Two Trump allies vie for Tennessee’s GOP gubernatorial nomination

In May 2026, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a mid-decade redistricting plan into law—likely turning the state’s only Democratic-leaning district, the 9th Congressional District, red. Now, the Volunteer State gets to test out its new map.

Tennessee residents hit the polls Thursday to pick nominees for the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the state legislature, as well as to choose candidates to replace the term-limited Gov. Lee. In one of the state’s most-watched races, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Rep. John Rose, R-Tenn.—both close congressional allies of President Donald Trump—are vying for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Jerri Green, a Memphis city councilwoman, is competing with four other candidates for the Democratic nomination.

What else is on the ballot? In Tennessee’s redrawn 9th District, Democrat Rep. Steve Cohen is not seeking reelection. State Rep. Justin Pearson, who is backed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and other progressives in Congress, is racing against three other candidates for the Democratic nomination for the House seat. Trump-endorsed state Sen. Brent Taylor is vying for the Republican nomination against state Rep. Todd Warner and two other candidates.

According to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office, Tennessee voters can choose either Republican or Democratic ballots because of the state’s open election system.

Dig deeper: Read my report on the five state primaries this Tuesday, and who came out on top.