Karl Knox Smithson is running for Tennessee governor as an independent candidate in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data reported by Tennessee Firefly.
Smithson lives in McMinnville in Warren County. He filed his independent gubernatorial petition on Feb. 19, 2026, and the Tennessee Secretary of State recorded his petition signatures as approved, according to a state filing document. Politics1 lists his occupation as "Homeless Community Activist & Frequent Candidate."
Candidate information
- Name: Karl Knox Smithson
- Party: Independent
- Office sought: Tennessee Governor
- Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
- Residence: McMinnville, Warren County, Tennessee
- Occupation: Listed by Politics1 as "Homeless Community Activist & Frequent Candidate"
- Campaign funds raised: $0, per available disclosures reported by Tennessee Firefly
Other candidates
The following candidates are also certified for the 2026 Tennessee governor's race, according to BallotReady: Charles Van Morgan (Independent), Dave Seeman (Independent), David Hatley (Independent), Dean Brewer (Independent), Eddie Lee Murphy (Independent), Jerri Green (Democratic), L. Webb Taylor (Independent), Lauren Pinkston (Independent), Marsha Blackburn (Republican), Misam Abidi (Independent), Ray Brown (Independent), Robert C. Vick (Independent), Victor L. Scoggin (Independent) and Wendell Jackson (Independent).
