Candidate · Tennessee
Lauren Pinkston
Running for Governor · Independent
A 4-year term · Tenn. Const. art. III § 4
On the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Printed on the ballot in Knox County.
Photo: Campaign site (used for identification)
This is what the public record documents about this candidate — nothing more. We publish no bios, ratings, or endorsements. Where we have no document, we say so plainly.
Also on this ballot for Governor
- CV Charles Van Morgan (Independent)
-
Dave Seeman
(Independent)
-
David Hatley
(Independent)
- DB Dean Brewer (Independent)
- EL Eddie Lee Murphy (Independent)
-
Jerri Green
(Democratic)
- KK Karl Knox Smithson (Independent)
- LW L. Webb Taylor (Independent)
-
Marsha Blackburn
(Republican)
-
Misam Abidi
(Independent)
- RB Ray Brown (Independent)
-
Robert C. Vick
(Independent)
-
Victor L. Scoggin
(Independent)
- WJ Wendell Jackson (Independent)
Record in office
No voting record on a body we cover. Challengers who have not held one of these offices have no roll-call record here — that is expected, not a gap in their favor or against.
Offices held
No prior public office on record.
Election history
Not on the ballot in any Tennessee state or federal general election, 2016–2024.
Campaign finance
As reported to the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance — Pre-Primary 2026 report, filed Aug 7, 2026.
- Contributions this report
- $23,700
- Total receipts this report
- $23,700
- Spent this report
- $22,483
- Cash on hand
- $17,620
- Loans outstanding
- $98,182
| Report | Contributions | Total receipts | Spent | Cash on hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Primary 2026 report filed Aug 7, 2026 | $23,700 | $23,700 | $22,483 | $17,620 |
| 2nd Quarter 2026 report filed Jul 10, 2026 | $92,837 | $120,451 | $125,714 | $16,403 |
| 1st Quarter 2026 report filed Apr 10, 2026 | $68,706 | $81,491 | $65,627 | $21,666 |
| Early Year End Supplemental 2025 report (amended) filed Feb 13, 2026 | $62,439 | $116,622 | $110,820 | $5,802 |
The money in this race
Each candidate’s latest figures as reported to the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance. Reporting periods differ — each row shows its own.
| Candidate | Contributions | Spent | Cash on hand | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Van Morgan Independent | — | — | $55 | Pre-Primary 2026 reportfiled Jul 28, 2026 |
| Dave Seeman Independent | $698 | $3,011 | $193 | Pre-Primary 2026 reportfiled Jul 29, 2026 |
| David Hatley Independent | $470 | $999,401 | $5,741,381 $7,000,000 loans outstanding | Pre-Primary 2026 reportfiled Jul 30, 2026 |
| Dean Brewer Independent | No reports listed | as of Oct 6, 2026 | ||
| Eddie Lee Murphy Independent | $0 | $0 | $0 | Pre-Primary 2026 reportfiled Jul 27, 2026 |
| Jerri Green Democratic | $146,830 | $235,954 | $118,002 | Pre-Primary 2026 reportfiled Jul 30, 2026 |
| Karl Knox Smithson Independent | $0 | $0 | $0 | 2nd Quarter 2026 reportfiled Jul 20, 2026 |
| L. Webb Taylor Independent | $0 | $0 | $93 $165 loans outstanding | Pre-Primary 2026 reportfiled Aug 2, 2026 |
| Lauren Pinkston (this page) Independent | $23,700 | $22,483 | $17,620 $98,182 loans outstanding | Pre-Primary 2026 reportfiled Aug 7, 2026 |
| Marsha Blackburn Republican | $1,233,789 | $4,574,205 | $2,691,224 | Pre-Primary 2026 reportfiled Jul 30, 2026 |
| Misam Abidi Independent | $50 | $8 | $66 | Pre-Primary 2026 reportfiled Jul 27, 2026 |
| Ray Brown Independent | — | — | $0 | Pre-Primary 2026 reportfiled Aug 7, 2026 |
| Robert C. Vick Independent | $3,800 | $5,631 | $1,006 | 3rd Quarter 2026 reportfiled Oct 1, 2026 |
| Victor L. Scoggin Independent | — | — | $0 | 3rd Quarter 2026 reportfiled Oct 1, 2026 |
| Wendell Jackson Independent | — | — | $0 | Pre-Primary 2026 reportfiled Jul 31, 2026 |
In their own words
The candidate’s campaign site, voter-guide entries, and forum recordings, on the source sites — links, not our summary.
Voting in Knox County
- Early voting
- Wednesday, October 14 – Thursday, October 29, 2026
- Election day
- Tuesday, November 3, 2026