Memphis City Council member Jerri Green is running for Tennessee governor as the Democratic nominee in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

Green won the Democratic primary on Aug. 6, 2026, with 69.2% of the vote, defeating four other candidates, according to WSMV. She faces Republican nominee Marsha Blackburn and independent candidates Charles Van Morgan, Dave Seeman, David Hatley, Dean Brewer, Eddie Lee Murphy, Karl Knox Smithson, L. Webb Taylor, Lauren Pinkston, Misam Abidi, Ray Brown, Robert C. Vick, Victor L. Scoggin and Wendell Jackson, according to BallotReady.

Candidate information

  • Party: Democratic
  • Residence: Memphis, Tennessee
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in English and political science, University of Tennessee (1999); law degree, Georgetown University (2003)
  • Family: Married to Patrick; three children: Beau, Vivienne and Wilder, according to Green's campaign website

Experience and public service

Green was elected to the Memphis City Council on Nov. 16, 2023, according to the city council's website. She serves as chairwoman of the Economic Development, Tourism & Technology Committee and vice-chair of the Transportation Committee. She also serves as the council's liaison for Memphis River Parks Partnership and the Urban Art Commission.

According to BallotReady, Green has served as chief public defender at the Shelby County Public Defender's office since 2026. She previously served as senior policy advisor at Shelby County Government from 2021 to 2024 and as interim executive director at the Community Legal Center from 2016 to 2021. Earlier, she worked as an assistant public defender at the Metropolitan Public Defender's office from 2003 to 2006.

Green also served as deputy chief of staff for Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, according to the Memphis City Council website. She served as past president of the Democratic Women of Shelby County and as statewide election lead for the Tennessee Moms Demand Action chapter.

The Memphis Business Journal named Green a Superwoman in Business in 2023. She was selected as a fellow for the Aspen Institute's Memphis Workforce Leadership Academy, according to the city council website.

Her resume extends beyond government. Green said on her campaign website that she started Shelby County's first free gun lock-by-mail program, which she said was later adopted by the state. She also said she pioneered an at-home HIV test program and secured funding for Black midwives. Green said she held board positions with Habitat for Humanity of Memphis, Girls Inc. of Memphis, the Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County, and the Overton Shell.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Green's campaign platform and her responses on BallotReady. All statements reflect the candidate's own claims.

Healthcare: Green said she would expand Medicaid to cover more working families and keep rural hospitals open. She said she would legalize marijuana medicinally and recreationally. She proposed using $10 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funding to buy and erase predatory debt for more than 100,000 Tennesseans.

Education: Green said she would raise teacher pay, invest in universal pre-K and special education, and expand access to school counselors and nurses. She proposed using $50 million in TANF funding to clear the childcare waitlist. She also said she would set up a special education equity fund and waive GED testing fees statewide.

Gun safety: Green said she supports universal background checks, red flag laws and free gun locks and safe storage education statewide. She said she would close domestic violence loopholes and re-implement training and testing requirements for gun ownership, including concealed carry permits.

Environment and energy: Green said she would sign an executive order affirming that the Tennessee Valley Authority must remain a public utility. She said she supports investing in renewable energy and enforcing clean air and water standards.

Immigration: Green said she would sign an executive order banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement from entering state buildings. She said she would allocate state funds for legal representation for immigrants facing deportation.

Endorsements

The following endorsements are reported by BallotReady:

  • AFL-CIO
  • The Tennessee Report
  • Tennessee Women's Political Caucus

The general election is Nov. 3, 2026. Williamson County residents can find polling and ballot information through the Williamson County Election Commission.