Lauren Pinkston
Candidate · Governor · Tennessee
Independent · Challenger—
No open market
Running for
OfficeGovernor
SeatTennessee, statewide
AgainstMarsha Blackburn (R)
ElectionNov 3, 2026 · 7 days
StandingChallenger
BallotDirectory listing
Links
Websitepinkstonfortn.com ↗
Running statewide
Tennessee · Governor
Roster checked Sep 29, 2026. Listed as: College Professor & Anti-Human Trafficking Activist.
The campaign · in their wordspinkstonfortn.com · read Oct 19, 2026 ↗
Plank 1 · campaign site
End the grocery tax
“Closing affiliate business tax loopholes and keeping shoppers in our 40+ border counties will cover the cost of this relief without leaving a hole in our state budget.”
Plank 2 · campaign site
Add 50,000 daycare and preschool slots by 2030
“Redirect private school voucher dollars into an early education fund for childhood centers near major employers so young parents can stay in the workforce.”
Plank 3 · campaign site
Bring down your utility bill
“Modernize the grid, expand nuclear and renewable capacity, protect TVA from privatization, and clear the red tape blocking affordable energy projects.”
Page titles and first lines from the campaign's own site, unedited. 286 pages read.
Where They Stand
Statement estimateNo votes yet, so this is read from the campaign’s own words, on the same scale as a member’s record.
Overall
from 9 statements
L-lean
Issue · by emphasisLeftCenterRightReadTalks about
Odds over time · Kalshi daily closes
Blackburn (R) — 93%Green (D) — 7%
The race · Tennessee Governor · 7 days out
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · challenger · Right 30 on the record93%Lauren PinkstonIndependent · challenger · L-lean 14 from statements—3014
44 points apart · hollow = estimate, solid = record
In their own words
“Lauren will invest in the schools nearly a million Tennessee students actually attend.”
“Lauren will protect public school funding and redirect that money to early childhood education.”
“Tennessee should diversify public school options to include more Montessori, Nature, and STEAM schools.”
On the ballot with them · Tennessee, Nov 3, 2026
TN Senate
Bill Hagerty (R) · 97%
vs. Marquita Bradshaw (D) · 4%
TN-1
Diana Harshbarger (R) · 97%
vs. Kristi Burke (D) · 3%
TN-2
Tim Burchett (R) · 96%
vs. Michaela Barnett (D) · 5%
TN-3
Chuck Fleischmann (R) · 95%
vs. Anna Golladay (D) · 4%
TN-4
Scott DesJarlais (R) · 97%
vs. Victoria Broderick (D) · 1%
TN-5 · open seat
Charlie Hatcher (R) · 88%
vs. Chaz Molder (D) · 11%
Statement estimate · odds are a market close, not a poll
Lauren Pinkston
Candidate · Governor · Tennessee
Independent · Challenger—
No open market
—
7
Days to Nov 3
vs. Blackburn (R)
The campaign · in their wordsRead Oct 19, 2026 ↗
“Reason is Back on the Table”
Plank 1
End the grocery tax
“Closing affiliate business tax loopholes and keeping shoppers in our 40+ border counties will cover the cost of this relief without leaving a hole in our state budget.”
Plank 2
Add 50,000 daycare and preschool slots by 2030
“Redirect private school voucher dollars into an early education fund for childhood centers near major employers so young parents can stay in the workforce.”
Plank 3
Bring down your utility bill
“Modernize the grid, expand nuclear and renewable capacity, protect TVA from privatization, and clear the red tape blocking affordable energy projects.”
Page titles and first lines from the campaign's site, unedited · pinkstonfortn.com
Where They Stand
EstimateNo votes yet, so this is read from the campaign’s own words.
Issue · by emphasisRead · talks about
EducationLeft 28
Left, 28 points from center
Budget and taxesMixed
Mixed
Crime and justiceLeft 25
Left, 25 points from center
GunsMixed
Mixed
Housing and techL-lean 21
L-lean, 21 points from center
Energy and landL-lean 18
L-lean, 18 points from center
Federal powerRight 28
Right, 28 points from center
Civil rightsRt-lean 18
Rt-lean, 18 points from center
Health careL-lean 18
L-lean, 18 points from center
ImmigrationMixed
Mixed
TradeLeft 28
Left, 28 points from center
Odds over time · Kalshi
Blackburn 93%Green 7%
The race · TN Governor · 7 days out
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · challenger · Right 30 on the record93%Lauren PinkstonIndependent · challenger · L-lean 14 from statements—3014
Hollow = estimate from statements · solid = voting record
In their own words
“Lauren will invest in the schools nearly a million Tennessee students actually attend.”
“Lauren will protect public school funding and redirect that money to early childhood education.”
“Tennessee should diversify public school options to include more Montessori, Nature, and STEAM schools.”
On the ballot with them · Tennessee
TN SenateHagerty (R) vs. Bradshaw (D)97% · 4%TN-1Harshbarger (R) vs. Burke (D)97% · 3%TN-2Burchett (R) vs. Barnett (D)96% · 5%TN-3Fleischmann (R) vs. Golladay (D)95% · 4%TN-4DesJarlais (R) vs. Broderick (D)97% · 1%TN-5 · open seatHatcher (R) vs. Molder (D)88% · 11%
All 11 Tennessee races →Statement estimate · odds are a market close, not a poll