Two frontrunners rose to the top of the gubernatorial Aug. 6 primary, both spending much of Election Day in Memphis.
Democratic frontrunner Jerri Green, Memphis councilmember, won the party's nomination, with an overwhelming 63.6% of the vote. Though, the Democratic nominee is still seen as an underdog for the upcoming November election. Tennessee hasn't had a Democratic Governor since former Gov. Phil Bredesen left office in 2011.
Green celebrated Aug. 6 after election results rolled in at a watch party at Halloran Centre for Performing Arts & Education, 225 S. Main St., in Downtown Memphis.
Her upcoming challenger, Republican favorite and sitting U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, started her day at a Shelby County GOP breakfast in Memphis.
Blackburn was declared the winner of the Republican nomination, with 60.3% of the vote in Shelby County as of 11 p.m. Aug. 6 Blackburn has been an adamant supporter and ally of President Donald Trump and was a staunch supporter of the state's redistricting push ahead of this year's primaries.
She announced her candidacy in August 2025 and has been a U.S. Senator since 2019. Prior, she served as a U.S. Representative, representing Tennessee's District 7 from 2003 to 2019.
The 74-year-old Blackburn beat out State Representative Monty Fritts and U.S. Congressman John Rose, who earned 12.4% and 26.8% of the vote, respectively as of 11 p.m. in Shelby County.
Green and Blackburn's nominations also mean that, come November, Tennessee will make history by electing its first female Governor.
Green gets start in government in Memphis
Green, 48, serves as a Memphis City Council member and has been leading the Shelby County Public Defender's Office since January.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris appointed Green to the interim role with the Public Defender's Office.
Harris introduced Green ahead of her acceptance speech during a watch party event at Halloran Centre for Performing Arts & Education, located at 225 S. Main St., in Downtown Memphis.
"What we're witnessing tonight is a divided Republican party," Harris said around 8:30 p.m during the watch party.
Harris's comments came regarding the statewide results, which saw the GOP nominees in a relatively close race, with Blackburn receiving 43.5% of the statewide vote compared to 33.0% and 23.5% for Rose and Frits, respectively, as of 11 p.m. Aug. 6.
Green beat out fellow Memphis resident Carnita Atwater, along with Tim Cyr, Ada "Ditch" Kurtz and Kevin lee McCants for the nomination.
In Shelby County, Atwater received 21.4% of the votes with Cyr netting 3.5% and Kurtz and McCants at 2.9% and 7.9%, respectively.
During her acceptance speech, Green highlighted a need to continue speaking directly with residents and visiting the entire state, not just select cities or counties.
"Your Governor would see you and fight for you every single day," she said. "You should be proud we build a statewide movement."
Neil Strebig is a journalist with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at neil.strebig@commercialappeal.com, 901-426-0679
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Green, Blackburn dominate Shelby County gubernatorial votes
