NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A new poll shows Sen. Marsha Blackburn holds a substantial lead ahead of the upcoming race for the next governor of Tennessee.
Two other Republicans — U.S. Rep. John Rose and state Rep. Monty Fritts — have filed a petition to run for governor, as well as five Democrats, according to the Tennessee Secretary of State website.
The poll, released Monday from market researcher Cygnal, projects that Blackburn will nab 58% of the Republican primary vote. That puts the senator at a clear lead over her next Republican competitor, Rose, who is projected to get about 7% of the vote.
Cygnal’s poll reported that 30% of participants were undecided, noting that left “little room for meaningful movement against her.”
“Tennesseans don’t like coronations. Our polling shows Marsha’s support to be a mile wide and an inch deep. As the election gets closer, voters will learn more about John Rose, a conservative, farmer and successful CEO. Tennesseans will know that John will be the right person to lead this state as its next Governor,” Rose’s chairman shared in a statement to WSMV4.
Top issues for voters
The poll showed the following issues got the most votes as the election’s top issues:
- Cost of living and inflation – 24%
- Immigration – 15%
- Jobs/Economy – 10%
Poll shows Tennesseans are skeptical of emerging technology
The poll also asked respondents about their feelings on emerging technology.
Cygnal revealed that artificial intelligence is a polarizing issue for Tennesseans, with the highest percentage of participants opposing the emerging automation.
One out of three people told Cygnal they believe AI is having a positive impact on Tennessee, but just under half told the poll company they think its impacts are negative. About 15% said they were unsure.
However, most of the participants agreed on AI regulation, with two out of three participants saying they wanted more safeguards on AI in Tennessee.
For more details on the poll, click here.
Timeline for 2026 Primary
Below is a list of key dates for the 2026 Primary and General Election, per the state:
- Voter Registration Deadline: Tuesday, July 7, 2026
- Early Voting: Friday, July 17 – Saturday, August 1, 2026
- Absentee Ballot Request Deadline: Monday, July 27, 2026
- Primary and General Election: Thursday, August 6, 2026
To register to vote, click here. Click here to see the full elections calendar.
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