How many House seats will Democrats win in Tennessee in 2026

Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn is one of 15 candidates running for Tennessee governor, and among the top four per polling, alongside David Hatley, Jerri Green, and Lauren Pinkston. Blackburn's platform centers on economic development, public safety, education, and cutting government spending, including support for a "Tennessee DOGE" effort to reduce the budget, though she has not committed to eliminating the state's grocery sales tax.

She backs expanding school vouchers statewide, leaving data center siting decisions to local governments, and supports capital punishment, including reinstating the electric chair. Blackburn has declined debate invitations from opponents, instead emphasizing door-to-door campaigning. A Senate ethics inquiry into her office was resolved, she said, without findings of misconduct. Democratic rival Jerri Green, by contrast, has centered her campaign on affordability, eliminating the grocery tax, and expanding health care access.

Independents Lauren Pinkston and David Hatley are campaigning for Tennessee governor, a post no independent has ever won in the state. Hatley, an Elizabethton businessman, emphasizes transparency, openly discussing a past federal conviction, and supports full cooperation with ICE and continuing the federal Memphis crime task force. Pinkston, a teacher and anti-trafficking advocate, opposes the Memphis task force's cost, would push to deport immigrants with criminal records, and calls for a stay of executions, citing the Christa Pike case. Hatley supports continuing executions under current law. Both candidates back ending Tennessee's grocery tax, with Pinkston proposing a medicinal marijuana program to replace lost revenue and prioritizing affordability on housing, insurance, and child care.

Shelby County, Tennessee's largest voting jurisdiction with more than 582,000 registered voters, heads into the November midterms under a new congressional map after the Republican-led legislature redrew districts in May, splitting the state's only Democratic-held seat, centered on majority-Black Memphis, into three districts: 9, 8, and 5. Republicans currently hold eight of Tennessee's nine congressional seats and hope redistricting helps them sweep all three Shelby County races. Early voting begins October 14.

District 9 pits Republican Brent Taylor against Democrat Justin Pearson, alongside independents. District 8 features Republican incumbent David Kustoff against Democrat Heidi Kuhn and several independents, while District 5 has Republican Charlie Hatcher facing Democrat Chaz Molder. Local political observers view District 5 as potentially the most competitive race, while some believe Pearson has a viable shot in District 9. Election officials say they've added review processes after a ballot error affected roughly 700 absentee voters in July, and expect the redistricting fight could drive higher turnout among voters upset by the changes.

Tennessee's 6th Congressional District holds a Nov. 3 election to replace Rep. John Rose, who gave up the seat for an unsuccessful gubernatorial bid. Democrat Mike Croley, a Navy veteran and former federal employee, is campaigning on affordability, government accountability, congressional term limits, a ban on lawmaker stock trading, and raising the federal minimum wage. Republican Johnny Garrett, a sitting state representative and attorney endorsed by Riley Gaines, backs President Trump's agenda, stricter immigration enforcement, barring transgender athletes from women's sports, and tax cuts. Both candidates support lowering costs, gun rights, and domestic job growth. Early voting runs through Oct. 29 in the heavily Republican-leaning district.

Lauren Pinkston, an independent candidate for Tennessee governor, is a former teacher and college professor who has also worked as an anti-human trafficking advocate. She is one of 15 candidates on the ballot and among the four candidates polling has identified as leading contenders, alongside independent David Hatley, Republican Marsha Blackburn, and Democrat Jerri Green.

Pinkston's platform centers on affordability and bipartisanship, including eliminating the state's grocery tax, offset by a proposed medical marijuana program, modernizing the power grid, expanding childcare, and easing home loan access. She supports gun rights alongside school safety measures, favors stricter enforcement against employers exploiting undocumented workers, and backs infrastructure impact fees on new development. Election Day is November 3.

Tennessee voters will decide in November whether to constitutionally prohibit the state from ever levying a property tax, even though the state hasn't collected one since 1949. The measure is one of three proposed constitutional amendments on the November ballot and would amend Article II, Section 28 of the state constitution to bar the legislature from imposing a state property tax on real, personal, or mixed property.

Supporters, including Tennessee Association of Realtors president Chris Garrett and Republican lawmakers, argue the ban would protect homeowners from a future tax that only requires a simple legislative majority to enact, and note the amendment mirrors the state's 2014 constitutional ban on income taxes. Opponents, including Democratic Sen. Jeff Yarbro, call the measure unnecessary given the tax's 77-year dormancy and warn it could limit lawmakers' options during future fiscal crises. Others worry it could complicate taxation tied to business property values. Because amendments require approval from two consecutive General Assemblies before reaching voters, final passage now rests with the electorate.

Early voting in several Middle Tennessee counties is running well above 2022 levels, with Davidson County seeing the sharpest jump and Wilson County also up significantly, according to election officials. Davidson County's administrator of elections said part of the surge reflects population growth rather than a pure turnout comparison, but data suggests a larger share of registered voters could cast ballots early than in past cycles. A Vanderbilt University political science professor noted the numbers may signal stronger Democratic enthusiasm this cycle, though he cautioned that polling could be underestimating either party's support. Early voting continues through Oct. 29, with Election Day set for Nov. 3.

The Memphis City Council passed a resolution calling for the removal of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the National Guard, deployed in the city as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force since September 2025. The council has no authority to force the personnel out but wanted its opposition on record. Sponsors cited an August operation that rounded up 121 people at a Berclair nightclub and described aggressive tactics targeting people based on skin color and accent. One council member sought to exempt the National Guard, citing constituent support, but that effort failed. Police data show crime was already declining before the task force arrived.

Memphis city leaders have detailed a new "4th Option" for the city's 911 system, allowing callers to identify a mental health need at the outset of an emergency call, alongside the existing police, fire, and EMS choices. The feature has been active since July, with officials now publicizing it to increase use.

Dispatchers field roughly 4,000 calls daily and around 25,000 mental health-related calls annually out of more than a million total calls each year. Police Chief CJ Davis said the option helps route the right responders — which may include paramedics or clinically licensed social workers — while reducing response times. Mayor Paul Young said the change addresses crises ranging from substance abuse to emotional distress. The city's Crisis Center also supports the initiative through the 988 suicide hotline, keeping trained dispatchers on the line until first responders arrive. If callers pick the wrong option during a crisis, dispatchers can redirect them to appropriate help. Officials say staffing is sufficient to sustain the service.