←All People
Kevin Lee McCants
Kevin Lee McCants is a Democratic candidate running for Governor of Tennessee in the 2026 election 1. He is also a candidate for U.S. Senate in Tennessee, though he will not appear on the ballot for that specific primary race 1. McCants filed petitions to run for both offices during the March 10, 2026 filing deadline 38.
McCants holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering technologies from the University of Alabama and a master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 1. His professional background includes work as a production supervisor at a Hot Topic Distribution Center 1.
In his campaign for Governor, McCants has outlined a platform focused on economic stability and workforce adaptation. He proposes the "Cognitive Dividend Act," which he describes as a measure to define how artificial intelligence integrates into the workforce while protecting workers by recognizing cognitive labor as intellectual property and helping displaced workers transition into independent income opportunities 19. His campaign also promotes the "LFEPSC Economic Plan," intended to manage inflation and economic change, and advocates for consumer-sponsored healthcare plans to shift control from employers to consumers 19. McCants argues that Tennessee families earn below the national median and that nearly 60% of jobs require postsecondary education, a gap he aims to address through his proposed policies 19.
McCants is one of five candidates in the Democratic primary for Governor of Tennessee, alongside Carnita Atwater, Tim Cyr, Jerri Green, and Adam Kurtz 1. The primary is scheduled for August 6, 2026, with the general election set for November 3, 2026 1.
Sources
Public filings
Candidates and officeholders are required by law to file campaign finance reports and statements of economic interest. The sites below don't support direct links to an individual record — search by last name on each.
Tennessee — campaign finance (search)
-
State offices (Governor, TN Senate, TN House, State Executive Committee, statewide judiciary) —
Tennessee Registry of Election Finance.
Click Search for Candidates and PACs, enter last name “McCants”, and submit.
US House, US Senate, and Presidential candidates file with the FEC — see the federal section below. - County and municipal offices (County Mayor, Commissioner, Sheriff, School Board, court clerks, municipal alderman, etc.) — most major TN counties use the EasyVote portal. Select the relevant county and search by candidate name (“McCants”).
Tennessee — statement of interest
- Required for state and local officials and candidates — Tennessee Ethics Commission Conflict of Interest Search. Enter last name “McCants”and, if needed, select the applicable position.
Federal offices — campaign finance
- US House, US Senate, and Presidential candidates file with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), not with state systems — FEC candidate search. Filter by office, state, and cycle to narrow the results. Financial disclosures (personal assets and income) for members of Congress and congressional candidates are filed with the US House Clerk or US Senate Office of Public Records, depending on the office.