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***Note from The Tennessee Conservative – this article posted here for informational purposes only.
The Center Square [By Kim Jarrett] –
Early voting for Tennessee’s primary election ended on Saturday with 635,319 people going to the polls during the 14-day window, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
The total is 8,425 more than the number of voters in 2018, when Gov. Bill Lee, then a political newcomer, defeated five candidates to take the Republican nomination. He was not opposed in 2022.
The number of Republicans who voted early surpassed Democrats 396,677 to 225,293.
The 2026 Democrat candidates for governor are Carnita Atwater, Tim Cyr, Jerri Green, Adam Kurtz and Kevin Lee McCants.
This year, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Rep. John Rose and state Rep. Monty Fritts are vying for the Republican nomination.
The primary is Aug. 6.
Some Memphis and Shelby County residents will vote for a congressional representative in a different district. State lawmakers redrew Tennessee’s congressional districts in May. The new map split the 9th Congressional District, which contained much of Shelby County, into three districts. It is the only Tennessee district represented by a Democrat, Steve Cohen, who is not seeking reelection.
The 9th District now covers the southeastern part of Shelby County.
Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor of Memphis announced he would seek the 9th District post just hours after Lee signed the district changes into law. He is facing three challengers in the primary: businesswoman Charlotte Bergmann, who unsuccessfully challenged Cohen in prior races; Army veteran Jeremy Thompson and state Rep. Todd Warner of Chapel Hill.
The Democrat primary for the 9th District includes state Sen. London Lamar of Memphis, state Rep. Justin Pearson of Memphis, M. LaTroy A-Williams and Jim Torino.
The middle and eastern parts of Shelby County are in the 8th Congressional District, which is currently represented by Republican David Kustoff. Kustoff has no challenger for his 8th Congressional District seat. Dewey Gordon Bryan, Jordan D. Hinders, Heidi Kuhn and Leonard Perkins are seeking the Democrat nomination.
The redrawn 5th Congressional District, currently represented by Republican Andy Ogles, covers downtown Memphis. It stretches from the middle of the state, up and around the northern border and down into Memphis. The district formerly covered a smaller section of middle Tennessee.
Ogles is seeking reelection to his 5th District seat, but has a Republican challenger. Former Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher will be on the Aug. 6 ballot with Ogles. For the Democrats, Yolanda Cooper-Sutton, DeVante R. Hill, Carrie Ann Iacomini and Chaz Molder are running.
In Tennessee’s other congressional districts, some tickets have just one Republican and one Democrat on the ticket.
In the 1st District, Republican U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger has no competition. Kristi Burke, Hernan H. Garcia and David S. Kerr Jr. are competing on the Democrat ticket.
Only one Democrat and one Republican are running in the 2nd Congressional District primaries. U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett is seeking another term. Michaela Barnett is the sole Democrat in the race.
Republican U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann has no challenger in the 3rd Congressional District. Bryan Martin is the only candidate on the Democrat ticket.
U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais is facing three Republican challengers for his 4th Congressional District seat: Thomas E. Davis, Joshua James and Harold Jones. Victoria Broderick, Mike Cortese, Cliff Huffman, Tim Lanier and Joyce E. Neal are running for the Democrat nomination.
Four Republicans are seeking Rose’s former 6th District Congressional seat: Tennessee state Rep. Johnny Garrett, former U.S. Rep. Van Hilleary, Natisha Brooks and John Henry. Lore Bergman, Mike Croley, Christopher Martin Finley, Miriam Leibowitz and Chaney Mosley are running as Democrats.
Matt Van Epps will seek a full term in the 7th Congressional District after winning a special election following Mark Green’s resignation. Four Democrats want to challenge him in November: Darden Copeland, Vincent Dixie, Saletta Holloway and Joshua Warren Sales.
Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty has no opposition for his post. Democrats competing in the primary are Marquita Bradshaw, Maria Brewer, Civil Miller-Watkins and Diana Onyejiaka.
