Robert C. Vick
Educator
Robert C. Vick is an independent candidate for governor on the general election ballot. Independent candidates qualify by petition rather than through a primary: 25 registered voters' signatures, filed with the Secretary of State by the March 10, 2026 deadline. Vick filed on February 2, 2026 and lives in Dandridge.
Dandridge, Jefferson
No TREF disclosure on file at last refresh
Who they are
Vick spent 40 years in East Tennessee public education, working in Hamblen, Jefferson and Cocke County Schools as a math teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal and athletic director. He was raised in White Pine and holds a doctorate. Politics1 lists his occupation as educator. He announced his candidacy on January 25, 2026 and runs as a Christian independent under the slogan “Independent Mind. Tennessee Heart. New Results.”
Source: Claiborne Progress (2026-01-27); Politics1
Why they are running
Vick casts the run as an extension of his career in schools: “My life has been dedicated to being a servant leader to our children and communities.” He asks voters to “look past the political noise” and says he will not “spend my time chasing partisan points,” citing Micah 6:8 as his guiding text.
Source: Claiborne Progress (2026-01-27)
Where they stand on education
Vick's “Rural Readiness” initiative would realign high school curricula with the needs of local industry to create pathways into higher-paying work in rural counties. His announcement pairs that with expanded rural healthcare access and debt-free principles for state budgeting. It does not state a position on the Education Freedom Scholarship voucher program, teacher pay, or the state funding formula.
Source: Claiborne Progress (2026-01-27)
How they qualified
Independents do not run in a primary. They reach the general election ballot by petition, which in Tennessee means gathering 25 valid voter signatures and filing by the qualifying deadline of March 10, 2026. Robert C. Vick filed from Dandridge on February 2, 2026, and the Secretary of State recorded the petition signatures as approved.
Vick's campaign site returned an access error when retrieved, so the content here rests on his announcement as carried by the Claiborne Progress.
Sources
- 1. Claiborne Progress, 40-Year East Tennessee Educator Dr. Vick Announces Independent Run for Governor (2026-01-27)
- 2. Politics1, Tennessee 2026 Elections
- 3. Vick campaign, Dr. Vick for Tennessee
- 4. Tennessee Secretary of State, 2026 candidate lists (certified qualified candidates for governor)
Explore the Tracker
About this tracker
This tracker is produced by The Tennessee Firefly, an independent, nonpartisan news outlet covering education and government in Tennessee. We don't endorse candidates. We don't take political ads. We follow the money, the policy, and the people who shape your kids' schools. All data comes from official filings, verified reporting, and on-the-record sources, with freshness timestamps visible on every page that surfaces live data.