Ray Brown, an electrician from Oliver Springs, is running as an independent for Tennessee governor in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

Brown, whose full name is Edgar Ray Brown, filed his independent candidacy petition with the Tennessee Secretary of State on Jan. 14, 2026, according to Tennessee Firefly. That made him the earliest filer among the 13 independent gubernatorial candidates, the outlet reported. Brown is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady.

The race also includes Marsha Blackburn (Republican), Jerri Green (Democratic) and 12 other independent candidates: Charles Van Morgan, Dave Seeman, David Hatley, Dean Brewer, Eddie Lee Murphy, Karl Knox Smithson, L. Webb Taylor, Lauren Pinkston, Misam Abidi, Robert C. Vick, Victor L. Scoggin and Wendell Jackson.

Candidate information

According to state records and BallotReady:

  • Full name: Edgar Ray Brown
  • Party: Independent
  • Residence: Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee
  • Occupation: Electrician
  • Education: Associate's in science, Roane State Community College (2005); associate's in advanced materials technology, Roane State Community College (2011); associate's in electrical and electronics engineering, Pellissippi State Community College (2023)

Experience

Brown has worked as an electrician at the Y-12 National Security Complex since 2018, according to BallotReady. He previously worked as an intelligence specialist at Delta 21 from 2011 to 2026, a software tech at Sitel from 2010 to 2011 and an assistant store manager at K-Va-T from 2008 to 2010.

He has no prior elected office.

On the issues

Brown's public policy positions are limited in available candidate materials. In a candidate questionnaire published by Daughter of Tennessee, Brown said fighting corruption in state government is his central priority.

"I have the balls to stand up against corruption within both legislative and judicial system," Brown said in his questionnaire response.

Brown did not provide detailed policy proposals, implementation plans or funding specifics in the questionnaire or other available materials.

Editor's note: Issue positions are drawn from Brown's responses to the Daughter of Tennessee independent voter guide questionnaire. This profile will be updated as more information becomes available.