Tennessee Votes for Governor and Congress
Voters statewide will decide the governor's race, congressional seats under a newly redrawn map, and three proposed constitutional amendments.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Do you think Tennessee's new congressional map fairly represents voters in your area?
Tennessee holds Election Day for governor, congressional seats, and three constitutional amendments on November 2, 2026. The races come after Republican lawmakers redrew the congressional map in May, splitting Memphis among three districts.
Why it matters
The redrawn map dismantles the Democratic-held district represented by U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, who is not seeking reelection, and reassigns an estimated 34.7% of Tennessee residents to different congressional districts. Voters in Tennessee will see new representation boundaries take effect in the state's congressional delegation.
An estimated 34.7% of Tennessee residents were reassigned to different congressional districts under the May map. Three proposed constitutional amendments appear on the ballot, though their subject matter is not detailed in the available extraction.
The players
Marsha Blackburn
Republican U.S. senator from Tennessee who is running for governor in the 2026 election.
Steve Cohen
Democratic U.S. representative whose Memphis-area district was dismantled by the new map, and who is not seeking reelection.
The details
Gov. Bill Lee is term-limited, leaving an open governor's race contested by Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Democratic Memphis City Councilmember Jerri Green, and independent David Hatley. The new map places Davidson County voters in Districts 4, 6 and 7 instead of 5, 6 and 7, and leaves the county divided among three congressional districts.
Timeline
May 2026: Republican lawmakers redraw Tennessee's congressional map.
November 2, 2026: Election Day for governor, Congress, and constitutional amendments.
Political Context
Mid-decade redistricting in Tennessee has repeatedly split Memphis among multiple congressional districts, as it did in the 2011 post-census map. The May 2026 redraw continues that pattern by dismantling the Memphis-area Democratic district held by U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen.
Tennessee voters will choose a governor and members of Congress under the newly drawn boundaries, which change which district many residents vote in. Residents in Memphis and Davidson County should check their assigned congressional district before voting.
The takeaway
Because the congressional map changed in May, voters should confirm their new district before Election Day, since the district boundaries now determine which House race appears on their ballot.
Further reading
For broader coverage of how these races are shaping up, see Elections.
Live Poll
Do you think Tennessee's new congressional map fairly represents voters in your area?
