Tennessee Holds High-Stakes Primaries for Governor and Congress

Tennessee conducted state primary elections on August 7, 2026, featuring a competitive Republican race to succeed term-limited Governor Bill Lee. The GOP contest for governor includes U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Representative John Rose, and state Representative Monty Fritts.

In Memphis, voters selected candidates for the new 9th Congressional District. This district was created under a Republican-drawn map that prompted the retirement of longtime Democratic Representative Steve Cohen. Democratic contenders for the seat include state Representative Justin Pearson and state Senator London Lamar, while Republican state Senator Brent Taylor entered the race with an endorsement from Donald Trump.

U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty ran unopposed as the sole Republican candidate seeking a second term. The elections took place under a 2023 law requiring voters to be bona fide members of a party to participate in its primary, although the legal definition of the term remains unspecified.