The Tennessee secretary of state released the full slate of candidates for the 2026 state and federal elections after Tuesday’s filing deadline.
The key race this cycle is the open gubernatorial seat, where term-limited Gov. Bill Lee is unable to seek re-election. U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Rep. John Rose and state Rep. Monty Fritts are expected to be the leading contenders for the Republican nomination. opinion polls show Blackburn is the frontrunner.
Six candidates have filed for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, with Memphis City Councilman Jerry Green considered the front-runner in the primary. No Tennessee Democrat has won statewide office since Gov. Phil Bredesen won re-election in 2006. Full list of gubernatorial candidates Can be found here.
U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty is running for re-election with no primary challengers on the Republican side and five Democrats in the race, including former Fayette County School Board member Civil Miller Watkins and longtime former Tennessee Democratic staffer Maria Brewer. List of candidates for the U.S. Senate race Can be found here.
All nine seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are on the ballot.
Memphis City Councilman Jerry Green is the Democratic candidate for governor. (Photo: John Patipillo/Tennessee Lookout)
In the 5th Congressional District, Columbia Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles faces a primary challenge from former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher. The Democratic National Committee has identified the seat as a potential flip opportunity. The Democratic primary includes five candidates, the most prominent of whom are Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder and Metro Nashville Councilman Mike Cortes.
In the 6th District, where Ross is vacating the seat to run for governor, four Republicans have filed primary petitions, including state Rep. Johnny Garrett and former U.S. Rep. Van Hilleary, who served in the 4th Congressional District from 1994 to 2003. In the 9th District, Memphis Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen faces a primary challenge from state Rep. Justin Pearson. Pearson also filed to run for a seat in the state House of Representatives, which is allowed under state law. Full list of candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives The competition can be found here.
In the state Legislature, all 99 seats in the House of Representatives and 17 of the 33 Senate districts are up for election.
The race for Lt. Gov. Randy McNally’s District 5 Senate seat, which covers parts of Anderson, Loudoun and Knox counties, has attracted three candidates, two of whom are former legislators. Jimmy Matlock, who served in the state House from 2006 to 2019, and Stacey Campfield, who served in the state House from 2004 to 2014, are running for McNally’s seat.
Canfield’s tenure in the Legislature was fraught with controversy: He introduced a bill to issue death certificates to aborted fetuses and asked to join the Legislative Black Caucus, saying the group’s charter was racist.
Tennessee Senate Candidates List
Tennessee Senate Petition Filed October 3, 2026
Tennessee House of Representatives candidates list
Petition filed by the Tennessee House of Representatives on October 3, 2026
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