to Charlie Hatcher; Rep. John Rose (R-6) ran for governor; and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-9) is retiring from office.
- The redistricting effect
TN-9 (primarily encompassing Memphis) was divided into three different districts stretching from the western edge of the state to the Nashville suburbs, diluting the Democratic majority and flipping TN-9 from blue to red. Rep. Steve Cohen (TN-9’s incumbent) announced he would not run under the redrawn map.
- Competitive districts
None of Tennessee’s districts are considered competitive. All nine are solidly Republican.
Statewide ballot measures
3 to read before you go. Tap one to open it.
The amendment would change the constitution to remove the right to bail in cases where the presumption of guilt is great, and the defendant is accused of the following offenses: acts of terrorism, second-degree murder, aggravated rape of a child, grave torture, and any other offense for which a convicted individual could not be released prior to the expiration of at least 85% of their sentence.
Voting yessupports prohibiting people from being released on bail if there’s a high likelihood they’re guilty of one of these listed crimesVoting noopposes this constitutional amendment, allowing people to be released on bail even if there’s a high likelihood they’re guilty of one of these listed crimesThe amendment would prohibit the Tennessee General Assembly from establishing a property tax. Tennessee does not have a state property tax, but the General Assembly has the constitutional authority to create one. Amendment 2 would not prohibit local governments from levying property taxes, only the General Assembly.
Voting yestakes away the government’s existing ability to create a state property tax if the state were to need more money one dayVoting nopreserves the government’s existing ability to create a state property tax if the state were to need more money one dayThe amendment would expand the list of rights for victims of crimes in the Constitution, including the right: to be present at all criminal proceedings; to be treated with fairness; to be heard in any proceeding involving release, plea, sentencing, disposition, and parole; to be free from harassment, intimidation, and abuse throughout the criminal justice system; to get reasonable notice of all public criminal proceedings; and to have the safety of the victim, the victim's family, and the general public considered before any parole decision is made, among other rights.
Voting yessupports expanding the list of rights victims in criminal cases haveVoting noopposes expanding the list of rights victims in criminal cases have
Also on the ballot
Other races Tennessee voters will decide.
- State Senate
- State House
- State Supreme Court
- Intermediate appellate courts
- School boards
- Municipal government
Whose job is it?
Ten things government does. Tap the office that does each one.
Whose job is it to…
1 of 10
Declare a state of emergency after a hurricane or flood?
Pass it on
Know someone voting in Tennessee?
Send them the guide. It takes one tap, and it saves them an evening of arguing in a group chat.
From the newsroom
How TPO has covered Tennessee this cycle. Tap one to read it here.
A prayer for Tennessee
God of mountains and melodies, the future of Tennessee is in Your hands. Even in voters’ deep divisions, draw near and unite them in the things that matter most. Teach them to love their neighbors, to prioritize the good of their communities, and to seek the glory of Your name above all. May they cast their votes with humble conviction and hold the outcome with open hands.
Shield candidates from the temptation to win at any cost. May they lead with humility and remember that the people they seek to represent belong to You before they belong to any party. If they win, surround them with wise counsel and guide them toward decisions that serve their constituents. For those who lose, may they do so with dignity and a unifying spirit.
Guard the hearts and minds of Volunteers weighed down by noise, grieved by division, or afraid of tomorrow. For You are not shaken by elections; You govern governors, and Your kingdom will not be moved.
Amen.