The Tennessee Press Association (TPA) will hold a gubernatorial forum at Middle Tennessee State University at 7 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, in Murfreesboro. The forum is not open to the public, but it will be streamed live for the full program.
TPA invited the four major candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot:
TPA's announcement lists Green, Hatley and Pinkston as confirmed. It does not say whether Blackburn has confirmed.
Gould said members of the press have a duty and public service to inform Tennesseans about government and public affairs. TPA calls this year's race the first gubernatorial election in eight years and describes the forum as the only one for this election that is not tied to a campaign.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Rutherford County voters can find early voting dates, hours and locations in the early voting guide, Election Day polling places in the vote center guide, and an explanation of the three ballot questions in the guide to the Tennessee constitutional amendments. Voters in Smyrna, La Vergne and Eagleville also have local races, covered in the municipal elections guide. For the host campus, see the MTSU guide.
The Tennessee Press Association's forum begins at 7 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026.
No. TPA says the forum is not open to the public.
It will be streamed live by an MTSU student video team and by TPA member newspapers across Tennessee.
Republican Marsha Blackburn, Democrat Jerri Green and independents David Hatley and Lauren Pinkston. TPA lists Green, Hatley and Pinkston as confirmed.
The Tennessee Press Association. Its executive director, Mark Millsap, is the listed contact.
Sources: Tennessee Press Association: TPA to hold gubernatorial forum at Middle Tennessee State University.
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