Name: 2026 Tennessee governor's race
Start: 2026-11-03
Location: TN, United States

Where they stand

Issue	Kurtz	politician)
	Unknown	Supports harsher penalties
	Unknown	Supports stricter penalties
Housing costs	Unknown	Unknown
	Unknown	Supports vouchers/ESAs

Stated positions (25) ▾

Abortion: Supports pro-life policies including life begins at conception and defunding Planned Parenthood. [1][2]
Border enforcement & immigration law: Supports building the border wall and deporting illegal immigrants. [1]
Budget & Economy: Favors reducing government regulations and taxes, and opposed large federal COVID-19 relief packages such as the $900 billion package and the $1.9 trillion ARPA bill. [1]
Civil Rights: Supports maintaining the existing ratification deadline for the Equal Rights Amendment rather than extending it. [1]
Corporate Taxation & Regulation: Supports lower corporate taxes to promote economic growth and voted against increased corporate transparency requirements. [1]
Crime & policing: Supports adequately funding and backing law enforcement to oppose lawlessness. [1]
DEI programs: Opposes corporate DEI policies and transgender initiatives in Tennessee. [1]
Education: Supports appointing an Education Commissioner who has taught in a Tennessee classroom. [1][2][3]
Election integrity: voter ID: Supports the SAVE America Act requiring proof of citizenship and photo ID to vote. [1]
Energy production: Supports small modular nuclear reactors to lead in electric power production. [1][2]
Federal spending & debt: Opposes excessive federal spending and supports reducing regulations and taxes. [1][2]
Fentanyl & drug enforcement: Supports permanently classifying fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs. [1]
Government Reform/Elections: Voted against the For the People Act of 2019, opposing federal mandates on state election administration such as same-day registration and an election-day holiday. [1]
Gun policy: Supports preserving Second Amendment rights and enacting Constitutional Carry. [1]
Health care: Supports repealing ObamaCare and replacing it with market-based, patient-centered reforms. [1]
Immigration/Border Security: Opposes current Senate immigration proposals, supports resuming border wall construction, and calls for stronger executive action to secure the southern border. [1][2][3]
Infrastructure: Supports expanding and improving state roadways and rural internet access. [1][2]
Israel: Views the US-Israel relationship as critical to defeating terrorism. [1]
Marijuana legalization: Opposes further federal deregulation of cannabis products due to negative societal impacts. [1]
Parents' rights in education: Supports parents having a seat at the table and freedom to choose public, homeschool, charter or private school. [1][2]
School choice: Supports school choice options including public charter and private schools for families. [1]
Student loan forgiveness: Opposes Biden's student loan forgiveness program as a taxpayer-funded bailout. [1][2]
Taxes: Supports lowering taxes on Tennesseans and simplifying the tax code. [1][2]
Ukraine aid: Opposes additional US aid to Ukraine without a strategic plan and cost-sharing by Europe. [1][2][3]
Women's sports: Supports restricting women's sports to biological females only. [1]

John Rose (Tennessee politician)

Republican Party (United States)

Stated positions (25) ▾

Abortion: Supports pro-life policies including life begins at conception and defunding Planned Parenthood. [1][2]
Border enforcement & immigration law: Supports building the border wall and deporting illegal immigrants. [1]
Budget & Economy: Favors reducing government regulations and taxes, and opposed large federal COVID-19 relief packages such as the $900 billion package and the $1.9 trillion ARPA bill. [1]
Civil Rights: Supports maintaining the existing ratification deadline for the Equal Rights Amendment rather than extending it. [1]
Corporate Taxation & Regulation: Supports lower corporate taxes to promote economic growth and voted against increased corporate transparency requirements. [1]
Crime & policing: Supports adequately funding and backing law enforcement to oppose lawlessness. [1]
DEI programs: Opposes corporate DEI policies and transgender initiatives in Tennessee. [1]
Education: Supports appointing an Education Commissioner who has taught in a Tennessee classroom. [1][2][3]
Election integrity: voter ID: Supports the SAVE America Act requiring proof of citizenship and photo ID to vote. [1]
Energy production: Supports small modular nuclear reactors to lead in electric power production. [1][2]
Federal spending & debt: Opposes excessive federal spending and supports reducing regulations and taxes. [1][2]
Fentanyl & drug enforcement: Supports permanently classifying fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs. [1]
Government Reform/Elections: Voted against the For the People Act of 2019, opposing federal mandates on state election administration such as same-day registration and an election-day holiday. [1]
Gun policy: Supports preserving Second Amendment rights and enacting Constitutional Carry. [1]
Health care: Supports repealing ObamaCare and replacing it with market-based, patient-centered reforms. [1]
Immigration/Border Security: Opposes current Senate immigration proposals, supports resuming border wall construction, and calls for stronger executive action to secure the southern border. [1][2][3]
Infrastructure: Supports expanding and improving state roadways and rural internet access. [1][2]
Israel: Views the US-Israel relationship as critical to defeating terrorism. [1]
Marijuana legalization: Opposes further federal deregulation of cannabis products due to negative societal impacts. [1]
Parents' rights in education: Supports parents having a seat at the table and freedom to choose public, homeschool, charter or private school. [1][2]
School choice: Supports school choice options including public charter and private schools for families. [1]
Student loan forgiveness: Opposes Biden's student loan forgiveness program as a taxpayer-funded bailout. [1][2]
Taxes: Supports lowering taxes on Tennesseans and simplifying the tax code. [1][2]
Ukraine aid: Opposes additional US aid to Ukraine without a strategic plan and cost-sharing by Europe. [1][2][3]
Women's sports: Supports restricting women's sports to biological females only. [1]

Marsha Blackburn

Republican Party (United States)

Stated positions (23) ▾

Abortion: Supports protecting unborn life at all stages and opposes federal funding for abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. [1][2][3]
Abortion / Protecting Life: Opposes abortion, supports extending 14th Amendment protections to the unborn, and favors defunding Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers. [1]
Agriculture: Supports Tennessee farmers and protecting farmland from foreign adversaries. [1][2]
Border enforcement & immigration law: Supports securing the border, enforcing immigration laws, and deporting criminal illegal immigrants. [1][2]
China & trade: Supports confronting Communist China and reducing its influence in U.S. institutions and supply chains. [1][2]
Crime & policing: Supports keeping communities safe through strong law enforcement and addressing crime. [1][2]
Election Integrity: Supports requiring proof of citizenship to vote and opposes allowing non-citizens to participate in U.S. elections. [1]
Election integrity: voter ID: Supports protecting Tennessee elections and party registration requirements. [1]
Energy production: Supports domestic energy production including coal and nuclear power while opposing Green New Deal policies. [1][2]
Federal spending & debt: Supports cutting wasteful government spending and reducing federal discretionary spending by 1-5%. [1][2]
Government Spending: Advocates cutting federal discretionary spending (excluding defense, homeland security, and veterans) to reduce the deficit and work toward a balanced budget. [1][2]
Gun policy: Supports safeguarding Second Amendment rights. [1]
Health care: Supports market-based health care reforms, rural health access, and reducing federal bureaucracy involvement. [1][2]
Immigration & Border Security: Supports strict enforcement of immigration laws, funding for ICE and CBP, completing the border wall, and opposes efforts to abolish or defund ICE. [1][2][3]
Israel: Supports providing Israel with resources to defend itself against terrorism and opposes funding for groups tied to Hamas. [1][2]
Jobs & Economy: Supports pro-business policies, limited government, and reducing regulations to foster economic growth. [1][2]
Military & Veterans: Supports military and veterans. [1][2]
Parents' rights in education: Supports strengthening parental rights in education and opposes government control over schooling decisions. [1][2][3]
School choice: Supports expanding school choice so parents can select the best education for their children. [1][2]
Taxation & Economic Policy: Supports lower taxes, including permanent extension of the 2017 tax cuts, reduced taxes on tips and overtime, and tax incentives for small businesses and startups. [1][2]
Taxes: Supports cutting taxes to bolster economic growth and reduce burdens on citizens and businesses. [1][2]
Technology: Supports the Kids Online Safety Act and regulating foreign drones. [1][2]
Women's sports: Supports protecting women's sports from unfair competition. [1]

2026 Tennessee governor's race — polls, candidates & voter guide — IJR

2026 Tennessee governor's race

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