Memphis City Council member Jerri Green threw her hat into the ring for Tennessee’s 2026 gubernatorial race before a partisan crowd in Nashville Monday, July 14.
“So I wanna say something tonight about that capitol, and I’ll say it for the first time here publicly and clearly: I plan to run for governor,” Green said to cheers. “And I don’t just plan to run, I plan to win.”
Green’s campaign is expected to formally launch next month. The Democratic primary will be held Aug. 6, 2026, followed by the general election on Nov. 3.
The first-term council member is the first Democrat to enter the race. Other potential Democratic candidates include state Rep. John Ray Clemmons and former U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper. Neither has declared a bid.
State Rep. John Rose is the only Republican to formally announce a run. Other GOP names floated include U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger. Harshbarger has said she will enter the race if Blackburn opts not to run.
They will compete to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Bill Lee. If elected, Green would become the state’s first female governor.
“We can do better. I know we can do better when we have more women in office,” Green said.
In addition to serving on the council, Green works as legal counsel and deputy chief of staff for Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris. The mother of three also has a legal background as a public defender and has held a leadership role with the anti-gun violence group Moms Demand Action. She was elected to the council in 2023 and took office in 2024.
“Mothers are great at changing the world from their kitchen table. We are the kind of people that are going to raise this next generation. But we can also do it in our city halls, at our county commissions, on our Senate floors and at the governor’s mansion,” Green said.
Green faces an uphill battle in an increasingly Republican state. In a 2020 bid for the state House, she lost to District 83 Republican Rep. Mark White by a 54–46 margin.
“I want to be able to be the person that makes sure we have paid family leave so more mothers can see their child’s first smile. I want to make sure that we have affordable health care bills, so you’re not putting out your loans on GoFundMe. I want to make sure my daughter has as many rights as I was born with,” Green said.
