Tennessee voters cast ballots on Thursday to select party nominees for the governorship and several congressional seats following a major redistricting process. The Republican gubernatorial primary features U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Rep. John Rose, and state Rep. Monty Fritts. The winner of this contest will face one of five Democratic candidates in the November general election to succeed the term-limited Governor Bill Lee (R).
The election follows a legislative overhaul of Tennessee’s congressional maps. After a Supreme Court ruling regarding the Voting Rights Act earlier this year, state lawmakers redrew district boundaries. These changes included the dissolution of a majority-Black district in the Memphis area, a move that resulted in all nine of the state's congressional districts favoring Republican candidates.
In the 5th District primary, incumbent Rep. Andy Ogles (R) faces a challenge from state Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher. Ogles has received the backing of former President Donald Trump, while Hatcher is endorsed by Governor Lee and former Governor Bill Haslam. In the Memphis area, veteran Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen declined to seek reelection after his district was modified to favor Republican voters.
The gubernatorial race involves high stakes for the state’s executive branch and its relationship with federal policy. If Blackburn prevails in both the primary and the general election, she would become the first female governor in Tennessee history. Conversely, the five Democrats—Jerri Green, Carnita Atwater, Tim Cyr, Adam Kurtz, and Kevin Lee McCants—are attempting to end a 15-year period of Republican control of the governor's mansion, which began when Phil Bredesen left office in 2011.
The primary results will determine the final matchups for the November general election, solidifying the field for the state's highest office and its nine seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. While the Cook Political Report currently labels several districts as "Solid Republican," including the newly redrawn 5th District and Cohen's former seat, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has identified the 5th District as a potential target. The winners of Thursday's primaries will immediately move into a general election phase that concludes with the November vote.