Tennessee Voters to Decide Senate Seat on November 3
The 2026 U.S. Senate race features incumbent Bill Hagerty, challenger Marquita Bradshaw, and eight Independent candidates.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Elections
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Tennessee residents will head to the polls on November 3, 2026, to elect a U.S. Senator. The ballot features Republican incumbent Bill Hagerty and Democratic challenger Marquita Bradshaw alongside eight Independent candidates.
Why it matters
The election decides who will represent the state in the U.S. Senate for the next term. Voters will choose between the legislative track record of the incumbent and the policy platform of the Democratic candidate.
The ballot includes eight independent candidates competing against the two major party nominees. This field joins incumbent Bill Hagerty, who saw three of his introduced bills become law during his first term.
The players
Bill Hagerty
Bill Hagerty is the Republican incumbent U.S. Senator for Tennessee who previously served in the federal government.
Marquita Bradshaw
Marquita Bradshaw is the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate and the Executive Director of the nonprofit Sowing Justice.
The details
Republican incumbent Bill Hagerty, a Davidson County resident, previously won 62% of the vote in the 2020 election, while challenger Marquita Bradshaw, a Memphis native and Executive Director of Sowing Justice, secured 35%. Bradshaw returns to the ballot after an unsuccessful campaign in the 2024 Democratic primary.
Timeline
Bill Hagerty and Marquita Bradshaw faced each other in the 2020 Senate race.
Marquita Bradshaw competed in the 2024 Democratic primary.
Voting results for the general election are expected to begin coming in on November 3, 2026.
Political Context
Opponents of the current representation argue that the inclusion of eight independent candidates highlights a growing dissatisfaction with the traditional two-party system in the state. Critics of the Republican incumbent point to his limited number of enacted legislative bills as a reason for seeking new leadership.
The outcome of this election will directly determine who represents the state in the federal legislature for the next six years. Residents should verify their polling location and registration status prior to the November 3, 2026, election date.
The takeaway
Voters should review the platforms of the two major party candidates and the eight independent options before heading to the polls. Monitoring official updates on election night provides the most accurate view of the final results.
What happens next
Election results are expected to be reported on November 3, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on state voting procedures and ballot measures, visit the Tennessee Elections page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Local3News.
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In the upcoming election, do you believe incumbent senators should be re-elected?
