Tennessee Governor 2026 Choose 1
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Misam Abidi
(I)
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Carnita Atwater
(Dem)
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Marsha Blackburn
(Rep)
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Dean Brewer
(I)
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Ray Brown
(I)
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Tim Cyr
(Dem)
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Monty Fritts
(Rep)
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Jerri Green
(Dem)
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David Hatley
(I)
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Wendell Jackson
(I)
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Adam "Ditch" Kurtz
(Dem)
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Kevin Lee McCants
(Dem)
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Eddie Lee Murphy
(I)
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Lauren Pinkston
(I)
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John Rose
(Rep)
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Victor L. Scoggin
(I)
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Dave Seeman
(I)
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Karl Knox Smithson
(I)
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L. Webb Taylor
(I)
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Charles Van Morgan
(I)
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Robert C. Vick
(I)
Biographical Information
Website
http://www.misamforgovernor.com
Age
47
Education
Some College
Work experience
Entrepreneur with a diverse professional background spanning financial services, technology, renewable energy, business development, and transportation.
Phone Number
9018269458
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
1. Economic Security—Too many hardworking families are struggling with the rising costs of housing, healthcare, and everyday living.
2. Opportunity—Every student should graduate high school with both a diploma and at least one in-demand job certification, creating a direct pathway to a career and reducing the risk of falling into poverty. Let's think long term and build a stable society from the roots.
3. Trust in Government—Government exists to serve its citizens, not political parties or special interests. It should be transparent, accountable, and measured by how well it improves people's lives.
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
*Economic Security:* I will help families build wealth through Tennessee First Home Accounts, allowing savings for a first home to begin at birth. I will also reduce healthcare costs through a state reinsurance program and lower the cost of everyday necessities by eliminating taxes where practical.
*Opportunity:* Every student should graduate high school with both a diploma and an in-demand job certification, so whether they choose college or not, they have a pathway to a career instead of poverty.
*Trust in Government:* Government should answer to the people, not the other way around, and every decision WILL be measured by one question: Does it create more freedom, opportunity, and prosperity for Tennesseans?
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
Affordability begins by helping families keep more of what they earn. I will establish the Tennessee First Home Account program, allowing parents to begin saving for a child's first home from birth, with parents, family members, employers, and the state all able to contribute. I will reduce health insurance premiums by an estimated 30–40% through a state-backed reinsurance program that lowers insurers' highest risks and passes the savings on to families. I will also reduce taxes on everyday necessities while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
A quality education should prepare every student for life, not just graduation. Every student should graduate high school with both a diploma and a state-funded, in-demand job certification. If they become a doctor, engineer, entrepreneur, or pursue higher education, wonderful. But if college isn't possible or life takes a different path, they should already have a valuable skill that leads to a meaningful career instead of poverty. By giving every graduate a pathway to earn a living from day one, we begin solving poverty at its source instead of waiting to respond after people fall behind. We must also strengthen reading, math, financial literacy, and civics while giving teachers the respect, trust, and support they deserve.
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
Data centers can strengthen Tennessee's economy, but their first responsibility must be to benefit the people of Tennessee. I support welcoming these investments only when they protect our communities, our natural resources, and our quality of life through clear standards for water use, energy, noise, and responsible siting. In return, these projects should create lasting TN jobs, invest in workforce training, and help strengthen the very infrastructure they rely on—including our electric grid, water systems, roads, and other public services—so the demands they create leave Tennessee stronger than they found it. If Tennessee helps build your success, your success should help build Tennessee. That is what a true partnership looks like.
Biographical Information
Website
http://www.atwater4governor.com
Age
66
Education
Bachelors in Healthcare Management, Master's in Public Health Education & Gerontology, PhD in Public Health Administration & Epidemiology
Work experience
Dean of Medical Studies, Dean of Student Affairs, Adjunct Professor, Hospital Administrator, Nursing Home Administrator, Public Health Administrator, EEOC Officer, Mental Health Liaison, Community Advocate,
Phone Number
(901) 502-2326
Facebook
http://AtwaterforGovernor.com
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
The three biggest challenges facing Tennesseans are (1) the lack of accountability and transparency in government relating to the inequitable fiscal budget, misappropriation of funds, inadequate healthcare for Tennesseans, and tax breaks to billionaires. At the same time, the working class suffers economically. (2) Inability to ensure life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to all Tennesseans. (3) Violating the constitutional rights of citizens, such as criminalizing the unhoused, cutting veterans' benefits, attacking LGBTQ individuals, compromising women's reproductive rights, failing to address medical cannabis, inhumane treatments & deaths in CoreCivic private prisons, economic neglect of farmers, and the rural hospital closures.
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
If elected, I have a Resurrection of Hope Plan to "Make Tennessee Whole Again". Day one, I will perform a forensic investigation across all 95 counties to identify inequities across the State of Tennessee. Starting with myself as the Governor, hold the government accountable for all violations of Tennessee's rights and restore justice to the citizens of this Volunteer State. Address economic inequities by reassessing tax breaks, economic disparities, and housing disparities with innovative land trust initiatives and Community Benefit Agreements to give the power back to the people by placing Tennesseans back into politics. Restore all rural hospitals. Dismantling private prisons and ending the ICE atrocities. Focusing on ONE TENNESSEE!
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
The Governor should ensure that all Tennesseans are at the table of prosperity by building affordable homes across the state, especially in rural Tennessee. Ensure that budgets are moral documents that promote accessible and good quality of life for all Tennesseans. Address the tax on food. Release the $717 Million Temporary Assistance for Families (TANF) funds for families to have quality food consumption. Make childcare free for all families. Pass Medicare for All. Address governmental waste. Increase the tax rate for billionaires and rich developers. End the gentrification of underserved and marginalized communities. Ensure that 100% disabled veterans are not penalized regarding property taxes. My Hope Plan: www.atwater4governor.com
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
Public schools should be a human right in the State of Tennessee. All parents should have the right to send their children to the school of their choice, but not on the backs of taxpayers. School vouchers for affluent families should be unconstitutional. Every child should have an equal opportunity to a good quality education, no matter their zip code. As the next potential Governor, quality education would be using a holistic approach by addressing the whole child's housing needs, nutritional needs, health care accessibility, mental counseling, drug involvement, parental empowerment initiative, and youth development programs. Unless the underlying causes are addressed, such as homelessness, food deserts, and ACEs, no child will thrive.
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
As the next potential Governor, I have an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data Center Defense Protection Plan in my Resurrection of Hope Plan. No data center should be erected in any community without the permission of the citizens. Therefore, regulations must be in place to address the pros and cons of these data centers, incorporating Community Benefit Agreements. These data centers should bring their own sustainable energy sources. They would not be allowed to consume water and energy sources that could harm Tennesseans. Strict regulations on pollutants would be implemented to protect Tennesseans. New data centers would incur tax and development assessments. An AI Educational Program would be set up to benefit the next generations.
Biographical Information
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
Candidate has not yet responded.
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
Infrastructure
Affordability
Crime
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
Infrastructure- dedicate more money and expand.
Affordability- I plan on cut any unnecessary unneeded red tape that does nothing but cost Tennesseans. Have the savings go directly towards Tennesseans and not making fat pockets even fatter.
Crime - continue Bill Lee’s plan for the Memphis area and add to that.
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
First thing I would do is I would have an audit in every area to eliminate any corruption and to cut any red tape, that does nothing but cost the Tennessee money.
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
State money should stay with public schools. We need to increase the quality of our public schools.. Strive to give teachers more money to attract quality teachers, and have the equipment and tools they need to teach.
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
Personally, I don’t think the data seen are needed. It would be my job to make sure that Tennessee ends have quality life and I don’t think that sinners are gonna bring that to us and I don’t think that’s what the people want.
Biographical Information
Age
42
Education
Various
Work experience
Tradesman
Phone Number
8652751077
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
Destruction of core family values;
Weak infrastructure;
Too many feral hogs within the local government:
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
Going to stop the destruction of our family values. One of the big contributors of family destruction is the family court system. Provide clarity and clean up the corruption within the family courts. If we have to stop and prosecute magistrates and judges for destroying evidence purposely, we need to start doing that. Even if we have to stop taking federal money incentivizing the Trafficking of our children.
The infrastructure within tennessee is very poor not even existing in certain parts of the state. Grants and businesses that are coming to tennessee, especially nuclear sites need to maintain all roads and utilities within a 10 mile radius.
Legislators that pockets money from bill's they pass needs to go to the slaughterhouse.
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
Should be truthful? And if it's totally out of its control, say, this aspect is out of by hands but we can lower gas taxes or
Increase tax rates on fast food, by so many percent and decrease taxes on groceries. Look at our standing on spending start at the top, see how much different state organizations are lining current politicians' pockets. Stop a double dipping, of you lose tax dollars towards the buddies of politicians at a premium cost, a cost from the pockets of Tennessee families.
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
I personally can see the answer within this question. My children much rather go to schools in middle and west Tennessee. I asked why? Well it's because it's easier, not as hard as Oliver Springs. Oliver Springs schools are more challenging cause the students receive a little bit better quality education. They challenge their students, I would raise the bar across the state.. Now I understand that it's almost impossible to make every school a stem school. Having a better, educated society, will only help with prosperity for our future.
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
I feel that if we to have data centers within the state, they need to be all grouped together. Tennessee takes pride and being an agricultural state. How can we do that without the critters the pollutions Data centers produce drives everything away. Go visit New Tazwell and tell me that the bitcoin mine has no effect on the residents and everything that used to live within that area. No one can say, or even if you're not used to it, stand to walk down the road from that area due to the constant humming and noise pollution. Not to mention the R F radiation. Do we have a study being done on long-term effects on humans little alone the critters and plant life.
Biographical Information
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
1) redistricting
2) traffic congestion
3) mental health assistants
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
1) make redistricting as fair and impartial as possible.
2) send bus's throughout the state to cut traffic down ..
3) set up more mental health facilities
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
Spend money on school lunch programs , help fund places like second harvest , socialize health care , and a some help with child care
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
Help the parents ,identify students with alcoholic parents and with other substance abuse issues make sure students have a proper learning environment period..
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
Governor needs to help anyway possible with an over view of the state , so as to place these centers away from people as much as possible.
Biographical Information
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
Candidate has not yet responded.
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
Website
http://www.greenforgovernor.com
Age
48
Education
Earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.
Work experience
Jerri has dedicated her life to public service. As Executive Director of the Community Legal Center, she provided affordable legal help to Memphians. She then served Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris as Senior Policy Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff, advancing public safety, reproductive healthcare, and living wages. Recently appointed Shelby County’s Chief Public Defender, she protects the constitution and our most vulnerable residents. Now representing District 2 on the Memphis City Council, Jerri continues to deliver. She increased funding for first responders, reduced violent crime by getting guns off our streets, cracked down on neglectful landlords, and expanded access to pre-K and youth mental health programming.
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
I've made more than 100 stops across our state already, and this is what I hear everywhere I go:
"I don't want a gilded ballroom, I want groceries I can afford. I don't want a cage match on the white house lawn, I want a reimagining of our public schools. And I don't want warfare abroad, I want healthcare right here at home".
Life is too expensive, healthcare is out of reach for too many, and our public schools need more investment.
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
I will end the grocery tax and make corporations pay their fair share. They reap multibillion-dollar breaks while families get poorer. It’s time to stop serving billionaires and put hard-earned money back into the pockets of working Tennesseans.
I will expand healthcare access by expanding Medicaid, lowering drug costs, defending reproductive freedom, and investing in mental health. Tennessee leads in maternal mortality and no one should rely on a GoFundMe just to survive.
I will fully fund public schools by defunding the voucher scam. Tennesseans are paying more out of their pockets to send children whose families can afford it to private school, and less for the majority of children who go to public schools. This is backwards.
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
I would stop hoarding TANF funds (Tennessee Assistance for Needy Families) and put those dollars to work on Day ONE to provide relief for Tennesseans. Here are three things I'll do with these existing funds to help residents immediately:
Housing Relief: Use $10 Million of TANF funding to waive security deposits and ensure affordable housing for 100,000+ Tennessee families.
Childcare for All: Use $50 Million of TANF funding to clear the waitlist for every family, ensuring no parent has to choose between a paycheck and their child.
End Medical Debt: Use $10 Million of TANF funding to buy up and erase predatory debt for more than 100,000 Tennesseans.
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
I would defund the voucher scheme in my very first budget and put public dollars back into public schools where they belong. I've often been to rural, small towns that only have one school. When you take money from that school, which is often the community’s biggest employer, you take money from that community’s future. We’re robbing our children of opportunities to give families who can afford private school welfare. We could use the (at least) 1 billion dollars we're putting into vouchers over the next five years to raise teacher pay, wipe out half the school repair backlog, and increase classroom resources.
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
The Governor should push for regulations on AI and data centers throughout our state as this rapidly developing technology threatens our environment, our children, and our democracy.
As governor, I plan to fine large corporations that replace 25 or more workers with AI, save our drinking water by requiring tech companies to cool their servers with recycled water, protect your electric bills by making sure families don’t pay for the massive power needs of AI centers, and more.
On the City Council, I've supported many of these measures after xAI came to our city through legal avenues.
Biographical Information
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
Candidate has not yet responded.
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
Candidate has not yet responded.
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
Website
http://ditch4governor.com
Age
47
Education
BA in Political Science from the University of Rochester (2001)
Work experience
Pedal steel guitarist
Phone Number
6158643930
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
People are struggling to get by because the state government is ignoring us. We need to raise salary/wages, while also lowering costs. This is the affordability challenge we're seeing all across the country and here in Tennessee, too. Our public education needs an overhaul and life line - instead of taking money away from education, we should be investing heavily in it, and re-thinking how we approach public education. Third - why are we always in the lead for medical bankruptcy? We need to expand TennCare and medicare so Tennessee's aren't afraid to call 911 or see a doctor for routine healthcare.
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
I want to explore medicare for all here in Tennessee (I made a documentary about Australia's healthcare system - find it on YouTube "A Basic Human Right: Australian Healthcare Explained). We can work with other states who are willing in order to get a large enough membership pool. It's possible if we try! I'll raise the minimum wage to $15/hr statewide, higher in the cities, and work to get free Pre-K education, too. That'll help save some money for so many. End the voucher scam and put money into public education. We can pay for these programs by legalizing marijuana and also getting the large companies to pay their fair share in taxes by letting loopholes and incentives expire after 3-5 years.
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
The Governor should do everything in their power to use the tools of government FOR the people, not against us. We can incentivize affordable housing development, raise wages, raise teacher salary, all the good stuff! The question really isn't what should we do, it's getting a Governor in there who actually wants to help us. From there, we get to work. We have to remove the roadblocks. Figuring out what to do is easy - no need to reinvent the wheel (unless you hit a pothole on Briley Parkway), see what other states or cities or countries have done. But you can't do any of that if the Gov is sitting back just trying to increase their personal wealth.
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
I want to have the Number One school system in the country. Been saying that the whole campaign. We explore other states' best practices - see what works, what we can bring to Tennessee. I'll welcome to the tables experts on education reform, and we will make big changes. I don't want teachers teaching to a test, I want them to be engaged with their students. We'll invest in training, attracting great teachers, making sure all schools from cities to rural communities are fully funded. It's a top priority. We will provide breakfast and lunch for any student in need. End the voucher scheme and reinvest that money in our public schools.
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
Data centers are destroying our environment, making water undrinkable, and causing all sorts of other harm in order to make out of state companies rich. The Governor has to have Tennesseans' best interests paramount. One thing is for certain: if they go unregulated, they will take and take and take without end. Of course we have to regulate and make sure they can't destroy communities. Data centers aren't going anywhere, but that doesn't mean Tennessee can't protect our people. Again, the Governor is supposed to be the figurehead of helping us, not seeing how much money he or she can grab from big business while no one's looking.
Biographical Information
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
Candidate has not yet responded.
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
Candidate has not yet responded.
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
Website
http://pinkstonfortn.com/
Age
39
Education
Ph.D. Clemson University. B.S. Freed-Hardeman University.
Work experience
Owner, Consultant (2023-); Pinkston & Co, LLC. Board Member (2024- ); Seed International. Research Affiliate/Board Chair (2020-2025); Freedom Business Alliance, Global Organization.
Phone Number
931-626-8426
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
A lack of support for working families: The greatest gaps in educational achievement and generational poverty begin in the first five years of life. Tennessee loses $2.6 billion annually in productivity because working families cannot afford childcare.
Growth at the expense of the taxpayer: Tennessee added nearly 400,000 new residents between 2020 and 2025, and roughly 80% of recent growth has come from out-of-state migration. Growth is a blessing, but taxpayers often foot the bill for new infrastructure.
Accountability from Big Tech: Your data is your property. Billions of dollars leave this state every year while 7 tech companies now own ⅓ of the stock market. We must have a plan for data centers that protects our natural resources.
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
Add 50,000 Daycare and Preschool Slots for Families: See #4
Tennessee’s growth means new job opportunities for our communities, but it also strains local infrastructure. My administration will work with the General Assembly to give county governments the tools they need to keep up with growth, including impact fees on new developments and state infrastructure grants to high-growth counties.
As for Big Tech, I would work with our lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to draft legislation to establish a 10% Data Revenue Share paid directly to residents by large companies that profit more than $250,000 off Tennesseans’ data. I will aggressively address data center expansion to bring legislation that protects our natural resources.
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
Affordability is at the forefront of all issues impacting Tennesseans. Access to childcare allows more people to work and contribute to our economy. Holding housing developers accountable puts more money back into our communities and relieves the taxpayer burden for infrastructure costs. Focusing on the future of tech protects us from being exploited while tech companies amass so much wealth and monopolize industry. I will work toward a complete reform of healthcare, eliminating the state grocery tax, and a temporary pause on the state gas tax to put more money back into the hands of hardworking Tennesseans.
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
The largest step in education reform is investing in childcare positions and Tennessee schools. My proposal to add 50,000 new childcare spots has three components. First, it involves incentivizing businesses to create on-site or nearby early childhood centers through state funding offsets. Second, it involves providing early childhood vouchers to genuinely low-and middle-income families for licensed care of children aged 0-5. Lastly, it means tying state funding to publicly reported quality standards and kindergarten readiness outcomes. My other education priorities include reducing the amount of mandatory tests students must take — freeing teachers to actually teach — and removing phones from schools bell-to-bell.
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
As governor, I would support a statewide moratorium until real standards are established by the state legislature with input from local communities, farmers, conservationists, and energy experts. Tennessee should be investing much more in our energy resources and prepare to export that energy to other states who will soon need it after the data center boom. We should also be exploring innovative solutions to regulate data centers to underground stations, converting the heat they generate into energy above ground to power greenhouses that can produce food for local markets. Growth should always pay for growth, and I will ensure that Tennessee has a clear plan for holding tech companies accountable to supplying local infrastructure.
Biographical Information
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
Candidate has not yet responded.
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
Candidate has not yet responded.
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
Website
http://davefortn.com
Age
34
Education
BS Mechanical Engineering
Work experience
Co-Founder of Ovyl (design firm) and Founder of Squarish (public benefit firm)
Phone Number
6159445829
Facebook
http://facebook.com/davefortn
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
I believe the biggest challenge we face is a legislature committed to passing laws that strip Tennesseeans of their rights. No such bill will pass while I'm Governor and I'll do everything in my power to reverse damage done.
The next greatest challenge is healthcare access - 93 out of 95 counties face shortages of professionals and worse, preventable pregnancy related deaths continue to rise. I will put a community health center in each county, and support policies to address the maternal health crisis.
Lastly, Tennessee is near last-place in education funding. I'm the only candidate who supports two new taxes on extreme wealth to fund generations of students, supporting policies to support teachers and students in public schools.
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
I would restore Tennessee's civil rights enforcement office which was dissolved in 2025 and enact statewide nondiscrimination protections in employment, housing, and public accommodations, keep government out of personal medical decisions, and protect the vote with automatic registration and no-excuse absentee ballots.
On healthcare I'll close the coverage gap through Medicaid expansion, and fund doulas, rural telehealth, and addiction care where mothers are dying. On education I will repeal the private-school voucher program and fund public schools through the Future Families Fund a permanent endowment fed by two taxes on extreme wealth to pay for counselors, smaller classes, and teacher retention.
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
To start I will end the 4% state grocery tax giving about $400 back to every Tennessee family per year, paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes. I will also raise the minimum wage from the $7.25 federal floor to a $19 living wage over four years, and let cities go higher. In addition I will end benefits cliffs so earning more never means losing Medicaid, SNAP, and childcare all at once and bring down prescription prices by buying in bulk for seven million Tennesseans, starting with insulin and naloxone to address the opioid crisis. To lower housing costs I will cut the red tape on building homes and making affordable housing permanent through state funded community land trusts. These are just a sample of what's possible.
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
No other candidate goes as far to bring new, permanent solutions to education, because our children are our future. I will fix the conditions teachers actually cite: planning time, discipline support, and class size, repeal the private-school voucher program, hire counselors and social workers toward the 250:1 standard, cap special-education caseloads and add classroom aides, turn class-size targets into enforceable caps, and pay $5,000 retention stipends at the highest-need schools. I also support providing free breakfast and lunch to students in need, sourced from Tennessee farmers and prepared in kitchens upgraded with state funding, because when kids are hungry, they can't learn no matter how much support they have.
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
I support a moratorium on new datacenters until the rights and dignities of every affected Tennessee community are secured. Datacenters can make their communities happier, healthier, and wealthier or they have no business operating in Tennessee. Datacenters are the fastest-growing source of Tennessee's electricity demand and the main reason TVA argues for new gas plants. Any approved datacenter taking state tax incentives like FastTrack grants, franchise tax credits, or relocation deals should be required to generate at least 10% of its own power from on-site renewables within its first year. Self-generation is legally protected and needs no TVA cooperation, so it's enforceable now at zero state cost.
Biographical Information
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
Candidate has not yet responded.
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
Candidate has not yet responded.
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
Age
61
Education
`B.S. Business, Tennessee Wesleyan College; M.A. Sociology/Criminology, University of Tennessee; J.D., Nashville School of Law`
Work experience
18 years as a police officer and Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper; 11 years as a small business owner; independent journalist and host of Unbridled News
Phone Number
865-405-2841
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
Government corruption and lack of accountability, rural healthcare access, and crumbling infrastructure. Too many decisions in Nashville are shaped by lobby money instead of public good, with laws passed right after big checks change hands and little transparency for voters. Tennessee is one of only 10 states that hasn't expanded Medicaid, and rural hospitals keep closing because of it. Our roads and bridges have a backlog exceeding 40 billion dollars, with lanes and bridges closed right now. Tennesseans deserve a government that answers to them, not to whoever's funding campaigns.
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
I'll push for real-time public disclosure of donor money tied to legislation, cooling-off periods between big donations and votes that benefit donors, and real teeth for Tennessee's ethics oversight. I'll push to expand Medicaid and fund incentives so rural hospitals can reopen and stay open. I'll demand a full public accounting of gas tax revenue, and end it if it isn't funding roads as promised. Tennessee's Rainy Day Fund sits at 2.2 billion dollars, above the state's own target. I'll direct that surplus toward infrastructure and communities instead of Nashville.
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
Cut the grocery tax. Tennesseans are taxed on food just to survive, and that needs to end. Accept federal Medicaid expansion dollars Tennessee has refused for years while families here struggle to afford healthcare. If we can't verify where gas tax dollars are going, and they're being squandered instead of fixing roads, cut that too. Lessen restrictive zoning that blocks affordable housing. Redirect existing surplus, not new taxes, toward these priorities. Tennessee spent 500 million on a stadium while families can't afford groceries. Choose people over stadiums.
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
Redirect more state and local funding toward schools, especially from existing surplus rather than new taxes. Support both public schools and school choice, including vouchers, so parents can choose what fits their family. Schools should be the safest places on the planet. If the law requires children to attend, the state owes them real protection while they’re there. Fund resource officers, secure entrances, and mental health support using redirected surplus like the Rainy Day Fund, not new taxes on families.
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
The Governor should determine whether and under what circumstances data centers are allowed in Tennessee, ensuring they are safe and genuinely beneficial to the communities where they're built. Local communities should have the final say. Data centers should only be permitted where the community actually wants them, not forced on people by Nashville or out-of-state companies. Strong environmental and water-use standards, real local input before approval, and real benefit to residents including jobs must come first. Growth should serve Tennesseans, not just the companies building the facilities.
Biographical Information
Website
http://drvick4tn.com
Age
66
Education
Doctorate of Education East TN State University 2004
Work experience
40 yrs in public education- teacher, coach, assistant prinicpal, principal, athletic director
Phone Number
8656044831
Facebook
http://drvick4tn.com
What do you think are the 3 biggest challenges facing Tennesseans?
As I travel Tennessee's 95 counties, three critical challenges consistently stand out. First is our quiet mental health crisis; rural communities lack localized behavioral health care, and we must boost support for local centers and school counselors. Second is rising economic insecurity; skyrocketing housing costs are driving a visible increase in homelessness. We need public-private partnerships pairing transitional housing with job training. Third is protecting public education; we must support classroom teachers, guarantee physical safety, and expand career-technical Rural Readiness initiatives. Solving these issues requires an independent mind and a Tennessee heart, focused on practical results rather than partisan bickering.
If elected, how do you plan to address those challenges?
Mental Health: Expand the Behavioral Health Safety Net to bring localized clinics to rural counties. I will increase funding for Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, pairing mental health professionals with law enforcement to treat medical crises with care instead of jail. Education: True student success requires safe classrooms. I will fund a full-time school counselor and an SRO in every school. We must also launch a "Rural Reag diness" initiative, aligning high school curricula with local trade apprenticeships and high-wage career pipeline.Poverty & Homelessness: I will incentivize affordable housing and link state support to mandatory job training, adult literacy, and rehabilitation programs to build a true pathway to independence.
What do you think the Governor should do about the affordability issues facing Tennesseans?
First, we must aggressively increase our housing supply. I support creating a self-sustaining revolving loan fund that provides 0% interest loans to local builders specifically for constructing affordable, middle-income starter homes. Second, we must provide direct, immediate relief to families. I will investigate cutting the state sales tax on groceries completely, putting money back into the pockets of hardworking Tennesseans at the checkout counter. As an Independent, I will cut through partisan gridlock to implement these common-sense, localized solutions that protect your wallet and build a stronger Tennessee.
What steps should the Governor take to ensure a quality education for students?
As a career educator with 40 years in Tennessee public schools, ensuring quality means focusing on the basics: classroom safety and career readiness. First, learning requires security; I will fund a full-time school counselor and an SRO in every school to support mental health and safety. Second, we must prepare students for life after graduation. I will launch a "Rural Readiness" initiative to realign high school curricula with local economic needs, expanding vocational training, dual-enrollment, and modern trade apprenticeships. By moving away from over-testing and prioritizing real-world skills, we can give every Tennessee child a clear pathway to a high-wage career right here at home.
What, if any, should be the role of the Governor in the regulation of data centers?
Convience comes with consequences but Tennessee’s economic growth never comes at the expense of our citizens' wallets or natural resources. Data centers are vital for our digital economy, but their massive power and water needs pose real risks to local communities. Locations of data centers should be a local government decision