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.
As of 2026-10-08. Counts are of distinct ads; the same text run many times is one ad.
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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| Paid for by | Ads | With at least one technique | Most common |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hatley for Tennessee | 23 | 19 of 23 (83%) | Glittering Generalities (16), Bandwagon Appeal (9), Appeal to Prejudice (8) |
| Marsha for Governor | 20 | 12 of 20 (60%) | Glittering Generalities (10), Appeal to Prejudice (5), Loaded Language (5) |
| Green For Governor | 12 | 9 of 12 (75%) | Glittering Generalities (9), Appeal to Prejudice (8), Black-and-White Fallacy (5) |
| Bring Reason Back | 3 | 0 of 3 | |
| Germantown Democratic Club | 2 | 0 of 2 | |
| Marsha Blackburn | 2 | 0 of 2 | |
| BEACON CENTER OF TENNESSEE | 1 | 0 of 1 | |
| Committee to Elect Yusuf Hakeem | 1 | 0 of 1 | |
| Friends of Carol Abney | 1 | 1 of 1 | Appeal to Fear (1), Appeal to Prejudice (1), Card Stacking (1) |
| INDEPENDENT VOTER PROJECT | 1 | 0 of 1 | |
| Jerri Green | 1 | 0 of 1 | |
| Pinkston for TN | 1 | 1 of 1 | Appeal to Prejudice (1), Black-and-White Fallacy (1), False Urgency (1) |
| Robert C. Vick for Governor | 1 | 1 of 1 | Glittering Generalities (1) |
| Rose for TN, Inc. | 1 | 1 of 1 | Flag-Waving (1), Glittering Generalities (1), Name Calling (1) |
| Tennessee Professional Fire Fighters Association | 1 | 0 of 1 | |
| The Redemption Project | 1 | 0 of 1 |
Not everyone would call every technique manipulation. Untick the ones you'd call ordinary persuasion and the count updates.
61% of the 72 ads here use at least one of the techniques ticked below (44 ads).
Leaving out the softer ones (loaded language, glittering generalities, slogans, exaggeration, repetition): 57% of ads.
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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.
72 ads, newest first. Video transcripts are shown as the model read them, without caption cues like [music].
Showing the 20 ads paid for by Marsha for Governor. Show all 72 ads
Marsha Blackburn has a plan to make Tennessee more affordable, helping first-time homebuyers and protecting seniors from new taxes and fees.
President Trump knows strength when he sees it. When the establishment pushed a state income tax, I led the fight to kill it. Then, I took on Big Tech to protect our kids online. As your governor, I’ll keep Tennessee SAFE, PROSPEROUS, and FREE.
Glittering Generalities: The sentence uses the vague, emotionally positive concept of 'strength' to implicitly praise Trump without providing any substantive or factual basis — for example: 'knows strength when he sees it'
Name Calling: The word 'establishment' is used as a derogatory label to frame opponents as an entrenched, out-of-touch elite rather than addressing their arguments — for example: the establishment and Big Tech.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “A true fighter for the people of Tennessee”
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Together with President Trump, we’ve cut crime in Memphis by 40%. As your governor, I’ll NEVER stop fighting to keep Tennessee safe.
Card Stacking: An extraordinary unverified statistical claim is presented as established fact without any sourcing, methodology, or qualifying language, omitting context that would allow evaluation — for example: 'cut crime in Memphis by 40%'
Appeal to Fear: The phrase implies Tennessee is under threat and requires constant fighting to remain safe, creating anxiety about safety to generate support — for example: keep Tennessee safe
Glittering Generalities: The vague promise to keep the state 'safe' is an emotionally positive but substanceless pledge with no specific policy content — for example: keep Tennessee safe
Marsha Blackburn worked with Trump to cut crime in Memphis by nearly 50% - as governor, she’ll never stop fighting to keep TN safe.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole: The claim of cutting crime 'by nearly 50%' is an extraordinary unverified statistic presented as fact without sourcing or qualification — for example: 'cut crime in Memphis by nearly 50%'
Glittering Generalities: The phrase 'never stop fighting to keep TN safe' uses vague, emotionally positive language about safety and fighting without specifying any concrete policy — for example: 'never stop fighting to keep TN safe'
Card Stacking: The sentence presents an unverified extraordinary crime reduction claim alongside an implied endorsement from Trump as if both are established facts, omitting any context, counterevidence, or sourcing — for example: 'worked with Trump to cut crime in Memphis by nearly 50%'
Dave Ramsey Endorses Marsha Blackburn for Governor! I'm honored to have the endorsement of my friend, Dave Ramsey. Together, we fought to keep a state income tax out of Tennessee and protect the conservative values that have made our state the envy of the nation. As your governor, I'll continue working every day to keep taxes low, defend our values, grow our economy, and ensure Tennessee remains the best place in America to live, work, and rear a family.
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: The phrase 'conservative values' is vague and emotionally positive, invoking a sense of shared identity without specifying what those values are — for example: conservative values, defend our values and best place in America to live, work, and rear a family.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole: Claiming Tennessee is 'the envy of the nation' is an overstatement that goes beyond what evidence supports — for example: the envy of the nation and the best place in America to live, work, and rear a family.
Trump Conservative Marsha Blackburn will ban the use of cell phones in our children's schools as Tennessee's next Governor
Marsha Blackburn will NEVER stop fighting to keep Tennessee safe.
Loaded Language: The word 'fighting' is emotionally charged, framing political activity as a heroic struggle, and 'NEVER' (capitalized for emphasis) amplifies the emotional intensity — for example: NEVER stop fighting
Glittering Generalities: The phrase 'keep Tennessee safe' is a vague, emotionally positive appeal with no specific policy content or substantive meaning — for example: keep Tennessee safe
I’ve spent my entire career fighting for conservative values. While I was leading the fight to stop a state income tax, one of my opponents was backing the Democrats pushing it. Tennessee deserves a proven conservative as governor. Not a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Appeal to Prejudice: The phrase 'proven conservative' invokes in-group identity to suggest only a specific ideological type is worthy of representing Tennessee — for example: proven conservative
Loaded Language: The idiom 'wolf in sheep's clothing' is a strongly charged phrase implying deception and hidden danger about an unnamed opponent — for example: wolf in sheep's clothing
Name Calling: Labeling an implied opponent as a 'wolf in sheep's clothing' is a derogatory characterization meant to discredit rather than address arguments — for example: wolf in sheep's clothing
Black-and-White Fallacy: The two sentences together present only two options: a 'proven conservative' or a deceptive imposter, leaving no room for other possibilities — for example: Tennessee deserves a proven conservative as governor. Not a wolf in sheep's clothing.
As we head into the final days of early voting and toward Election Day, I'm so grateful to have the support of conservative fighters like Riley Gaines - an inspiration to girls across America, a fellow Tennessean, and a friend. Vote early until this Saturday, August 1st!
False Urgency: The phrase 'final days of early voting' creates a sense of time pressure around the election — for example: 'final days'
Appeal to Prejudice: The term 'conservative fighters' invokes in-group identity to rally a specific political base around shared values and opposition — for example: 'conservative fighters'
Glittering Generalities: Describing Riley Gaines as 'an inspiration to girls across America' uses vague, emotionally positive language without substantive meaning — for example: 'an inspiration to girls across America'
From the first bell of the day to the last: no more posting, no more scrolling. Bell to bell, no cell.
Bell to bell, no cell. No excuses, no exceptions. Here in Tennessee schools, we’re going to learn.
The Tennessee General Assembly has taken significant steps to get our kids focused on learning in the classroom. As governor, I'll build on that by making sure cell phones stay out of the classroom: from the first bell to the last. Here in Tennessee schools, we're going to learn. Learn more about my plan here: https://marshablackburn.com/bell-to-bell-no-cell/
“Marsha has been an excellent defender of gun rights in the Senate. We're confident that she will continue to fight for constitutional rights in the Volunteer State!”
"A proven champion for the Second Amendment” “Consistently fought to protect our constitutional freedoms against every attempt to erode them"
Like President Trump, I don’t mess around when it comes to illegal aliens. My plan is simple: They can’t stay, and they’ve gotta pay.
Loaded Language: The term 'illegal aliens' is an emotionally charged label used to dehumanize undocumented immigrants rather than use neutral terminology — for example: 'illegal aliens'
Transfer: The speaker borrows authority and legitimacy from President Trump to validate their own stance, implying alignment with a powerful figure lends credibility — for example: 'Like President Trump'
Black-and-White Fallacy: The sentence presents a binary outcome with no alternatives or nuance — either they leave or they pay, with no middle ground considered — for example: 'They can't stay, and they've gotta pay'
John Rich is a powerhouse in country music and has always defended conservative values that make our state great. As governor, I’m honored to continue working with him to fight for our creators who keep the heart and soul of Tennessee alive.
Glittering Generalities: The phrase 'conservative values that make our state great' uses vague, emotionally positive language without specifying what those values are or how they contribute — for example: 'values that make our state great'
Loaded Language: The word 'powerhouse' is an emotionally charged superlative used to elevate the subject's status rather than convey a neutral factual description — for example: 'powerhouse in country music'
A staunch ally of President Trump. An unapologetic conservative. Always fighting for Tennessee values.
Loaded Language: The word 'staunch' is emotionally charged to convey unwavering loyalty as a virtue rather than a neutral descriptor — for example: staunch ally and unapologetic conservative.
Glittering Generalities: The phrase 'Tennessee values' is a vague, emotionally positive appeal to regional identity without specifying what those values are — for example: Tennessee values
Appeal to Prejudice: Invoking 'Tennessee values' implicitly flatters an in-group identity and implies the subject uniquely represents and defends that community — for example: fighting for Tennessee values
Unapologetic conservative. Staunch ally of President Trump. Fighting for Tennessee values.
Appeal to Prejudice: The word 'unapologetic' frames conservative identity as something that must be defended against outside pressure, reinforcing in-group solidarity — for example: Unapologetic conservative and Fighting for Tennessee values.
Transfer: Borrows legitimacy and authority from the sitting president to validate the subject's political position — for example: Staunch ally of President Trump
Glittering Generalities: The phrase 'Tennessee values' is vague and emotionally positive, invoking a sense of regional identity and virtue without specifying any concrete meaning — for example: Fighting for Tennessee values
Unapologetic conservative - and a staunch ally of President Trump - she's fighting for Tennessee values.
Glittering Generalities: The phrase 'Tennessee values' is a vague, emotionally positive term used as rhetorical flourish without specifying any concrete policy or principle — for example: 'fighting for Tennessee values'
Appeal to Prejudice: The framing of 'Tennessee values' combined with 'unapologetic conservative' invokes in-group identity, implying she represents the authentic interests of Tennesseans against an implied out-group — for example: 'fighting for Tennessee values'
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