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      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/2026/Governor/Tennessee
      2026 ForecastSafe R
      2026·Governor·Tennessee

      Tennessee Governor

      Open Seat

      Bill Lee (R) retiring

      Race Analysis

      Analysis coming soon.

      Updated 2026-02-18

      Candidates & Primaries

      Democratic Candidates

      TBDDRumored

      No major Dem challenger expected

      Republican Candidates

      TBDRDeclared

      Lee term-limited; GOP primary ongoing

      State Demographics

      Tennessee vs. National · Pop. 7.1M

      White (non-Hispanic)71.0%
      National: 57.4%
      Black15.6%
      National: 12.2%
      Hispanic/Latino7.4%
      National: 19.3%
      Asian1.9%
      National: 6.0%
      College Degree31.3%
      National: 35.6%
      Median Income$71,186
      National: $83,960
      Median Age39.3
      National: 39.1

      Seat History

      Governor in Tennessee

      2022
      Bill LeeREP
      R+32.0
      2018
      Bill LeeREP
      R+21.0
      2014
      Bill HaslamREP
      R+47.5
      2010
      Bill HaslamREP
      R+31.9
      2006
      Phil BredesenDEM
      D+38.9
      2002
      Phil BredesenDEM
      D+3.0
      1998
      Don SundquistREP
      R+39.1
      1994
      Don SundquistREP
      R+9.6
      1990
      Ned R McWherterDEM
      D+24.2
      1986
      Ned R McWherterDEM
      D+8.5
      1982
      Lamar AlexanderREP
      R+19.1
      1978
      Lamar AlexanderREP
      R+11.6
      1974
      L. Ray BlantonDEM
      D+11.7
      1970
      Winfield DunnREP
      R+6.0
      1966
      Buford EllingtonDEM
      D+81.2
      View all Governor history for Tennessee →

      Also in Tennessee, 2026

      U.S. Senate
      Safe R      ← 2026 Forecast Overview
      ← 2026 Forecast OverviewTennessee profileAll elections