Jerri Green won Tennessee’s Democratic primary for governor on August 6, 2026, defeating four other candidates to secure her party’s nomination for the state’s top office. Green, a Memphis City Councilwoman and Chief Public Defender, will face Republican U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn in the November 3 general election in a race that guarantees Tennessee will elect its first female governor regardless of outcome.
Green’s path to the Democratic nomination reflected her deep roots in public service and criminal justice advocacy. According to her official biography, she is a mother of three who earned her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 2003 and spent her career as a public defender before entering electoral politics. She joined the Memphis City Council in 2024 after running unsuccessfully for the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2020.
In January 2026, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris appointed Green as interim Chief Public Defender, a position that elevated her profile as the primary election approached. Her campaign emphasized her experience fighting for working families, schools, and healthcare access—core Democratic priorities in a state where Republicans have held statewide offices for the past decade.
Green defeated Democratic candidates Carnita Atwater, Kevin Lee McCants, Tim Cyr, and Adam Kurtz to claim the party’s nomination. In May 2026, a Beacon Poll showed the Democratic field was wide open, with 62 percent of respondents undecided, though Green held a slight edge among named candidates at that time.
On the Republican side, Blackburn defeated U.S. Representative John Rose and State Representative Monty Fritts to secure the GOP nomination. Blackburn, a U.S. Senator since 2019, brings national prominence and deep ties to Tennessee Republican politics. At 74 years old, she would become not only Tennessee’s first female governor but also the oldest governor in state history at inauguration if elected.
Early general election polling shows Blackburn as the favorite. According to a Fox Nashville poll, Blackburn leads Green 51 percent to 27 percent, a substantial margin that reflects Tennessee’s Republican lean in statewide contests. However, the general election remains nearly three months away, and both candidates will have time to define the race for voters.
The 2026 race marks a historic moment for Tennessee. Bill Lee, the incumbent Republican governor, is term-limited and cannot seek a third consecutive term, opening the seat for the first time in eight years. The guarantee of a female governor reflects broader demographic and political shifts in the state, even as Tennessee remains solidly Republican in federal elections and most statewide races.
Sources
- Nashville Banner — Jerri Green’s background as mother of three, Chief Public Defender, and Memphis City Councilwoman
- Ballotpedia — Democratic primary results showing Green defeated Atwater, McCants, Cyr, and Kurtz; Republican primary results showing Blackburn defeated Rose and Fritts
- Shelby County Government — Appointment of Jerri Green as interim Chief Public Defender in January 2026
- NBC News — Blackburn’s victory in Republican primary and path to general election against Green
- Tennessee Lookout — Green’s 2020 Tennessee House race and 2024 Memphis City Council election
- Beacon Poll (May 2026) — Democratic primary polling showing 62 percent undecided, Green with slight edge among named candidates
- Fox Nashville — General election polling showing Blackburn at 51 percent, Green at 27 percent
- Wikipedia / Multiple outlets — Confirmation that Tennessee will elect first female governor; Blackburn would be oldest governor at inauguration if elected
