Nashville, Tennessee--°F
TwitterFacebookYouTubeInstagram
Tennessee FireflyShining a light on education & government in Tennessee
NewsThe WireBeatsBoardsRegionsPodcastCapitolCalendar
Schools
Your SchoolSchool Grades
School Data
Flight ScoresGraduation RatesCollege-Going RatesACT ScoresReady Graduate Rates
School ClosingsSchool Choice Guide
School Funding
TISA OverviewTISA ExplainedBEP to TISA ShiftTISA Impact on DistrictsUnderstanding TISA WeightsBEP Look BackRole of Local FundingBeyond the FormulaDebating School FundingUnderstanding Local BudgetsAdvocating for Funding
About
Subscribe Free
View Current School Grades
Tennessee Firefly

Shining a light on education & government in Tennessee

Independent journalism focused on Tennessee education policy, news, and the stories that matter to students, parents, and educators across all 95 counties.

News

  • All News
  • Local Education
  • State Education
  • Higher Education
  • Commentary

Regions

  • Nashville
  • Memphis
  • Knoxville
  • Chattanooga
  • All Regions

Schools

  • Your School (ZIP lookup)
  • School Grades
  • Flight Scores
  • School Closings
  • School Choice Guide
  • School Funding
  • Transparency Scorecards

About

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Ethics & Standards
  • Corrections Policy
  • Corrections Log
  • Privacy Policy

More

  • The Wire
  • Live Coverage
  • Calendar
  • Beats
  • Documents
  • Pitch Board
  • Newsletter Archive
  • Search
  • Developers / API

© 2026 The Tennessee Firefly, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Made with ❤️ in Tennessee

  1. TNFirefly
  2. ›Governor's Race
  3. ›Timeline
RACE TIMELINE

How We Got Here

A chronological record of every major moment in the 2026 Tennessee governor's race.

18events tracked
Data last updated: February 9, 2026 at 12:00 AM UTC
2025
Mar 20

John Rose Becomes First Major Candidate

announce
May 15

Adam 'Ditch' Kurtz Launches Grassroots Campaign

announce
Jul 10

Rose Reports $1.1M in Initial Fundraising

finance
Jul 15

Jerri Green Enters the Race

announce
Aug 1

First Beacon Poll: Blackburn 68%, Rose 14%

analysis
Aug 6

Marsha Blackburn Enters the Race

announce
Sep 5

Monty Fritts Announces at 'Trump Day' Dinner

announce
Nov 1

Beacon Poll: Blackburn 58%, Undecideds Surge to 28%

analysis
Nov 15

Independents Begin Filing

filing
2026
Jan 9

Carnita Atwater Files for Governor

filing
Jan 26

Beacon Poll: Blackburn 56%, Rose 9%, Fritts 7%

analysis
Jan 29

Fritts Calls for Execution Over Trans Care

controversy
Feb 3

Blackburn Files $5.35M Finance Report

finance
Feb 3

Rose Reports $6.46M War Chest

finance
Feb 9

TSS Statewide Education Poll Released

analysis
Mar 10

Filing Deadline — Qualifying Petition Due

deadline
Aug 6UPCOMING

Primary Election

election
Nov 3UPCOMING

General Election

election

Election Day Quick Reference

Aug 6
Primary Election
Nov 3
General Election
Jan 2027
Inauguration

Tennessee has open primaries, so voters may choose either party's ballot regardless of registration. Early voting typically runs 10-14 days before Election Day.

The Signal

Don't miss a beat in this race.

Get TNFirefly's nonpartisan race coverage, poll updates, and education policy analysis delivered to your inbox.

Explore the Tracker

Race Hub
Overview & countdown
Candidates
All 12 candidates
Polls & Ratings
Latest polling data
Education Stances
Where they stand
Endorsements
Who's backing whom
Campaign Finance
Follow the money
Timeline
How we got here
Watchlist
Who's still out there

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. Last updated March 17, 2026.