Tennessee Governor 2026: the ads, and who's paying for them
Marsha Blackburn (Republican), Jerri Green (Democrat), Misam Abidi (independent), Dean Brewer (independent), Ray Brown (independent), David Hatley (independent), Wendell Jackson (independent), Charles Van Morgan (independent), Eddie Lee Murphy (independent), Lauren Pinkston (independent), Victor L. Scoggin (independent), Dave Seeman (independent), Karl Knox Smithson (independent), L. Webb Taylor (independent) and Robert C. Vick (independent) are the candidates for governor of Tennessee in the November 3, 2026 general election. Semblen has analyzed 72 ads in this race; 44 used at least one manipulation technique, most often glittering generalities and appeal to prejudice.
Marsha Blackburn (REP), Jerri Green (DEM), Misam Abidi (IND), Dean Brewer (IND), Ray Brown (IND), David Hatley (IND), Wendell Jackson (IND), Charles Van Morgan (IND), Eddie Lee Murphy (IND), Lauren Pinkston (IND), Victor L. Scoggin (IND), Dave Seeman (IND), Karl Knox Smithson (IND), L. Webb Taylor (IND), Robert C. Vick (IND).
On the ballot as listed by Tennessee Secretary of State, Candidates for Governor, November 3, 2026 General Election. 72 ads analyzed, 44 with at least one technique in the copy.
Newest first. The paid-for-by line is the advertiser's own filing. Updated 2026-10-08.
A small box with these findings and the newest ads, updated as new ads are analyzed. Free for newsrooms, blogs and campaigns alike; it links back here.
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Leaving out the softer ones (loaded language, glittering generalities, slogans, exaggeration, repetition): 57% of ads.
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Money in this race
Candidates for governor report their fundraising to Tennessee's state campaign-finance office, not the FEC. This page doesn't cover those reports yet, so it shows no money figures.
The ads
72 ads, newest first. Video transcripts are shown as the model read them, without caption cues like [music].
Showing the 12 ads paid for by Green For Governor. Show all 72 ads
Paid for by Green For Governorfrom 2026-10-03 to 2026-10-07spend $900–99980,000–89,999 impressions
As a mom of a special needs kid, I know just how important it is to invest in our public schools. While Marsha Blackburn celebrates dismantling the Department of Education and takes millions in donations from voucher schemers, I'm thinking about kids like mine who won't have the support they need.
My formula is simple: public dollars for public schools for the public good.
As Governor, I'll fight for my kids and yours to get a world class education, no matter their zip code, income level, or needs.
I hope to have your support. Early Voting is October 14-29. Election Day is November 3.
Learn more and join our movement to fight for our public schools at greenforgovernor.com
Appeal to Prejudice: Establishes in-group identity as a parent of a special needs child to frame the speaker's position as inherently more legitimate and emotionally authoritative — for example: 'As a mom of a special needs kid'
Loaded Language: Uses emotionally charged words like 'celebrates dismantling' and 'voucher schemers' to trigger a negative reaction toward Blackburn rather than neutrally describe her policy positions — for example: 'voucher schemers'
Appeal to Fear: Implies that children with special needs will be left without support as a consequence of Blackburn's actions, creating anxiety to drive an emotional response — for example: 'kids like mine who won't have the support they need'
Name Calling: Labels donors and advocates of school vouchers as 'schemers,' a derogatory term implying dishonesty, rather than engaging with their arguments — for example: 'voucher schemers'
Card Stacking: Presents only the negative framing of Blackburn's position (dismantling, donations from schemers) while omitting any policy rationale or counterargument for school choice or restructuring the Department of Education — for example: 'takes millions in donations from voucher schemers'
Glittering Generalities: The phrase 'world class education' is a vague, emotionally positive term that sounds noble but carries no specific policy meaning — for example: world class education
Appeal to Prejudice
Loaded Language
Appeal to Fear
Name Calling
Card Stacking
Glittering Generalities
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Green For Governorfrom 2026-10-032 variantsspend $1,000–1,19880,000–94,998 impressions
Most Tennesseans just want to work hard, get ahead, and give their kids a better shot—and they should be able to.
But the cost of rent, groceries, and healthcare keeps going up faster than working families can keep up, and paychecks just aren't stretching the way they used to.
I'm going to bring costs down, make sure the biggest corporations pay their fair share, and crack down on corruption.
Hard work ought to pay off. As Governor, I'm going to fight to make sure it does.
I hope to have your support. Early Voting is October 14-29. Election Day is November 3.
Join our movement to take back Tennessee for working families, not billionaires: greenforgovernor.com.
Appeal to Prejudice: The sentence invokes a regional in-group identity ('Tennesseans') paired with universally admired values to create an implicit us-vs-them framing suggesting something or someone is preventing this — for example: 'Most Tennesseans just want to work hard, get ahead, and give their kids a better shot'
Glittering Generalities: The phrase invokes vague, emotionally positive notions of fighting for fairness without specifying any concrete policy or action — for example: 'fight to make sure it does'
Bandwagon Appeal: The phrase 'join our movement' pressures the reader to conform by implying a collective cause already in motion — for example: Join our movement
Appeal to Prejudice
Glittering Generalities
Bandwagon Appeal
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Green For Governorfrom 2026-09-17 to 2026-09-23spend $1,500–1,999175,000–199,999 impressions
BREAKING: Jerri Green Closes Gap to Single Digits, Surges 14 Points 📈
A new independent statewide poll shows Tennessee’s governor’s race is officially within single digits, and Marsha Blackburn STILL can't pull a majority.
Once voters learn both candidates' full bios, Jerri LEADS Blackburn 42% to 41%!
We’ve gained 14 points since April, including 4 points in just the last few weeks. When voters get to know Jerri, she wins.
We can pull off a historic victory in Tennessee, but only if we get our message out statewide. Can you chip in $10 today to launch ads in every corner of the state?
FUEL OUR FIGHT: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/91726txt
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
An email when new ads come in from either side or the outside groups: the techniques, the words doing the work, and who paid. And each debate's analysis the morning after. One-click unsubscribe.
Paid for by Green For Governorfrom 2026-09-17 to 2026-09-22spend $1,500–1,999150,000–174,999 impressions
Most Tennesseans just want to work hard, get ahead, and give their kids a better shot—and they should be able to.
But the cost of rent, groceries, and healthcare keeps going up faster than working families can keep up, and paychecks just aren't stretching the way they used to.
I'm going to bring costs down, make sure the biggest corporations pay their fair share, and crack down on corruption.
Hard work ought to pay off. As Governor, I'm going to fight to make sure it does.
Join our movement to take back Tennessee for working families, not billionaires: greenforgovernor.com.
Appeal to Prejudice: The sentence invokes a regional in-group identity ('Tennesseans') paired with universally admired values to create an implicit us-vs-them framing suggesting something or someone is preventing this — for example: 'Most Tennesseans just want to work hard, get ahead, and give their kids a better shot'
Glittering Generalities: The phrase invokes vague, emotionally positive notions of fighting for fairness without specifying any concrete policy or action — for example: 'fight to make sure it does'
Bandwagon Appeal: The phrase 'join our movement' pressures the reader to conform by implying a collective cause already in motion — for example: Join our movement
Black-and-White Fallacy: The sentence presents only two sides — working families or billionaires — implying no middle ground or complexity in governance — for example: for working families, not billionaires
Appeal to Prejudice
Glittering Generalities
Bandwagon Appeal
Black-and-White Fallacy
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Green For Governorfrom 2026-09-06 to 2026-09-14spend $700–79990,000–99,999 impressions
I'm not bought. Our campaign is fueled by teachers, nurses, veterans—people just like you.
When I'm governor, I'll only answer to you, not corporations or special interests.
Flag-Waving: Patriotic, religious, or in-group identity invoked to validate a position.
Slogans: Catchy phrase used to compress a complex position into an emotionally loaded shorthand.
Appeal to Prejudice: The phrase 'people just like you' invokes in-group identity, implying the campaign belongs to ordinary, relatable people and positioning the audience as part of that virtuous group — for example: people just like you
Glittering Generalities: Listing teachers, nurses, and veterans as the campaign's backers uses emotionally resonant, universally admired groups as vague symbolic endorsement without substantive policy detail — for example: teachers, nurses, veterans
Black-and-White Fallacy: The sentence presents only two options — answering to 'you' (the people) or answering to corporations and special interests — ignoring the complex reality that governance involves many stakeholders and competing interests — for example: 'only answer to you, not corporations or special interests'
Flag-Waving
Slogans
Appeal to Prejudice
Glittering Generalities
Black-and-White Fallacy
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Green For Governorfrom 2026-08-19 to 2026-08-24spend $400–49950,000–59,999 impressions
You don’t have to abandon your values just because you don’t recognize them in the candidate your party chose.
Even if we don’t agree on everything, we can agree on this - you should vote for the person who best reflects what you believe, not simply the letter next to their name.
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Green For Governorfrom 2026-08-07 to 2026-08-08spend $0–991,000–1,999 impressions
I’m Jerri Green, and I’m proud to say I am officially your Democratic nominee for Governor—making history as the first woman ever nominated by our party to be the next Governor of Tennessee.
We started this movement because Tennessee families deserve a leader who fights for groceries they can afford, world-class public schools, and healthcare that doesn’t bankrupt them—not out-of-touch extremists answering only to the wealthy and well-connected.�
You helped us build this people-powered movement, but this is where the real work begins.�
We have been strategic with our resources to get us to this point, but to win in November, it’s going to take more.�
Can you chip in $25, $10, or $1 right now to power this historic campaign and show the GOP that we’re ready to take back Tennessee? → donate.greenforgovernor.com/87261
Thank you so much for keeping this grassroots movement moving forward, and I’m grateful to have you on my team.
Let’s go make history again.�
Glittering Generalities: Vague, emotionally positive promises about affordable groceries, world-class schools, and healthcare are used as rhetorical flourishes without any specific policy substance — for example: 'world-class public schools'
Name Calling: The opposing side is labeled with a derogatory term to discredit them rather than address their positions — for example: 'out-of-touch extremists'
Black-and-White Fallacy: The sentence presents only two options: a leader who fights for ordinary families, or extremists serving the wealthy, with no middle ground acknowledged — for example: "not out-of-touch extremists answering only to the wealthy and well-connected".
Appeal to Prejudice: The phrase invokes in-group identity by framing 'Tennessee families' as the deserving in-group against an out-group of wealthy elites — for example: 'Tennessee families deserve a leader'
Glittering Generalities
Name Calling
Black-and-White Fallacy
Appeal to Prejudice
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Green For Governorfrom 2026-08-07 to 2026-08-14spend $0–991,000–1,999 impressions
I’m Jerri Green, and I’m proud to say I am officially your Democratic nominee for Governor—making history as the first woman ever nominated by our party to be the next Governor of Tennessee.
We started this movement because Tennessee families deserve a leader who fights for groceries they can afford, world-class public schools, and healthcare that doesn’t bankrupt them—not out-of-touch extremists answering only to the wealthy and well-connected.
You helped us build this people-powered movement, but this is where the real work begins.
We have been strategic with our resources to get us to this point, but to win in November, it’s going to take more.
Can you chip in $25, $10, or $1 right now to power this historic campaign and show the GOP that we’re ready to take back Tennessee? → donate.greenforgovernor.com/87261
Thank you so much for keeping this grassroots movement moving forward, and I’m grateful to have you on my team.
Let’s go make history again.
Appeal to Prejudice: The sentence invokes 'Tennessee families' as the in-group deserving representation, implicitly contrasting them with out-of-touch elites and extremists who do not represent 'real' people — for example: Tennessee families deserve a leader
Name Calling: The opponents are labeled 'out-of-touch extremists' rather than being addressed on the merits of their positions — for example: out-of-touch extremists answering only to the wealthy and well-connected
Glittering Generalities: Vague, emotionally positive promises like 'world-class public schools' and affordable groceries are invoked as noble ideals without any specific policy substance — for example: world-class public schools
Black-and-White Fallacy: The sentence presents only two options: a leader who fights for families, or out-of-touch extremists serving the wealthy, leaving no room for nuance or alternative positions — for example: not out-of-touch extremists answering only to the wealthy and well-connected
Appeal to Prejudice
Name Calling
Glittering Generalities
Black-and-White Fallacy
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Green For Governorfrom 2026-08-07 to 2026-08-14spend $600–69970,000–79,999 impressions
I'm Jerri Green, the new Democratic nominee for Governor in the great state of Tennessee.
In a minute, I'm going to ask you to chip in, but first I want to say thank you.
Our campaign is not backed by corporations or billionaires. It's backed by thousands of people like you.
I know you know that in November, we're facing the fight of a lifetime. And I need you to fight with me.
Chip in what you can to help me end Marsha Blackburn's career for good.
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Green For Governorfrom 2026-07-18 to 2026-08-06spend $2,000–2,499200,000–249,999 impressions
As a mom of a special needs kid, I know just how important it is to invest in our public schools. While Marsha Blackburn celebrates dismantling the Department of Education and takes millions in donations from voucher schemers, I'm thinking about kids like mine who won't have the support they need.
My formula is simple: public dollars for public schools for the public good. As Governor, I'll fight for my kids and yours to get a world class education, no matter their zip code, income level, or needs.
Appeal to Prejudice: Establishes in-group identity as a parent of a special needs child to build emotional credibility and frame the issue around a sympathetic personal identity — for example: 'As a mom of a special needs kid'
Loaded Language: Uses emotionally charged words like 'celebrates dismantling' and 'voucher schemers' to trigger a negative reaction toward Blackburn rather than convey neutral facts — for example: 'celebrates dismantling the Department of Education' and 'voucher schemers'
Name Calling: The term 'voucher schemers' is a derogatory label used to discredit supporters of school voucher programs rather than engage with their arguments — for example: 'voucher schemers'
Appeal to Fear: Implies that Blackburn's policies will leave vulnerable children without support, creating anxiety about dire consequences for special needs kids — for example: 'kids like mine who won't have the support they need'
Black-and-White Fallacy: Frames the issue as a binary choice between Blackburn's alleged indifference to special needs children and the speaker's concern for them, ignoring other policy positions or nuances — for example: "While Marsha Blackburn celebrates dismantling the Department of Education and takes millions in donations from voucher schemers, I'm thinking about kids like mine who won't have the support they need".
Glittering Generalities: The phrase 'public good' is a vague, emotionally positive term used as rhetorical flourish without specific policy substance — for example: public good and world class education.
Appeal to Prejudice
Loaded Language
Name Calling
Appeal to Fear
Black-and-White Fallacy
Glittering Generalities
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Green For Governorfrom 2026-07-18 to 2026-08-07spend $2,000–2,499200,000–249,999 impressions
For too long, rural Tennessee has been treated as a campaign talking point, only to be left behind when it comes to real investment and opportunity. Jerri is traveling to rural towns all across Tennessee on the campaign trail, showing up where politicians haven’t been in years. She’s listening to family farmers hurt by reckless tariffs, communities watching tech giants force data centers into their backyards without their input, and families fighting the GOP's plan to defund their only local public school under the guise of "choice." Rural Tennesseans deserve a leader who stays long after election day to fight for their future.
Early voting runs from July 17 through August 1, and Election Day is August 6. I hope to have your support.
Loaded Language: The phrase 'left behind' carries emotional weight implying abandonment and neglect, designed to trigger resentment — for example: left behind, reckless tariffs and force data centers into their backyards.
Appeal to Prejudice: Contrasting Jerri with unnamed politicians who haven't shown up implies she is uniquely authentic and connected to 'real' rural people, flattering in-group identity — for example: showing up where politicians haven't been in years
Name Calling: The GOP is labeled as having a 'plan to defund' schools, using a politically charged term to discredit the opposing party rather than engage with policy details — for example: the GOP's plan to defund their only local public school
Glittering Generalities: The closing appeal to 'fight for their future' uses vague, emotionally positive language without specifying concrete policy — for example: fight for their future
Loaded Language
Appeal to Prejudice
Name Calling
Glittering Generalities
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Green For Governorfrom 2026-07-16 to 2026-08-07spend $3,000–3,499300,000–349,999 impressions
I'm Jerri Green, and I'm running to be the next Governor of Tennessee.
I'm a mom of three, so I know the squeeze everyday people are feeling at the grocery store and the gas pump.
Because of that, I've fought for fair pay, free public transportation, and paid family leave as a City Councilwoman.
As your Governor, I'll bring that fight statewide. I'll end the grocery tax and put the tax back on corporations. I'll freeze the gas tax. And on Day ONE, I'll clear the childcare voucher waiting list.
People in our state deserve relief. I will deliver.
Early voting runs from July 17 through August 1, and Election Day is August 6. I hope to have your support.
Glittering Generalities: The phrase uses vague, emotionally positive language ('deserve relief') without specifying what relief means or how it will be achieved — for example: 'deserve relief'
Flag-Waving: Patriotic, religious, or in-group identity invoked to validate a position.
Slogans: Catchy phrase used to compress a complex position into an emotionally loaded shorthand.
Glittering Generalities
Flag-Waving
Slogans
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
An ad is on this page because its own "Paid for by" line is a campaign in this race; or it ran mostly in TN and names a nominee for governor — unless its sponsor is a campaign for some other office (a U.S. Senate or House campaign included), or it also names TN's Senate nominees, in which case it is on the Senate race's page. Ads from outside groups appear alongside the campaigns' own.
The candidates are the ones certified for the November ballot, from the source linked at the top. Governors are state offices, so there are no FEC filings behind this page: no money figures, and outside groups are placed on a side only when they are a campaign or a party committee.
Campaigns run one text as many separate ads. Identical text from the same sponsor is one card here, marked with its number of variants.
A technique is a specific manipulative move in the wording, found by our model and explained in one line. It is not a claim that the ad is false.
Claims are checked when a reader asks: press "Check this ad's claims" on a card. The check runs once and its result is shown to everyone afterwards. The ten ads with the most money behind them in each race are checked ahead of time.
Claim verdicts say what the cited sources say. A verdict that an ad is wrong or misleading is shown only when it cites an established fact-checker or an institutional record — Congress, a federal agency, a court — and its confidence is not low; a weaker one is not shown at all. Each verdict shows what it rests on and how confident it is. If we got one wrong, press Disagree: a verdict that readers dispute and no one defends comes down.
Video ads come from the campaigns' own YouTube channels; the transcript is analyzed. Meta ads are analyzed on their text; their video and images are not, yet.
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