(The Center Square) – More than 1 million people cast their ballots early in Tennessee through Tuesday, surpassing 2022 totals by 48.04%, according to the secretary of state's office.
Early voting ends Thursday. Election Day is Tuesday.
Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Democrat Jerri Green, and 13 independent candidates are in the gubernatorial race. The independents are Misam Abidi, Dean Brewer, Ray Brown, David Hatley, Wendell Jackson, Charles Van Morgan, Eddie Lee Murphy, Lauren Pinkston, Victor L. Scoggin, Dave Seeman, Karl Knox Smithson, L. Webb Taylor and Robert C. Vick.
Green said in Tuesday's debate sponsored by the Tennessee Press Association that she has made more than 250 campaign stops.
"Across this state, what I've seen is people who love Tennessee and love democracy," Green said. "And they're ready to have someone fight for it."
Blackburn did not attend a Tuesday night debate featuring Green, Hatley and Pinkston sponsored by the Tennessee Press Association. The debate featured candidates polling at 1% or higher.
Republicans joined Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton on his "American Dream Lives in Tennessee" bus tour to encourage people to vote.
The Center Square asked Blackburn's campaign treasurer, former Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, about the campaign during an appearance in Ooltewah.
"You look across the country and it's a challenging environment," Jacobs said. "But one thing I think is important about this election for people to keep in mind is Tennessee is already one of the best states in the country and coming out of this election with Marsha Blackburn as governor with a strong House and strong Senate, we will be the state that everyone looks to and says, 'We want to be more like Tennessee.'"
First-term Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty is facing Democrat Marquita Bradshaw in his reelection bid. Eight independent candidates will also be on the general election ballot for the post.
All nine seats for the U.S. House of Representatives are on the ballot, but voters in Memphis and Shelby County could be in a different district. The General Assembly redrew the state's congressional district lines during a special session held in May.
The map carves up the 9th Congressional District represented by U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Memphis, the only Democrat in Tennessee's congressional delegation. The new map places Memphis and Shelby into three congressional districts: 5th, 8th and 9th.
Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor and Democratic state Rep. Justin Pearson are vying for the newly-drawn 9th District. U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democrat, holds the seat but chose not to run again.
Pearson and Taylor have not met in a debate, but have exchanged barbs on social media in competing press releases.
Pearson criticized a report from the Nashville Scene that Taylor sent nude pictures of himself to multiple women.
Taylor characterized it as a "youthful indiscretion" in media reports.
"Tennessee deserves leaders who respect women – not those who sexually harass, expose their genitalia, or take advantage of them," Pearson said in a statement. "This disgusting behavior is unbecoming of any elected official."
Taylor said Tennessee voters don't care about a personal mistake he made several years ago.
"Tennessee voters care about having a competent legislator, not a chaotic democratic socialist like my opponent, who can help their families and that is why they will choose competence over chaos November 3," Taylor said in a text message to The Center Square. "I am focused on what I've been focused on since the beginning of this race, sharing with Tennessee families how I plan to lower the cost of living by slashing wasteful Washington spending, unleashing American energy and cutting unneccesary regulations on farmers and small businesses."
Pearson was initially banned from two Memphis City Council meetings by Council Chairwoman Jana Swearingen-Washington. Pearson used a megaphone to speak during a meeting on a data center moratorium for the city. Swearngen-Washington called Pearson's behavior "disruptive" and a violation of the council's Rules of Decorum. A judge lifted the ban.
