Tennessee gubernatorial candidates, day one: What state filings show before federal money is added

by Brandon Burley and The Redemption Project

Money does not determine a governor’s race this early, but it often shows who began with political machinery already in place and who is still building one in public view.

This first breakdown uses Tennessee state campaign filings only, covering 2025 through first-quarter 2026. It does not include federal campaign money, which matters especially because two major candidates already hold federal office. That federal layer deserves separate treatment because it follows different reporting systems, committee structures and legal limits.

Before that federal picture is added, state filings offer the clearest starting point.

Marsha Blackburn currently reports $1,229,410.65 in Tennessee state funds. Her filing reflects the broadest donor base in the field so far, with individual contributions accounting for most of that total. Her average individual donation is lower than several other candidates, but that is largely a function of volume: a much larger number of transactions spread across a wider donor network.

John Rose reports