2022 Tennessee gubernatorial election

The 2022 Tennessee gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Tennessee, alongside other state and local elections. Incumbent Republican Governor Bill Lee was re-elected to a second term with 64.9% of the vote, defeating his Democratic challenger Jason Martin. Lee improved on his performance from 2018.

The primary elections took place on August 4, 2022, with Lee and Martin winning their respective parties' nominations.

During the general election, Lee flipped reliably Democratic Haywood County, home to Brownsville. It is one of only two remaining counties in Tennessee, along with Shelby County, with a majority African-American population. Haywood County has not voted Republican on a presidential level since 1972. Martin won only Shelby and Davidson counties. This was the first time in state history that Davidson County did not vote for the winner in a gubernatorial re-election since Tennessee began allowing governors to serve for two consecutive terms.

Voter turnout for the 2022 midterm elections in Tennessee was the lowest it has been in nearly a decade, with only 38.6% of Tennessee's registered voters turning out. This turnout was far below the 2020 presidential election in Tennessee, which saw a turnout of 69.3%. The last time turnout was this low in Tennessee was in the 2014 midterm elections. Tennessee's neighboring state Alabama saw a significant drop in voter turnout as well.

Bill Lee was sworn in for his second term on January 21, 2023.

Nominee

 * Bill Lee, incumbent governor

Disqualified

 * Curtis Carney, business owner
 * Tyler Hagerman
 * Patricia Morrison

Declined

 * Andy Ogles, Mayor of Maury County (successfully ran for U.S. House)

Nominee

 * Jason Martin, pulmonologist and critical care specialist at Sumner Regional Medical Center and former Meharry Medical College professor

Eliminated in primary

 * Carnita Atwater, leader of New Chicago Community Development Corporation in Northern Memphis
 * J. B. Smiley Jr., Memphis city councilor

Withdrew

 * Casey Nicholson, minister

Declined

 * Gloria Johnson, state representative (endorsed Jason Martin)

Results
[[File:2022 Tennessee gubernatorial Democratic primary.svg|thumb|250px|Results by county: {{legend|#7996e2|Martin}}

{{legend|#bdd3ff|30–40%}}

{{legend|#a5b0ff|40–50%}}

{{legend|#7996e2|50–60%}}

{{legend|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend|#73D873|Smiley}}

{{legend|#D7F4D7|30–40%}}

{{legend|#AFE9AF|40–50%}}

{{legend|#73D873|50–60%}}

{{legend|#42CA42|60–70%}} {{legend|#ff9955|Atwater}}

{{legend|#ffcca9|30–40%}} ]]

Declared

 * Constance Every, nonprofit founder
 * John Gentry, accountant
 * Basil Marceaux, businessman and perennial candidate
 * Alfred O'Neil
 * Deborah Rouse, candidate for President of the United States in 2020
 * Michael Scantland, sales manager
 * Rick Tyler, perennial candidate (also ran for U.S. House)
 * Charles Van Morgan, small business owner

Disqualified

 * Lemichael DaShaun-Wilson
 * Hosie Holomon III
 * Wendell Jackson
 * Jake Johns

Polling

 * Bill Lee vs. generic opponent

By county

 * Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
 * Haywood (largest city: Brownsville)