Memphis voters pick first House nominees under new GOP map
Tennessee Republican voters head to the polls Thursday to choose a nominee to succeed Gov. Bill Lee, who is term-limited, in an open-seat governor’s race that pairs U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn against four-term U.S. Rep. John Rose and state Rep. Monty Fritts.
The contest carries weight beyond the nomination itself. Tennessee has not elected a Democratic governor in 20 years, according to the Associated Press, which makes the Republican primary the decisive race for the office.
Blackburn enters the primary after winning reelection to a second U.S. Senate term in 2024. She launched her campaign for governor in August 2025. Rose, who began his bid in March 2025, has put about $13 million of his own money into the race since mid-June.
Campaign finance separates the two front-runners. Excluding candidate loans, Blackburn has outraised Rose in contributions, the Associated Press reported. She also holds the backing of an outside group that has spent roughly $5.1 million supporting her and opposing Rose.
The day’s other featured contests unfold in Memphis, where voters will choose their first U.S. House nominees under a new Republican-drawn congressional map. The Associated Press reported that the redraw forced the city’s longtime Democratic representative into retirement.