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Compare candidates in one race

Each race is compared on its own. Candidates in different races are never placed in the same grid. Every cell says what kind of evidence it rests on, including when the answer is that nothing was found or that the row has not been researched yet.

Last verified: September 5, 2026.

What the statuses mean

On record
A recorded vote or an authored bill, with the citation.
Stated position
A public position, quoted verbatim, with the source and date.
No position found
These sources were searched on the date shown and nothing was found.
Not yet researched
This row has not been researched yet. No claim is made either way.
Not applicable
The office never held this power, or the person has held no office.

Open seat — Gov. Bill Lee is term-limited after two terms. Whoever wins, Tennessee elects its first woman governor.

On the job they are running for

Rows are the powers of Governor of Tennessee, taken from the same authority data as Who Controls This? Both candidates get the same rows.

  • Marsha BlackburnRepublican
  • Jerri GreenDemocratic
What each candidate for Governor of Tennessee has on record for each power of the office, with the evidence status for every cell.
Power of the officeMarsha BlackburnRepublicanJerri GreenDemocratic
Private school vouchersThe governor proposes the education budget and signs or vetoes changes to the Education Freedom Scholarship program. Expanding or repealing it requires the General Assembly.Source: Who Controls This? · Tennessee Code Annotated
Stated position

Would expand Education Freedom Scholarships to all Tennessee families. "A parent shouldn’t have to win the lottery to have a choice in their child’s education."

  • Chalkbeat TN, August 21, 2026
Stated position

Would repeal the Education Freedom Scholarship voucher program. "We fund what we value—and it’s time Tennessee starts valuing public schools."

  • greenforgovernor.com/policy
State grocery taxThe governor proposes the state budget. Changing or ending the grocery tax requires the General Assembly to pass it.Source: Who Controls This? · Tennessee Code Annotated
No position found

Sources searched: Campaign website, published interviews, Ballotpedia, and Tennessee news coverage · searched September 5, 2026.

Stated position

Would end the state grocery tax and shift the burden onto corporate taxes.

Requires the General Assembly. No bill text or rate stated.

  • greenforgovernor.com/policy
TennCare and MedicaidThe governor directs TennCare and decides whether the state seeks federal waivers or expands eligibility.Source: Who Controls This? · Tennessee Code Annotated
On record

In the U.S. Senate she introduced three bills expanding Tennessee’s existing Medicaid block-grant flexibility: the ANCHOR Act, the DSH in Tennessee Act, and the Medicaid Primary Care Improvement Act.

This is not a stated position on expanding Medicaid eligibility in Tennessee and must not be read as one.

  • congress.gov bill records
Stated position

Would expand Medicaid, "especially in rural Tennessee."

Directional. No mechanism or TennCare waiver specifics stated.

  • greenforgovernor.com/policy
State taxes generallyThe governor proposes the state budget and signs or vetoes tax legislation passed by the General Assembly.Source: Who Controls This? · Tennessee Constitution, Article II
Stated position

Would keep taxes low and oppose new taxes. Signed the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge.

  • marshablackburn.com, October 24, 2025
Stated position

Would shift the tax burden onto corporate taxes.

Stated as part of her grocery tax plank. No rate or bill text given.

  • greenforgovernor.com/policy
State law enforcement and immigrationThe governor directs the Tennessee Highway Patrol and sets state agency cooperation policy with federal immigration authorities.Source: Who Controls This? · Tennessee Code Annotated
Stated position

Would "side with law enforcement over illegal aliens and criminals."

Stated in a campaign op-ed. As governor this would mean state enforcement policy, not federal votes.

  • marshablackburn.com, October 24, 2025
Stated position

Would sign a Day One executive order ending Tennessee Highway Patrol cooperation with ICE.

  • greenforgovernor.com/policy
National Guard deploymentThe governor is commander-in-chief of the Tennessee National Guard and decides on in-state deployments.Source: Who Controls This? · Tennessee Constitution, Article III
Not yet researched
On record

Cosponsored the Memphis City Council resolution opposing National Guard deployment to the city.

The resolution failed 4–4 with two abstentions.

Abortion, contraception and IVFThe governor signs or vetoes changes to Tennessee’s abortion law and directs state health agency policy.Source: Who Controls This? · Tennessee Code Annotated
Not yet researched
Stated position

Would repeal Tennessee’s near-total abortion ban, restore contraception access, and protect IVF and miscarriage care from state interference.

  • greenforgovernor.com/policy
Charter school regulationThe governor appoints the state charter commission and proposes changes to charter authorization rules.Source: Who Controls This? · Tennessee Code Annotated
Stated position

Would cut "senseless red tape" on charter schools.

No specifics given on which rules.

  • Chalkbeat TN, August 21, 2026
Not yet researched
Teacher licensureThe governor appoints the State Board of Education, which sets teacher licensure requirements.Source: Who Controls This? · Tennessee Code Annotated
Stated position

Would revisit teacher licensure requirements, saying the state shouldn’t "miss out on individuals who would be great teachers."

  • Chalkbeat TN, August 21, 2026
Not yet researched
Teacher payThe governor proposes the education budget, which sets the state minimum salary schedule.Source: Who Controls This? · Tennessee Code Annotated
No position found

Sources searched: Campaign website, published interviews, Ballotpedia, and Tennessee news coverage · searched September 5, 2026.

Not yet researched
Student testing policyThe governor appoints the State Board of Education and the Commissioner of Education, who set assessment policy.Source: Who Controls This? · Tennessee Code Annotated
No position found

Sources searched: Campaign website, published interviews, Ballotpedia, and Tennessee news coverage · searched September 5, 2026.

Not yet researched
School safetyThe governor proposes school safety funding and directs the state homeland security and education agencies.Source: Who Controls This? · Tennessee Code Annotated
No position found

Sources searched: Campaign website, published interviews, Ballotpedia, and Tennessee news coverage · searched September 5, 2026.

Not yet researched
Pre-K accessThe governor proposes the voluntary pre-K budget line and sets department priorities.Source: Who Controls This? · Tennessee Code Annotated
No position found

Sources searched: Campaign website, published interviews, Ballotpedia, and Tennessee news coverage · searched September 5, 2026.

Not yet researched
Juvenile justiceThe governor directs the Department of Children’s Services and signs or vetoes juvenile justice legislation.Source: Who Controls This? · Tennessee Code Annotated
Not yet researched
On record

Helped draft the Shelby County ordinance limiting solitary confinement and isolation of juveniles.

Advocates criticized the ordinance for lacking a local enforcement mechanism; she defended it as workable within state oversight.

  • MLK50, February 17, 2026

Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name.

What they have done in the office they hold

These candidates have held different offices with different powers. This is what each has done in the job they actually held — it is not a like-for-like comparison.

Marsha BlackburnRepublican

U.S. Senator since 2019. Previously U.S. House 2003–2019 and the Tennessee State Senate 1999–2003.

U.S. Senate roll calls, 2019–present. Her earlier U.S. House and Tennessee State Senate votes are not included here yet. She has never held a statewide executive office in Tennessee.

  • On record

    NAY

    H.R. 3746 — Fiscal Responsibility Act

    The bipartisan debt-ceiling deal: raised the ceiling in exchange for two years of discretionary spending caps.

    June 1, 2023

    Passed 63–36. Enacted.

  • On record

    YEA

    H.J.Res. 45 — Overturn student loan cancellation

    Would overturn the Education Department rule canceling up to $20,000 in federal student debt per borrower.

    June 1, 2023

    Passed 52–46; vetoed by President Biden.

  • On record

    YEA

    S.J.Res. 43 — Overturn the SAVE repayment plan

    Would repeal the income-driven repayment plan that lowered monthly student loan payments and shortened time to forgiveness.

    November 15, 2023

    Defeated 49–50.

  • On record

    YEA

    S.Amdt. 2814 to H.R. 1 — strike the state AI moratorium

    Her own amendment, removing the provision that would have blocked states from regulating artificial intelligence.

    July 1, 2025

    Agreed to 99–1. A Blackburn-led action, not a cosponsorship.

  • On record

    YEA

    S. 331 — HALT Fentanyl Act

    Permanently schedules fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I. Sponsored by Sen. Cassidy; she cosponsored.

    March 14, 2025

    Passed 84–16. Enacted July 2025.

  • On record

    NAY

    S. 2882 — Democratic continuing resolution (cloture)

    The competing stopgap funding bill during the 43-day shutdown. She voted against this one and for every Republican stopgap attempt.

    October 8, 2025

    Rejected 47–52.

  • On record

    YEA

    H.R. 5371 — Continuing appropriations (final passage)

    Ended the 43-day shutdown and funded the government into January 2026.

    November 10, 2025

    Passed 60–40. Enacted.

  • On record

    AUTHORED

    Bills she authored

    The REPORT Act (enacted 2024), the Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act (enacted July 2025), the Kids Online Safety Act (passed the Senate 91–3, died without a House vote), and the amendment striking the state AI moratorium.

    • congress.gov bill records
  • On record

    NOTE

    Sponsorship correction

    Her office lists the Laken Riley Act, the TAKE IT DOWN Act and the HALT Fentanyl Act among her accomplishments. She voted for and cosponsored all three, but was not the sponsor of record: the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) was sponsored by Sen. Katie Britt, the TAKE IT DOWN Act (S. 146) by Sen. Ted Cruz with Sen. Klobuchar, and the HALT Fentanyl Act (S. 331) by Sen. Bill Cassidy. Listing a cosponsored bill as an accomplishment is normal practice; presenting it as authorship is not accurate.

    • congress.gov bill records, S. 5, S. 146 and S. 331

Known gaps

No public position found on teacher pay, student testing policy, school safety, pre-K access, or the state grocery tax. She has said she intends to appoint her own U.S. Senate replacement if she wins; no resignation date is on record.

Sources: senate.gov roll calls · congress.gov · Chalkbeat TN · marshablackburn.com · blackburn.senate.gov · Ballotpedia

Jerri GreenDemocratic

Memphis City Council, District 2, since January 2024. Also interim Chief Public Defender for Shelby County, appointed January 2026. Formerly senior policy advisor and deputy chief of staff to Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, 2021–2026.

Memphis City Council votes since January 2024, plus county executive work. She has never served in the Tennessee General Assembly or in Congress, so there is no state or federal voting record to show.

  • On record

    FOR

    Council resolution opposing National Guard deployment to Memphis

    Would have put the council on record against deploying the National Guard in the city. She cosponsored it.

    September 23, 2025

    Failed 4–4, with two abstentions.

  • On record

    AUTHORED

    Shelby County juvenile isolation ordinance

    Helped draft the county ordinance limiting solitary confinement and isolation of juveniles. Advocates criticized it for lacking a local enforcement mechanism; she defended it as workable within state oversight.

    February 17, 2026

    • MLK50, February 17, 2026
  • On record

    AUTHORED

    Free gun locks by mail

    Championed as county policy. Reported as the first program of its kind run by a local government in the United States.

    January 7, 2026

    • Tri-State Defender, January 7, 2026

Known gaps

Her full council sponsorship record is not published in searchable form — Memphis publishes PDF minutes only, so it must be compiled meeting by meeting. No stated mechanism for Medicaid expansion.

Correction

An earlier draft of this page said Green worked in Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland’s administration. That was wrong. Her executive service was with Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris — a different official and a different level of government. Corrected September 5, 2026.

Sources: Ballotpedia · Daily Memphian · Tri-State Defender · MLK50 · greenforgovernor.com · Action News 5

Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name.

Where any candidate in a race does not have a usable photograph from an official or campaign source, every candidate in that race is shown with initials instead. Photographs are never taken from news outlets, wire services, social media, or image generation.