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Governor of Tennessee

Lauren Pinkston

CandidateIndependent

Race
Governor of Tennessee
Election
2026-11-03
Opponents
Marsha Blackburn (R); Jerri Green (D); David Hatley (Independent); Misam Abidi (Independent); Dean Brewer (Independent); Ray Brown (Independent); Wendell Jackson (Independent); Charles Van Morgan (Independent); Eddie Lee Murphy (Independent); Victor L. Scoggin (Independent); Dave Seeman (Independent); Karl Knox Smithson (Independent); L. Webb Taylor (Independent); Robert C. Vick (Independent)
Research
Basic

Party linenone

No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.

Said vs. did0 statements · 0 votes

Lauren Pinkston is an independent candidate for governor from Columbia and a former assistant professor at Lipscomb University. She began as a public school teacher, holds a doctorate from Clemson University and has started businesses employing survivors of human trafficking; this is her first campaign.[1]

On the ballotGovernor

2026-11-03

Marsha Blackburn Rchallenger
Jerri Green Dchallenger
David Hatley Independentchallenger
Lauren Pinkston Independentchallenger
Misam Abidi Independentchallenger
Dean Brewer Independentchallenger
Ray Brown Independentchallenger
Wendell Jackson Independentchallenger
Charles Van Morgan Independentchallenger
Eddie Lee Murphy Independentchallenger
Victor L. Scoggin Independentchallenger
Dave Seeman Independentchallenger
Karl Knox Smithson Independentchallenger
L. Webb Taylor Independentchallenger
Robert C. Vick Independentchallenger

Independent; qualified by petition.

Biography

Lauren Pinkston is an independent candidate for governor from Columbia and a former assistant professor at Lipscomb University. She began as a public school teacher, holds a doctorate from Clemson University and has started businesses employing survivors of human trafficking; this is her first campaign.[1]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Pinkston describes herself as a seventh-generation Tennessean who grew up in Stantonville and is the mother of four.[1] She graduated from McNairy Central High School and earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Freed-Hardeman University in 2009.[1][2]

She taught fourth grade in Memphis from 2009 to 2010 and in Greenwood, South Carolina, from 2010 to 2012, then earned a doctorate from Clemson University in 2019.[1][2] From 2020 to 2023 she was an assistant professor of business as mission at Lipscomb University.[1] Ballotpedia lists business development among her career experience.[2]

Pinkston spent years in Thailand and Laos and started businesses employing survivors of human trafficking.[1] She filed to run for governor as an independent on February 13, 2026.[1]

In their own words

Priorities

  • Agriculture and education, including support for Tennessee farmers, limiting data and benchmark tests in teaching, and workforce development.[3][4]
  • Repealing Tennessee's 4% state grocery tax, which she says the state is 'perfectly capable' of doing.[5]

Statements, quoted without a stance

  • Broad tariffs on imported goods
    “We live in a modern society, and so while we can have Tennessee first and America first policies, we don’t make those policies in a vacuum”[3]

    Speaking about farmers affected by federal tariffs, per the Tennessee Lookout, Nov. 2025

  • Protect legal access to abortion
    “Ultimately, health care decisions should lie with the patient and the doctor, and the issues of morality need to have social supports around them so we can save as many lives as possible in this state”[5]

    Speaking to the Tennessee Lookout, Sept. 2026; the article also reports she 'believes all life is sacred' and has criticized the state's abortion ban

Campaign moneyNo FEC filing summary matched — state candidates file with their state, not the FEC.

Profile: /people/lauren-pinkston

Compare all 15 candidates side by side ›

Sources cited in this profile

  1. 1.Lauren Pinkston · The Tennessee Firefly News report
  2. 2.Lauren Pinkston - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-19 Reference
  3. 3.Former Lipscomb University professor launches bid for Tennessee governor · Tennessee Lookout · 2025-11-21 News report
  4. 4.An independent running for Tennessee governor wants to give people a third option · Lebanon Democrat (Tribune News Service) · 2026-10-19 News report
  5. 5.Spoilers or contenders? Two independent candidates for TN governor try to shake up the race · Tennessee Lookout · 2026-09-15 News report