Why this matters: The same facts for every candidate, in the same order. Where we found nothing for a candidate, the cell says so — that means we didn't find it in public sources, not that it doesn't exist.

Scroll sideways on small screens. Select a name for the full page.
Fact	Marsha Blackburn	Jerri Green	Misam Abidi	Dean Brewer	Ray Brown	David Hatley	Wendell Jackson	Charles Van Morgan	Eddie Lee Murphy	Lauren Pinkston	Victor L. Scoggin	Dave Seeman	Karl Knox Smithson	L. Webb Taylor	Robert C. Vick
Party on the ballot	Republican¹	Democratic¹	Independent¹	Independent¹	Independent¹	Independent¹	Independent¹	Independent¹	Independent¹	Independent¹	Independent¹	Independent¹	Independent¹	Independent¹	Independent¹
Status	Open seat³	Open seat	Open seat	Open seat	Open seat	Open seat	Open seat	Open seat	Open seat	Open seat	Open seat	Open seat	Open seat	Open seat	Open seat
Money	Candidates for governor file campaign-finance reports with the state, not the FEC, so this guide doesn't include their fundraising. Search the state's reports: Online campaign finance records search — Tennessee Registry of Election Finance.⁴
Abortion law	Her campaign website says she is 100 percent pro-life and that as governor she will always be a voice for the voiceless.⁵	Her platform calls for repealing Tennessee's near-total abortion ban, and says that on her first day she would sign an executive order so doctors can provide women's health care without fear of prosecution.⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website says he is pro-life.⁷	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Her campaign website supports repealing Tennessee's abortion ban and replacing it with a law that includes protections in cases such as lethal fetal anomalies, rape, incest and trafficking.⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Birth control and IVF	Not found in the public sources we checked	Her platform calls for restoring access to contraception and protecting IVF and miscarriage care from state interference.⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Her campaign website supports full access to contraception and fertility treatments such as IVF, and says she would veto legislation restricting access to contraceptives.⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Foreign ownership of farmland	Ban purchases by buyers tied to China, Russia, Iran or North Korea Her campaign website says Tennessee should enact a complete ban on China owning any type of land in the state.⁹	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website says buyers of farmland and land near military bases and infrastructure should disclose who actually controls them, and that Tennessee's limits on adversarial foreign ownership should also cover long-term leases.⁷	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity	Not found in the public sources we checked	Her platform says she would fight and veto all anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Her campaign website says she would protect LGBTQ+ Tennesseans from discrimination in employment, while letting faith-based nonprofits set hiring policies consistent with their beliefs.⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	His platform calls for statewide protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations, and for letting cities pass their own nondiscrimination ordinances.¹⁰	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Marijuana laws	Not found in the public sources we checked	Make it legal for adults to buy and use Her platform calls for legalizing marijuana for both medical and recreational use.⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website says he would make a state-regulated medical cannabis program a priority in 2027 and sign it into law.⁷	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Her campaign website supports a regulated medical cannabis program.⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Cryptocurrency rules	Her campaign website says she supports cryptocurrency and Bitcoin, opposes central bank digital currencies, and believes Tennessee can become a world capital for cryptocurrency.¹¹	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website calls for clear, pro-crypto state regulations to attract blockchain, AI and financial technology companies, and for using blockchain to let citizens see how tax dollars are spent.¹²	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Classroom teaching on race, gender and sexuality	Her campaign website says she would stop what it calls woke, anti-American curriculum in Tennessee schools and that children should never be taught to oppose one another based on race or gender.¹³	Her platform calls for honest, inclusive education rather than what it calls censorship and political theater.⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Religion in public schools	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website calls for putting God back in public schools and government buildings.¹⁴	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	No school-sponsored prayer or religious displays, while students may pray or share their faith on their own His campaign website says he would not support organized prayer in public schools and would never use his office to push his religion on others.¹⁵
State K-12 school funding	Not found in the public sources we checked	Increase state funding for public schools Her platform calls for fully funding K-12 public education, raising teacher pay and adding school counselors, nurses and support staff.⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Increase state funding for public schools Her campaign website says Tennessee ranks last in per-pupil funding and that she would invest in public schools and better fund teacher and paraprofessional salaries.⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Increase state funding for public schools His campaign website says the state must fully fund public classrooms and pay teachers a competitive wage.¹⁵
Transgender students in school sports	Require teams based on sex at birth Her campaign website says students born male should not use girls' locker rooms or play on girls' sports teams, and that as governor she will make sure girls' sports are protected.¹⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Require teams based on sex at birth His campaign website says women's sports teams and locker rooms should be for women and that athletes born male should not compete in women's categories.⁷	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Vouchers and education savings accounts	Make them available to every family Her campaign website says she supports school choice, would work to give every child access to an education that fits their needs regardless of family income or ZIP code, and would fully carry out Tennessee's new school choice law.¹⁷	No public money for private school or homeschooling costs Her platform opposes the state's private school voucher program and would put that money into public schools instead.⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website says he would hold the school voucher program at its current size, let current students keep their seats, and publish data on who receives the money and how those students perform.⁷	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Offer them only to some students, such as those from low-income families or with disabilities Her campaign website says she would end the 2025 school voucher program and move its money to early childhood education, while expanding vouchers for students with needs that mainstream classrooms cannot meet.⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	No public money for private school or homeschooling costs His campaign website calls for ending Tennessee's private school vouchers and redirecting that money to public schools.^10,18	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website says he respects parents' right to choose private or home schooling but is deeply concerned about universal school vouchers, saying they drain money from local public schools, and calls for a public-first approach.¹⁵
Campaign finance rules	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website proposes banning campaign contributions from significant state contractors while they seek or perform state work.⁷	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Her campaign website says Tennessee should follow states like Hawaii in using public financing of campaigns.⁸	His campaign website calls for limits on politicians' campaign spending and no money from PACs or lobbyists.¹⁴	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Ranked-choice voting	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Let each state or city decide Her campaign website supports repealing Tennessee's ban on ranked-choice voting so the state and local governments can choose to use it.⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Use ranked-choice voting in more elections His campaign website calls for ranked ballots, including in the governor's race starting in 2034.¹⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Voting by mail	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Her campaign website says she would remove barriers that keep new voters, including students and military members, from voting absentee.⁸	End most mail voting, keeping it for military and overseas voters His campaign website says there should be no mail-in ballots except for military voters overseas.¹⁴	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Data centers and electricity costs	Not found in the public sources we checked	Pause or limit new data centers Her platform says she would sign an executive order supporting a statewide data center moratorium, work to end state incentives for data centers, and make sure families do not pay for their power needs.⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Pause or limit new data centers His campaign website calls for pausing approval of new data centers until Tennessee writes rules for them, ending their tax breaks, and requiring them to pay for the power capacity they need.⁷	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Pause or limit new data centers Her campaign website calls for a statewide moratorium on new data center construction until the Legislature sets siting standards for water use, distance from schools and community input.⁸	Pause or limit new data centers His campaign website lists no data centers among his issues.¹⁴	Pause or limit new data centers His campaign website proposes a 24-month moratorium on data centers while the state sets enforceable rules.¹⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Nuclear power	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website says he would work to make Tennessee a center for designing, building and staffing small modular nuclear reactors.⁷	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Her campaign website supports a move toward more nuclear power and renewable energy.⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Child care costs	Not found in the public sources we checked	Her platform proposes using $50 million in TANF funds to clear the child care waitlist and creating a child care and early education fund for households earning under $75,000 a year.⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Lower costs mainly by easing rules on providers, not with new federal spending His campaign website proposes adding child care seats by cutting licensing red tape, bringing Tennessee's rules by age group in line with other states, letting providers lease empty public school classrooms and offering a tax credit to employers that help with child care.⁷	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Her campaign website says she would add 50,000 daycare and preschool slots by 2030 using money now spent on private school vouchers.⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website calls for covering child care for households with incomes under $99,000.¹⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Paid family and medical leave	Not found in the public sources we checked	Her platform calls for expanding paid family and medical leave for parents and caregivers.⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website calls for 12 weeks of family leave.¹⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Background checks for gun sales	Not found in the public sources we checked	Require checks for all gun sales, including private sales (with exceptions such as gifts between family members) Her platform calls for universal background checks on all gun sales.⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Require checks for all gun sales, including private sales (with exceptions such as gifts between family members) Her campaign website says she wants to close the gap that lets private sellers sell guns without a background check.⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Permits to carry concealed guns	Not found in the public sources we checked	Her platform calls for bringing back training and testing for gun owners, especially for concealed carry permits.⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	No permit needed for adults who can legally own a gun His campaign website says he would support rewriting Tennessee's carry law so that lawful handgun carry by law-abiding adults is the default.⁷	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	No permit needed for adults who can legally own a gun His campaign website lists constitutional carry among his issues.¹⁴	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Health insurance system	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website proposes a state reinsurance system, in which the state and insurers share the cost of extremely expensive cases, with a goal of lowering insurance premiums by about 40%.¹⁹	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website says health care for all is a priority and that a system that benefits everyone will be put in place, with plans to come.²⁰	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Medicaid expansion	Not found in the public sources we checked	Her platform calls for expanding Medicaid to cover more working families and keep rural hospitals open.⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His platform proposes a federal waiver to cover every adult below the poverty line through Medicaid.¹⁰	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Homelessness	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website says secure housing for all Tennesseans would be a priority.²⁰	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Her campaign website proposes pilot housing programs for people experiencing homelessness in up to three communities, modeled on a tiny home community in Austin, Texas.⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Provide permanent housing first, without requiring treatment or sobriety beforehand His campaign website says he supports Housing First, along with care and treatment options for all unhoused people.¹⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Zoning and new housing	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Give extra state or federal money to communities that allow more homes His campaign website proposes state infrastructure grants for communities that set aside 5% to 10% of new developments for homes priced at $250,000 or less and speed up approvals.⁷	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website calls for legalizing denser housing and fast-tracking new buildings.¹⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Immigration enforcement inside the country	Deport as many people here without legal permission as possible, with or without criminal records Her campaign website says she supports President Trump's mass deportations and would make sure the state works with the federal government to carry them out.^21,22	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website says that people in the country illegally who commit violent crimes should not be in Tennessee communities and that the state should work toward that.⁷	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
State and local role in immigration enforcement	Require full cooperation, with penalties for places that limit it Her campaign website says she will make sure sanctuary cities never have a home in Tennessee and will push to penalize elected officials who refuse to follow federal law.²²	Her platform says she would sign an executive order on her first day ending state and local law enforcement cooperation with ICE, and would sign another barring ICE from state buildings.⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Her campaign website opposes legislation forcing all local law enforcement to join ICE's 287(g) program, and says she will not coordinate with federal agencies that violate the Constitution.⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website says local resources should be used for local policing and calls for ending cooperation with ICE.¹⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Passenger trains and Amtrak	Not found in the public sources we checked	Expand funding for passenger rail, including new high-speed lines Her platform calls for prioritizing passenger rail across the state to connect its major cities.⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Her campaign website supports exploring a statewide passenger rail system connecting Memphis to Bristol and Nashville to Chattanooga.⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website calls for a feasibility study of large-scale passenger rail.¹⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
State minimum wage	Not found in the public sources we checked	Her platform calls for a real living wage.⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website calls for a livable minimum wage.¹⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Property taxes	Not found in the public sources we checked	Her platform opposes state-imposed caps on local property taxes and proposes lowering property taxes for veterans based on their service-connected disability rating.⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Cap yearly increases or expand homeowner exemptions His campaign website proposes expanding property tax relief for seniors, including a higher income limit and 50% off, and ending property taxes for permanently and totally disabled veterans.⁷	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Cap yearly increases or expand homeowner exemptions Her campaign website supports fully funding programs that freeze property taxes for low-income seniors and capping how much cities can raise property tax revenue each year.⁸	His campaign website calls for property tax reform and no property tax for people after they retire.¹⁴	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
State government spending	Her campaign website says she would slash wasteful spending and look for chances to cut taxes and regulations, and that even Tennessee's state government should be reviewed for ways to save money and cut waste.^23,24	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website says state salaries are too high and no one is examining excessive spending, and calls for a DOGE-style review of all state agencies.¹⁴	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
State income tax	Her campaign website says that as a state senator she led the fight against a proposed state income tax, and that as governor she will continue low-tax, pro-growth policies.^25,26	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Keep current rates Her campaign website says she opposes creating a Tennessee state income tax.⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
State sales taxes	Not found in the public sources we checked	Lower sales tax rates or stop taxing necessities such as groceries Her platform calls for ending the sales tax on groceries, diapers and menstrual products, paid for in part by closing corporate tax loopholes.⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Lower sales tax rates or stop taxing necessities such as groceries His campaign website says he would eliminate the state sales tax on groceries and pay for it by cutting waste in the state budget.⁷	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Lower sales tax rates or stop taxing necessities such as groceries Her campaign website says she supports eliminating the grocery tax, paid for by closing business tax loopholes and keeping shoppers in Tennessee's border counties.⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Lower sales tax rates or stop taxing necessities such as groceries His campaign website calls for ending the grocery tax, paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes.^10,18	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	His campaign website proposes a state sales tax holiday or a permanent sales tax cut on energy-efficient home repairs and appliances.¹⁵
Children and social media	Her campaign website says the state should give parents tools to protect children online and require independent audits of whether social media platforms address risks to kids, and she proposes banning student cell phones for the entire school day.^27,28	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Require safer designs and settings for minors, and parental consent for younger users His campaign website proposes making minors' accounts private by default, blocking unknown adults from messaging children, giving parents control over feeds and notifications, and limiting the sale of children's data.⁷	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Bar children under a set age, such as 16, from having social media accounts, with age checks Her campaign website supports no social media before age 16 and phone-free schools for the whole school day.⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked
Rules for artificial intelligence	Not found in the public sources we checked	Set rules for specific risks and uses, such as deepfakes, hiring decisions and safety disclosures Her platform calls for specific AI rules, including digital watermarks on AI content, a right to appeal to a human when AI denies someone a job, an apartment or medical care, and a ban on AI in bail, sentencing and parole decisions.⁶	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Set rules for specific risks and uses, such as deepfakes, hiring decisions and safety disclosures Her campaign website supports the federal Take It Down Act and wants laws banning deepfakes that use someone's name, image or likeness without consent.⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Set rules for specific risks and uses, such as deepfakes, hiring decisions and safety disclosures His campaign website calls for extending Tennessee's ELVIS Act to all synthetic media and banning AI social scoring and surveillance.¹⁸	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked	Not found in the public sources we checked

Issues only one candidate has addressed

By candidate, in ballot order. We found nothing public from the other candidates in this race on these issues.

Marsha Blackburn — 5 issues

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs
Her campaign website says Tennessee colleges and universities must follow President Trump's executive orders barring them from using federal money for DEI programs.²⁹
Death penalty
Use it more often or for more crimes (for example, child rape or drug trafficking)
Her campaign website says she supported Tennessee legislation making people convicted of child rape eligible for the death penalty.²⁷
Police funding
Her campaign website says she will stand up to those who try to defund the police and will always back law enforcement.³⁰
Border wall and barriers
Her campaign website says she has long supported President Trump's effort to build the border wall.²²
High-speed internet access
Her campaign website says that as governor she is committed to closing the digital divide by bringing broadband to rural communities.³¹

Jerri Green — 2 issues

National Guard troops in cities
Don't use troops for local policing, and limit the president's power to send them
Her platform says she would end the National Guard deployment in Memphis and reject further deployments in the state.⁶
Red flag laws
Adopt more red flag laws, including a national one
Her platform calls for red flag laws to prevent gun violence before it happens.⁶

David Hatley — 1 issue

Mandatory minimum sentences
Add or raise mandatory minimums, for example for selling fentanyl
His campaign website proposes mandatory life without parole for adults convicted of a second serious child sex offense.⁷

Lauren Pinkston — 7 issues

Drawing district lines (redistricting)
Have independent commissions, not lawmakers, draw district lines
Her campaign website supports an independent commission to draw district maps.⁸
Sharing voter lists with the federal government
Decline federal requests for voter list data and leave list checks to the states
Her campaign website says Tennessee should have refused to turn over its voter records to the U.S. Department of Justice in 2026.⁸
Food assistance (SNAP)
Her campaign website opposes restrictions on using SNAP benefits for foods such as snacks or sodas and supports bringing back summer EBT funding.⁸
Same-sex marriage
Keep same-sex marriage legal in every state
Her campaign website supports protecting the right of adults to marry the partner they love, while letting clergy decline to perform weddings that conflict with their beliefs.⁸
Medical transition for minors
Her campaign website says she affirms the Supreme Court decision that allowed Tennessee to ban transgender surgeries for people under 18, and would repeal the state's registry of people seeking gender-affirming care.⁸
Help for first-time homebuyers
Her campaign website says she would work with Tennessee banks to expand loan access and lower down payments for first-time buyers.⁸
Data privacy
Her campaign website says companies that profit from selling Tennesseans' personal data should share that revenue with residents and disclose what they collect, and calls for closing loopholes in the state's data privacy law.⁸

Victor L. Scoggin — 1 issue

Collective bargaining for public employees
Limit or end union bargaining for most public employees
His campaign website lists no government unions among his issues.¹⁴

Issue statements are drafted by AI from the public sources cited, and only cover what each candidate has said publicly.

All 2026 races in Tennessee