Knox County Backs Democrat for Governor
Knox County voters chose the Democratic gubernatorial candidate over the Republican for the first time in two decades, while Republicans held most other contests.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Elections
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Knox County voters backed the Democratic candidate over the Republican in the governor's race, a shift from recent cycles. Results were reported from the Republican watch party at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Knoxville.
Why it matters
The outcome signals shifting voter preferences in Tennessee's largest Republican-leaning county, where Republican margins narrowed sharply from 2024 to 2026. It also shows how a conservative independent candidate drew votes away from Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn.
Democrat Jerri Green won Knox County 48% to 42% over Republican Marsha Blackburn, while conservative independent David Hatley received 11,298 votes there. U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett's Knox County share was just under 50%, his lowest showing there for Congress.
The players
Marsha Blackburn
Republican U.S. Senator from Tennessee who lost Knox County to Democrat Jerri Green in the 2026 midterms.
Jerri Green
Democratic candidate who carried Knox County over Blackburn in the 2026 Senate race.
Tim Burchett
Republican U.S. Representative who won reelection with nearly 58% of the vote but posted his lowest Knox County share for Congress.
The details
Voters in Knox County split their ballots across parties, with Democrats narrowly carrying the governor's and Senate contests locally. Democrat Michaela Barnett came up 1,240 votes short of beating Burchett in the county, and Hatley did not win any precincts but broke 10% in eight east and southeast Knox County precincts that went for Blackburn.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Midterm election day, with Knox County results reported that night.
2024: Prior election cycle used as the comparison point for Republican margins in Knox County.
Political Context
Knox County's Republican margins in 2026 fell well below their 2024 levels, with Burchett's share dropping 13 points and the Zachary and Carringer margin down 9 points. Conservative independent David Hatley's 11,298 Knox County votes suggest a meaningful protest vote on the right.
Knox County voters' ballot choices in 2026 determined local representation in Congress and the state Senate across several districts. The results show how split-ticket voting can shift outcomes in county-level races.
The takeaway
Split-ticket voting in Knox County shows that local results can diverge sharply from statewide trends. Voters watching county-level shifts can better gauge where party margins are changing.
Further reading
For more on how these races played out statewide, see Tennessee Elections.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Knoxville News Sentinel.
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