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Governor

Governor, Tennessee

November 3, 2026 · 8 statements · 2026.09.23-4acbdf7d

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We research every Democratic or Republican nominee, every incumbent, and anyone who raised at least $50,000 (per the FEC) or reached 5 percent in a public poll. Methodology

Statements and positions

AgreeDisagreeNo clear position Select a position to see the evidence behind it.

State statements

EconomyNo. 1/8

Tennessee should set a state minimum wage above the federal $7.25 an hour.

Background

Tennessee has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies. A state law would require employers to pay a higher hourly floor.

Marsha Blackburn Disagree

Proposals to raise the minimum wage destroy jobs, force businesses to cut staff or hours, and drive up prices for working families.

Questionnaire · Sep 8, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.75)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

Jerri Green Agree

I will advocate to lift minimum wage to a living wage for all Tennesseans. This is an effort I've successfully done for both City of Memphis and Shelby County government employees.

Questionnaire · May 11, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

A real living wage

Campaign or official site · Sep 23, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
High (0.90)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

Health careNo. 2/8

Tennessee should expand TennCare to cover adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level.

Background

TennCare is Tennessee's Medicaid program, and the state has not adopted the Affordable Care Act's expansion. Expansion would cover more low-income adults, with the federal government paying most of the cost.

Marsha Blackburn Disagree

Now the reason there was not a Medicaid expansion in Tennessee is because we have been to this dance before. It was in the mid-'90s, the test case for Hillarycare. It was an abysmal failure.

Press quote · Mar 31, 2014 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Low (0.50)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

Jerri Green Agree

Expand Medicaid to cover more working families and keep rural hospitals open

Campaign or official site · Sep 23, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

By closing the coverage gap, we can increase access to healthcare for low-income residents and reopen rural hospitals.

Questionnaire · May 11, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
High (0.85)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

AbortionNo. 3/8

Tennessee should repeal its ban on most abortions.

Background

Tennessee bans abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with narrow exceptions for medical emergencies. Repeal would allow abortions under state law that the current ban prohibits.

Marsha Blackburn Disagree

Here in Tennessee, we have banned abortions at all stages of pregnancy and have taken steps to ensure that those who continue to perform abortions are held accountable...I am 100% pro-life and, as governor, I will always be a voice for the voiceless.

Questionnaire · Sep 8, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.75)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

Jerri Green Agree

Repeal Tennessee's near-total abortion ban

Campaign or official site · Sep 23, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

I will seek every avenue possible to restore reproductive freedom for every Tennessean, including access to abortions, contraception, IVF, and more.

Questionnaire · May 11, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
High (0.90)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

GunsNo. 4/8

Tennessee should require background checks for all gun sales, including private sales.

Background

Federal law requires background checks only for sales by licensed dealers. This would extend checks to private sales between individuals in Tennessee.

Marsha Blackburn Disagree

Blackburn (R-TN), Nay

Vote record · Jun 23, 2022 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

I will always defend law-abiding Tennesseans' Second Amendment rights...I am committed to making policy that prevents senseless tragedy while safeguarding the Second Amendment.

Questionnaire · Sep 8, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Low (0.45)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

Jerri Green Agree

Require universal background checks on all gun sales

Campaign or official site · Sep 23, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
High (0.85)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

EducationNo. 5/8

Tennessee should expand its private school scholarship program to every family that applies.

Background

Tennessee's Education Freedom Scholarships, created in 2025, give a capped number of students about $7,000 a year toward private school tuition. Expanding it to all applicants would require more state funding each year.

Marsha Blackburn Agree

Yes, and I will fight to expand the program until no parent has to win the lottery to have a say in their child's education.

Questionnaire · Sep 8, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.75)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

Jerri Green Disagree

Fully fund K-12 public education—not siphon dollars into unaccountable voucher schemes

Campaign or official site · Sep 23, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

In my very first budget, I will defund the voucher scheme and put public dollars back into public schools.

Questionnaire · May 11, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
High (0.90)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

ImmigrationNo. 6/8

Tennessee should have its Highway Patrol help enforce federal immigration law through 287(g) agreements.

Background

The federal 287(g) program lets trained state and local officers perform certain immigration enforcement tasks. Participation is voluntary and decided by each state or local agency.

Marsha Blackburn Agree

Absolutely. In the Senate, I've worked to incentivize states and localities to enter into 287(g) agreements with ICE...Tennessee Highway Patrol should work hand in glove with ICE to ensure that the rule of law is upheld in Tennessee.

Questionnaire · Sep 8, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

State and local law enforcement should be doing everything in their power to partner with the federal government to enforce the rule of law in our communities

Campaign or official site · Apr 28, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
High (0.85)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

Jerri Green Disagree

Stop the cooperation between the Tennessee Highway Patrol and ICE to protect our immigrant neighbors from state-sponsored harassment

Campaign or official site · Sep 23, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
High (0.85)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

ImmigrationNo. 7/8

Tennessee should allow public schools to deny enrollment to students without legal immigration status.

Background

A 1982 U.S. Supreme Court ruling requires public schools to enroll children regardless of immigration status. A state law allowing schools to deny enrollment would likely face a court challenge over that precedent.

Marsha Blackburn Agree

Illegal aliens should not have free access to our public schools or any other public services in Tennessee...I wholeheartedly support Senator Watson's legislation that requires immigration or citizenship documentation from students attending the state's public schools.

Questionnaire · Sep 8, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.75)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

Jerri Green Disagree

No resident of Tennessee should be denied medical care or a free K-12 education, regardless of immigration status.

Questionnaire · May 11, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.75)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

Public safetyNo. 8/8

Tennessee should keep contracting with private companies to run state prisons.

Background

Tennessee pays a private company to operate several of its state prisons. Ending these contracts would shift those prisons to state operation or other arrangements.

Marsha Blackburn Agree

As in any public-private partnership, it is important to have oversight to ensure that a private company is meeting the standards, while giving them the freedom to handle operations at a level of efficiency that could never be achieved by the government.

Questionnaire · Sep 8, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.75)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

Jerri Green Disagree

Formally notify CoreCivic that Tennessee will not renew private prison contracts

Campaign or official site · Sep 23, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
High (0.85)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.