Ballot Project

← Back to Robertson County, Tennessee: Election on 2026-08-06

Contest for Tennessee Governor

State Tennessee
primary - Partisan - Governor

About this office

The governor is the chief executive of state government — proposing the state budget, administering the executive departments, appointing officials and judges to fill vacancies, signing or vetoing legislation, and commanding the state's emergency response.

Term length: 4 years.

This role calls for

  • Executive leadership of state government: proposing the budget, administering departments, and appointing officials.
  • Ability to work with the General Assembly to enact and fund policy.
  • Intergovernmental capacity with the federal government, local governments, and other states.
  • Crisis and emergency management for the whole state.
  • Public communication and administrative management at large scale.

Derived from the office's statutory duties and operational reality. Candidate summaries below map each candidate's documented experience to these requirements.

Campaigns

Democratic Primary 5 candidates
Tim Cyr

Tim Cyr

Democrat
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Tim Cyr's biography shows military service as a U.S. Army veteran and National Guardsman, alongside experience managing a small farming business and repairing engines. He holds a degree in plant and soil science but has not previously held elected or appointed office. Bio does not indicate executive leadership of state government or intergovernmental capacity with federal agencies.
Adam "Ditch" Kurtz

Adam "Ditch" Kurtz

Democrat
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Adam Kurtz's biography shows a political science degree and over a decade of Nashville residency, alongside grassroots campaign management through digital platforms and small-donor fundraising. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate executive leadership experience in state government administration or intergovernmental crisis management capacity.
Kevin Lee McCants

Kevin Lee McCants

Democrat
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Kevin Lee McCants holds degrees in engineering and psychology and worked as a production supervisor, yet his biography shows no prior executive leadership of state government, legislative negotiation with the General Assembly, intergovernmental relations, crisis management, or large-scale administrative experience. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate relevant executive or legislative experience.
Jerri Green

Jerri Green

Democrat
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Jerri Green's biography shows experience in executive leadership as Shelby County Deputy Chief of Staff and Interim Chief Public Defender, alongside legislative work on the Memphis City Council and intergovernmental engagement with state officials. She has managed large-scale operations involving over 22,000 cases annually and advocated for policy changes regarding public safety and education. Bio does not indicate experience in proposing a statewide budget or managing crisis emergencies at the governor level.
Carnita Atwater

Carnita Atwater

Democrat
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Carnita Atwater's biography shows extensive experience in healthcare administration, community development, and nonprofit leadership through roles as a hospital administrator and founder of the New Chicago Community Development Corporation. The record documents her filing a $20 billion lawsuit against state officials alleging neglect in 2020. Bio does not indicate executive leadership of state government or intergovernmental capacity with federal agencies.
Republican Primary 3 candidates
Monty Fritts

Monty Fritts

Republican
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Monty Fritts' biography shows service as a Tennessee state representative and U.S. Army Sergeant First Class, demonstrating legislative experience and executive leadership skills relevant to the governorship. The record notes criticism regarding his self-identification as a Christian nationalist and allegations about abortion policy positions. Bio does not indicate prior statewide executive administration or federal intergovernmental negotiation experience.
John Rose

John Rose

Republican
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John Rose's biography shows executive experience as Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner and legislative leadership in Congress, addressing state administration and intergovernmental capacity. He has served on federal committees and managed a multi-generational farm alongside legal practice. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate crisis management experience or large-scale departmental budget oversight.
Marsha Blackburn

Marsha Blackburn

Republican
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Marsha Blackburn's biography shows extensive legislative experience in the Tennessee State Senate and U.S. Congress, including committee chair roles relevant to state policy and federal intergovernmental relations. Her background includes founding a business and leading party organizations, demonstrating administrative management and public communication skills. Bio does not indicate executive leadership of state government or crisis management experience for the whole state.
Independent 13 candidates
Ray Brown

Ray Brown

Independent
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Ray Brown's biography shows he is an Independent candidate for Governor of Tennessee in the 2026 election, residing in Oliver Springs. The record does not document prior executive leadership, legislative negotiation, intergovernmental relations, crisis management, or large-scale administrative experience. Bio does not indicate relevant executive or legislative experience.
Robert C. Vick

Robert C. Vick

Independent
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Robert C. Vick's forty-year career in East Tennessee public schools demonstrates administrative experience as a principal and athletic director, alongside executive leadership through curriculum planning and budget management for multiple districts. The biography contains no record of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate experience with state-level intergovernmental relations or crisis management for the entire state.
Lauren Pinkston

Lauren Pinkston

Independent
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Lauren Pinkston's biography shows experience in business development, nonprofit leadership, and academic research, alongside a Ph.D. in international community development and consulting for government officials. She has no prior elected or appointed office history and no legislative record. Bio does not indicate executive budget management or crisis emergency management experience.
Wendell Jackson

Wendell Jackson

Independent
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Wendell Jackson's biography shows he is an independent candidate who qualified for the 2026 Tennessee gubernatorial ballot by submitting a petition with voter signatures. The record indicates he has held no prior elected or appointed public office and possesses no documented history of executive leadership, legislative negotiation, intergovernmental relations, crisis management, or large-scale administrative experience. Bio does not indicate relevant executive or legislative experience.
Karl Knox Smithson

Karl Knox Smithson

Independent
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Karl Smithson is an independent candidate running for Governor of Tennessee in the 2026 election. The biography identifies his candidacy but does not indicate prior executive leadership experience or crisis management experience. No controversy or disciplinary record appears in the provided text. This summary reflects only the stated facts regarding his status as a candidate without detailing specific professional background relevant to state administration or intergovernmental relations.
Misam Abidi

Misam Abidi

Independent
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Misam Abidi's biography identifies him as an Independent candidate for Governor of Tennessee, filed in March 2026. The record does not document prior executive leadership, legislative negotiation, intergovernmental relations, crisis management, or large-scale administrative experience. Bio does not indicate relevant executive or policy-making experience.
L. Webb Taylor

L. Webb Taylor

Independent
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The biography confirms L. Webb Taylor is an independent candidate on the 2026 Tennessee gubernatorial ballot but provides no details regarding his background, education, career history, or prior office holding. No controversies or disciplinary records appear in the available reporting. Bio does not indicate executive leadership experience or intergovernmental crisis management experience.
Dean Brewer

Dean Brewer

Independent
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Dean Brewer's biography shows he is an independent candidate who met Tennessee's March 10, 2026 qualifying deadline for the November gubernatorial election. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary history. Bio does not indicate executive leadership experience or intergovernmental crisis management experience.
David Hatley

David Hatley

Independent
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David Hatley's biography shows executive leadership through founding nine companies and creating 750 jobs, alongside crisis response by supplying water during Hurricane Helene. The record documents no prior elected office or legislative experience. Bio does not indicate experience in state budget administration or intergovernmental relations with federal agencies.
Victor L. Scoggin

Victor L. Scoggin

Independent
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Scoggin's biography shows extensive military service, long-term union work, and leadership of a non-profit, demonstrating executive capacity and crisis management skills relevant to the governorship. He has no documented disciplinary record or controversy. Bio does not indicate experience in state budget administration or intergovernmental relations with federal agencies.
Eddie Lee Murphy

Eddie Lee Murphy

Independent
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Eddie Lee Murphy's biography shows filing as an Independent candidate for Governor in Tennessee but contains no evidence of executive leadership, legislative negotiation, intergovernmental relations, crisis management, or large-scale administrative experience. Bio does not indicate prior elected office experience or state government administration experience.
Charles Van Morgan

Charles Van Morgan

Independent
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Charles Van Morgan's biography shows executive experience through owning a logistics business and serving as a police officer and trooper, alongside legal training from law school. Records document his 2012 firing from the Highway Patrol following a fatal crash and a 2022 arrest for disturbing voters at a polling site, though charges were later dismissed. Bio does not indicate experience in state budgeting or intergovernmental relations with federal agencies.
Dave Seeman

Dave Seeman

Independent
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Dave Seeman's biography shows experience in engineering, technical sales, and marketing within large corporations and startups, alongside entrepreneurial leadership as a web startup co-owner. He also serves as an industry mentor for the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate executive government administration or legislative negotiation experience.
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