Tennessee voters choose nominees for governor in Thursday’s open-seat primary

Tennessee voters will choose party nominees for governor and several major state and federal offices on Thursday, August 6, in an open-seat primary.

The governor’s race is open because Republican Gov. Bill Lee is term-limited. The August primary will select the Republican and Democratic nominees for governor, while independent gubernatorial candidates are listed for the November 3 general election rather than the party primaries.

For voters who did not cast a ballot during early voting, Election Day is the immediate deadline. Early voting ran from July 17 through August 1, and the deadline to request an absentee ballot was July 27.

What is on the August 6 ballot

The statewide primary includes contests for governor and one U.S. Senate seat. Voters also may see contests for all nine U.S. House districts, all 99 Tennessee House seats and 17 of the 33 Tennessee Senate districts.

Not every voter will see every office or candidate. Ballots vary by county, congressional district, legislative district and local jurisdiction. County general, municipal, judicial and other local contests may appear alongside the state and federal races.

Davidson County’s official candidate list illustrates that variation. It lists three Republican gubernatorial candidates — Marsha Blackburn, John Rose and Monty Fritts — and five Democratic candidates: Carnita Atwater, Tim Cyr, Jerri Green, Adam “Ditch” Kurtz and Kevin Lee McCants.

The Davidson County document separately lists independent gubernatorial candidates. Their inclusion does not mean they are competing in the Republican or Democratic primary.

Why the governor’s race matters now

Because Lee cannot seek another term, the primary is an important step in selecting the candidates who will compete to replace him. The August result will not by itself decide the next governor; the November 3 general election will include additional candidates and contests.

The governor’s office oversees the executive branch and plays a central role in the state budget, agency priorities, appointments and policy implementation. The primary therefore affects more than the November campaign: It narrows the field for an office with broad consequences for Tennessee programs and public administration.

Final checklist for voters

• Confirm your registration. Use Tennessee’s voter lookup tools to check that your registration information is current.
• Verify your polling place. Do not assume it is the same location used in a previous election. Polling assignments can vary by address and election.
• Review your county’s sample ballot. Check which statewide, congressional, legislative, local and judicial contests apply to you.
• Choose your primary ballot. Tennessee’s August primary contests are conducted on Republican and Democratic ballots. Decide which party’s primary you intend to vote in before arriving.
• Bring the required photo identification. Check Tennessee’s voting rules before leaving home and allow extra time if your ballot includes several district or county races.

Official Tennessee and county election resources provide registration lookup, polling-place and sample-ballot information through online tools, including the GoVoteTN app. The state’s voter-information guidance says the app can display voter-specific districts and ballot information and may be used inside polling locations.

For voters who have not already voted, Thursday, August 6, is the next opportunity to participate. The results will begin narrowing the field for governor and will select nominees in congressional and legislative contests that vary across Tennessee.

Sources

• Key Dates for the 2026 Election Cycle
• Candidates for August 6, 2026: Davidson County State and Federal Primary Election
• Tennessee voter information and lookup resources