The main Democrat in the 2026 Tennessee governor’s race is Jerri Green , a Memphis City Council member; other declared Democrats listed in current race trackers include Carnita Atwater , Adam "Ditch" Kurtz , and Tim Cyr.

Quick Scoop

Tennessee’s 2026 governor race is an open-seat contest because Bill Lee is term-limited, and Democrats have several declared candidates rather than a single nominee so far.

Among Democrats, Jerri Green appears to be the strongest-known contender because she is the only one with current elected office and the clearest fundraising presence.

Public listings also show Carnita Atwater, Adam "Ditch" Kurtz, and Tim Cyr in the Democratic field.

Democratic field

Candidate| What’s notable
---|---
Jerri Green| Memphis City Council member; viewed as the leading Democrat in the race 71012
Carnita Atwater| Memphis community leader and museum president 67
Adam "Ditch" Kurtz| Nashville musician running a grassroots campaign 714
Tim Cyr| Listed as a Democratic candidate in public race trackers 713

Timing

The primary election is scheduled for August 6, 2026, and the general election is November 3, 2026.

Because this is an open race, candidate lists can still shift as filings and ballot access details are finalized.

TL;DR: Jerri Green is the Democrat most people are watching in the Tennessee governor race, but the field also includes Carnita Atwater, Adam "Ditch" Kurtz, and Tim Cyr.