– Response received This is the list of certified gubernatorial candidates by the Tennessee Secretary of State (alphabetical order) and contacted by TNVET. All candidates, that had viable email addresses, were contacted on May 26, 2026. Their responses to the questions are listed with date received. Only the responses to the questions are published. If the response to a question had multiple paragrahs, these were combine into one for space saving.
Misam Abidi – Response received May 30, 2026; posted May 31
Question 1: Are you a military veteran? No, I am not a military veteran.
I have not personally served in the armed forces, and I will never pretend to possess the firsthand experience of those who have. However, I deeply respect the sacrifices made by our service members and their families. Because I am not a veteran, I believe it is even more important that veteran voices have a permanent seat at the table. My administration would actively seek veteran leadership and input in shaping policy so that decisions affecting veterans are informed by those who have lived those experiences.
Question 2: Property Tax Reimbursement for 100% Disabled Veterans and Surviving Spouses. Yes, I support the proposed change to Tennessee’s reimbursement law and would work to identify and secure the funding necessary to implement it.
If a veteran has become permanently and totally disabled in service to our nation, the conversation should not begin with what Tennessee can save. It should begin with what Tennessee owes. I believe government should err on the side of honoring commitments madeto those who have sacrificed the most. If current calculations are reducing benefits in a way that is inconsistent with the intent of the law, those inequities should be corrected. I would also direct a broader review of veteran-related benefits and tax policies to determine where Tennessee can do more. My goal is not merely to fix a formula. My goal is to make Tennessee the benchmark other states aspire to become.
Question 3: Veteran Lottery. Yes, I would support efforts to create sustainable, dedicated funding streams for veteran services and programs, including serious consideration of the proposed Veteran Lottery. What matters most to me is not the specific mechanism, but the outcome. Veterans deserve reliable resources for mental health services, emergency assistance, outreach programs, training opportunities, and support systems that improve quality of life. I am also interested in exploring broader and more innovative funding solutions, including elements of my proposed Tennessee Dividend Fund and other long-term wealth-building initiatives that can help Tennessee invest in veterans without placing additional burdens on taxpayers. Veteran support should not be viewed as an expense. It should be viewed as an investment in people who have already invested so much in all of us.
Question 4: Medical Cannabis. Yes, I support establishing a comprehensive, state-regulated medical cannabis program in Tennessee.
However, I also believe we should be willing to move even faster where possible. If Tennessee can create a pathway that allows veterans suffering from PTSD, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and other service-related conditions to access physician-supervised medical cannabis sooner than a broader statewide program can be implemented, then I believe we should seriously pursue that option while continuing to work toward statewide access. More importantly, I believe the conversation should be larger than medical cannabis alone. My focus is healing. Veterans deserve access to every legitimate, evidence-based treatment option available to help them recover, heal, and reclaim their lives. Medical cannabis should be one of those options. I also support expanded research and responsible evaluation of emerging therapies, including treatments such as Ibogaine and other promising approaches that may offer meaningful recovery opportunities for individuals who have not found success through traditional methods. My position is simple: when someone has sacrificed for this country and is suffering, our first question should not be whether a treatment fits within old assumptions. Our first question should be whether it can help that person heal. Tennessee should become a national leader in recovery, innovation, and compassionate healthcare—not a state that forces veterans to leave in search of treatment options available elsewhere.
Carnita Atwater
Marsha Blackburn
Dean Brewer – no contact info
Ray Brown – no contact info
Tim Cyr – website contact page doesn’t work
Monty Fritts – Response received Jun 3, 2026; posted Jun 4
Question 1: Are you a military veteran? If so, which service and military specialty/specialties did you serve in? I am a US Army veteran. I re-enlisted with TNARNG in July 2003 to support OIF. I re-enlisted as a 92A, reverting back to 19D as a Troop Sgt for Squadron Convoy Security and PSD Team in Iraq. I trained and led this group that expanded to 24 soldiers of varying MOS. We reportedly conducted approximately 270 patrols in theatre. We awarded Purple Hearts, lost one soldier (SSG Alfred Barton Siler), and awarded various awards to the troops.
Question 2. Property Tax Reimbursement for 100% disabled veterans/surviving spouses.
Yes. I think 100% disabled veterans should receive property tax relief without limiting the value of the home. I think an elimination of “corporate welfare” in the TN budget enables measures like this. In this case, the veteran has served and sacrificed with the stripes of his/ her own body. A first step could be a simple adjustment upward of the $175 k toward market value. My end goal would not limit to assessed or purchased value. In the 2026-27 budget proposal amendment, the Nashville and Knoxville Zoo non-profits were awarded $25m. This is an example of corporate welfare I intend to address that would enable funding improved 100% disabled property tax benefits. I have also carried legislation to reform property tax in TN. We currently tax against unrealized capital gains with assessments every 4-5 years. Removing the assessment and relying upon purchase cost (at some point where the process is reformed) will help all Tennesseans including veterans. Lastly, my bill would prevent eviction due to tax delinquency. I intend to pursue both as Governor.
Question 3. Veteran Lottery. Yes. While I personally oppose the lottery in all forms this would allow the people’s voice. I think adding the lottery to fund what we already should support within current budget is an escape we should not need to give the politicians. We have a priority problem rather than a funding problem in TN. I hope to correct this without need for additional lottery derived dollars.
Question 4. Medical Cannabis. Immediately will perhaps place our veterans at risk. My approach, on record, is more measured. I will establish a working group to craft policy that enables Tennesseans access to natural cannabis… epileptics, cancer patients and veterans should have that liberty. I want to keep Big Pharma, the pothead lobby, as well as taxation overreach out of the equation. That is the need for the working group. Big Pharma and pothead lobby will press for synthetic or GMO access to increase addictiveness IMO. Bureaucrats will desire steep tax to allow medical access.
Jerri Green
David Hatley
Wendel Jackson – no contact info
Adam Kurtz
Kevin McCants – contact info does not work
Charles Morgan – no contact info
Eddie Lee Murphy – no contact info
Lauren Pinkston
John Rose
Victor Scoggin
Dave Seeman
Karl Smithson – no contact info
Webb Taylor – no contact info