Meet the Candidates
Every declared candidate for Tennessee Governor in 2026 — who they are, what they've raised, and where they stand on education.
4
Republicans
4
Democrats
4
Independents
$12M+
Total Raised
At a Glance
Quick Compare| Candidate | Party | Raised | Ed. Freedom Scholarship | School Choice | Charters | Teacher Pay | Accountability | Workforce | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marsha Blackburn | R | $5.35M | Supports | Supports | Supports | No Position | Supports | Supports | → |
| Monty Fritts | R | $167K | Opposes | Opposes | No Position | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | → |
| Cito Pellegra | R | $0 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | |
| John Rose | R | $6.10M | Supports | Supports | Supports | Supports | Supports | Supports | → |
| Carnita Atwater | D | — | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Tim Cyr | D | $0 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Jerri Green | D | $26K | Opposes | Opposes | Nuanced | Supports | No Position | Nuanced | → |
| Adam "Ditch" Kurtz | D | $4K | Opposes | Opposes | Unknown | Supports | Unknown | Unknown |
Supports Clear supportive position
Nuanced Supports with conditions or unique angle
Opposes Clear opposing position
No Position Hasn't publicly addressed
Unknown Insufficient public info
Based on TNFirefly reporting · See full education stances →
Republican Primary · August 6, 2026
MB
Marsha Blackburn
U.S. Senator from Tennessee · Williamson County
Close ally of President Trump with statewide name recognition from two Senate elections. Co-sponsored federal school choice legislation and championed Tennessee's Education Freedom Act. If elected, would be Tennessee's first female governor and would appoint her own Senate replacement.
$5.35M
Raised
33,000
Contributions
$3.8M
Cash on Hand
8 yrs
In Senate
View Full Profile →
MF
Monty Fritts
2-Term State Representative · Kingston
Anti-establishment Army veteran and Y-12 nuclear complex manager. One of roughly 20 House Republicans to vote against the Education Freedom Scholarship. Generated national headlines in January 2026 for calling for execution of parents and doctors of transgender children on a podcast appearance.
$167K
Raised
Opposes EFS
Key Stance
Veteran
U.S. Army
Y-12
Current Job
View Full Profile →
CP
Cito Pellegra
Arlington, TN
Filed to run in the Republican primary. No campaign website, no campaign finance reports, no public platform, and no media coverage. A ballot-only candidate with no apparent active campaign.
$0
Raised
None
Platform
JR
John Rose
U.S. Representative, TN-6 · Cookeville
Family farmer, IT businessman, and former Commissioner of Agriculture under Gov. Sundquist. Self-funded $5M into his campaign and already running TV ads statewide. Touts that 92% of his contributions come from Tennessee donors — a direct contrast to Blackburn's national fundraising base.
$6.46M
War Chest
92%
From TN
$5M
Self-Funded
3 terms
In Congress
View Full Profile →
Democratic Primary · August 6, 2026
CA
Carnita Atwater
Community Advocate · Memphis
Museum president and Memphis community leader. Ran for governor in 2022 (3rd in Dem primary) and Memphis mayor in 2023. First African American woman to run for Tennessee governor. Focused on racial equity, healthcare, and community advocacy.
—
Raised
2nd Run
For Gov
TC
Tim Cyr
Gallatin, TN
"Tennessee Tim" moved to TN in 2017. Previously ran for Illinois House in 2010. No campaign website, no platform, and minimal public profile. A ballot-only candidate in the Democratic primary.
$0
Raised
None
Platform
JG
Jerri Green
Memphis City Council, District 2
Georgetown Law grad, former public defender, and three-time gun violence survivor. The only Democrat with current elected office experience. Building an "army of moms" coalition focused on public school funding, maternal healthcare, and gun violence prevention.
$125K
Raised
1st
Among Dems
Georgetown
Law School
3x
Gun Violence Survivor
View Full Profile →
AK
Adam "Ditch" Kurtz
Musician · Nashville
Nashville pedal steel guitarist running a no-corporate-money grassroots campaign. "I'm a people." Supports free healthcare, eliminating grocery tax, raising minimum wage, and legalizing marijuana with tax revenue directed to public schools.
$14K
Raised
Grassroots
No Corp $
Independent · General Election · November 3, 2026
SM
Stephen Maxwell
Military Veteran & Nonprofit Leader
Most detailed platform among the independents. Military veteran and nonprofit leader who has outlined positions on multiple policy areas. Filed to appear on the November general election ballot, bypassing the primary process entirely.
—
Raised
0%
Polling
3+
3 Other Independents
Pinkston · Reddy · Vick
Three additional independents have filed for the general election ballot. All have minimal public profiles, no campaign websites, and no reported campaign finance activity. Ballot-only candidates with no apparent active campaigns.
$0
Combined Raised
None
Platform
This tracker is produced by The Tennessee Firefly, an education journalism outlet covering all 95 Tennessee counties. All information is sourced from public records, official filings, and verified reporting. We do not endorse candidates. Factual information is clearly separated from analysis. Learn more about our standards.
