The Ballot Brief
2026 Primary Elections

Tennessee Primary Election 2026

Tennessee's 2026 primary was held on Thursday, August 6, 2026. The winners advance to the general election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Primary electionThursday, August 6, 2026
General electionTuesday, November 3, 2026

See exactly who is on your ballot — ZIP code is all you need

Marquee races on the Tennessee primary ballot

Tennessee's August 6 primary is decided. An open governor's race and a U.S. Senate contest head to November 3.

Governor (open seat)
Gov. Bill Lee is term-limited. The Associated Press called the Republican contest at 8:31 p.m. on election night; both nominees are women, a first for Tennessee.
Republican: Marsha Blackburn
Democratic: Jerri Green
Independent: David Hatley, Lauren Pinkston, Robert Vick
U.S. Senate
Sen. Bill Hagerty was unopposed for renomination. Marquita Bradshaw won the Democratic contest with 54.79%.
Republican: Bill Hagerty
Democratic: Marquita Bradshaw

Candidate fields reflect declared major candidates as of this page's last update and can change until ballots are certified. Enter your ZIP above for the full, address-specific list.

What's on the Tennessee primary ballot?

Primaries decide which candidates appear on the November ballot. Depending on where you live in Tennessee, your 2026 primary ballot can include U.S. Senate and U.S. House nominations, statewide offices, state legislative seats, and county or city contests. Enter your ZIP code above to see the exact races and candidates for your area — with bios, priorities, and campaign-finance data.

Key things to know

Browse the full Tennessee voter guide →

Primary dates are statutory dates compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures and can change by legislative action. Always confirm with your state or local election office.