Diana Onyejiaka

Diana Onyejiaka is a Democratic candidate running for the U.S. Senate in Tennessee's Class 2 seat during the 2026 election cycle [1]. She was born in Tennessee and earned a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in public administration from Tennessee State University, as well as a J.D. from Southern University Law Center [1]. Her professional background includes work in healthcare compliance, higher education, federal mediation, and public policy [1]. Onyejiaka founded the Youth - Trainee Culture & Sustainability Project and DC Consult International, and she has served as an organizer for the U.S. - Africa Business Opportunities & Exchange Conference [1]. She is the daughter of Nigerian immigrants and has taught courses in law and government as an adjunct professor at Tennessee State University and Middle Tennessee State University [15].

Onyejiaka launched her campaign for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Tennessee in November 2024, but she is now running for the U.S. Senate instead [16]. She will appear on the ballot in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate on August 6, 2026, alongside Marquita Bradshaw, Maria Brewer, and Civil Miller-Watkins [7]. She previously ran for the U.S. House to represent Tennessee's 5th Congressional District but did not appear on the ballot for that race [1].

In the 2020 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, Onyejiaka was a candidate but withdrew or was disqualified from the ballot before the election [5]. She has cited her background in international business and government relations as key to her platform, focusing on helping Tennessee businesses work overseas, as well as education and infrastructure [15]. Her campaign emphasizes restoring government integrity and opposing what she describes as federal overreach [16].

Sources

• [1] Diana Onyejiaka - Ballotpedia
• [2] Democratic Party primaries in Tennessee, 2020 - Ballotpedia
• [3] United States Senate election in Tennessee, 2026 - Ballotpedia
• [4] Democratic Party primaries in Tennessee, 2026 - Ballotpedia
• [5] United States Senate election in Tennessee, 2020 (August 6 Democratic primary) - Ballotpedia
• [6] Tennessee's 5th Congressional District election, 2026 (August 6 Democratic primary) - Ballotpedia)
• [7] United States Senate election in Tennessee, 2026 (August 6 Democratic primary) - Ballotpedia
• [8] United States Senate election in Tennessee, 2020 - Ballotpedia
• [9] United States Senate election in Tennessee, 2024 - Ballotpedia
• [10] United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, 2026 - Ballotpedia
• [11] 2026 United States Senate election in Tennessee - Wikipedia
• [12] Tennessean on X: "Nashville Democrat Diana Onyejiaka is running for U.S. Senate https://t.co/MQBSmTO9Qu" / X
• [15] Third Democrat launches Senate run | Elections | nashvillepost.com
• [16] DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE DIANA ONYEJIAKA LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO LIBERATE TENNESSEE FROM THE WASHINGTON MACHINE AND RESTORE GOVERNMENT INTEGRITY
• [18] Democratic Candidates – Maury County Democratic Party

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

• State offices (Governor, US Senate, US Rep, TN Senate, TN House, State Executive Committee) — Tennessee Registry of Election Finance. Click Search for Candidates and PACs, enter last name “Onyejiaka”, and submit.
• Shelby County and municipal offices (County Mayor, Commissioner, Sheriff, School Board, court clerks, municipal alderman, etc.) — Shelby County Public Campaign Finance Portal. Select the election year and search by candidate name (“Onyejiaka”).

Tennessee — statement of interest

• Required for state and local officials and candidates — Tennessee Ethics Commission Conflict of Interest Search. Enter last name “Onyejiaka”and, if needed, select the applicable position.

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