ELECTIONS 2026

Tennessee voters will choose a governor, a senator, U.S. House representatives and state lawmakers — and decide on three constitutional amendments this November.

Confused? We’ve got you covered.

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While the state is likely to elect its first female governor this fall, the two leading candidates represent vastly different perspectives on energy and environmental priorities.

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Tennessee could elect its first female governor next month as U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, the Republican nominee, squares off against Democrat Jerri Green, a member of the Memphis City Council who is also Shelby County’s interim Chief Public Defender.

When it comes to their priorities around energy and the environment, the two are a study in contrasts, reports environmental reporter Caroline Eggers.

Blackburn has said she’ll work to expand nuclear power in Tennessee — and that doing so can support AI data centers. In Congress, she’s voted to undercut things like pollution control and clean energy, and has a lifetime voting score of just 3% on environmental issues with the advocacy group League of Conservation Voters.

“I fully support the use of fossil fuels,” Blackburn told WPLN in a written statement.

Her Democratic opponent, Jerri Green, says she’d push for a statewide moratorium on data centers, and also plans to invest in renewable energy and enforce clean air and water regulations in the communities that face the most industrial pollution.

“Tennesseans deserve a governor who values clean air, safe water, and protecting our land for the next generation, rather than rubber-stamping corporate pollution for short-term profit,” Green told WPLN.

Early voting is open until Thursday, October 29. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.

Tap link in bio for the full story.

Photos Marianna Bacallao
Producer: Daniel Potter
Editor: Megan Jones

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Tennessee could elect its first female governor next month as U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, the Republican nominee, squares off against Democrat Jerri Green, a member of the Memphis City Council who is also Shelby County’s interim Chief Public Defender.

When it comes to their priorities around energy and the environment, the two are a study in contrasts, reports environmental reporter Caroline Eggers.

Blackburn has said she’ll work to expand nuclear power in Tennessee — and that doing so can support AI data centers. In Congress, she’s voted to undercut things like pollution control and clean energy, and has a lifetime voting score of just 3% on environmental issues with the advocacy group League of Conservation Voters.

“I fully support the use of fossil fuels,” Blackburn told WPLN in a written statement.

Her Democratic opponent, Jerri Green, says she’d push for a statewide moratorium on data centers, and also plans to invest in renewable energy and enforce clean air and water regulations in the communities that face the most industrial pollution.

“Tennesseans deserve a governor who values clean air, safe water, and protecting our land for the next generation, rather than rubber-stamping corporate pollution for short-term profit,” Green told WPLN.

Early voting is open until Thursday, October 29. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.

Tap link in bio for the full story.

Photos Marianna Bacallao
Producer: Daniel Potter
Editor: Megan Jones

Early voting notable quotables!

Election coverage is top of mind this week as we focus on this peak midterm election season. From President Donald Trump’s comments stumping in Clarksville, to takes from your neighbors about how their candidate or party has changed.

Tap link in bio to dive our election coverage including a voting guide and subscribe to the NashVillager newsletter (5 days a week) for local stories, reporting, ticket giveaways and more.

Producer: Catherine Sweeney
Editor: Megan Jones

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I wanna call you on your bird phone. Ring ring — it`s our new podcast Calls from the Wild — now available on the NPR app and NPR One, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

On the “Calls from the Wild” podcast, you`ll hear what kudzu, bears, mussels and bats have to tell us about our changing environment. Guests include former NYT columnist Margaret Renkl and pubic radio reporters from throughout our region. Your narrator is John Boyle.

It`s easy listening. And after you listen you are invited to join our project on iNaturalist (inaturalistorg). It covers Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia and roaming in the region is encouraged. It`s easy, it`s free, and it`s a great way to get into the habit of noticing and recording the birds, plants, insects and animals around you. And when you contribute — congratulations — you made some science!

Tap link in bio to get to the podcast.

Calls from the Wild is a collaboration of Nashville Public Radio and the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom. (@porchlightnews)

Video producer: Megan Jones
Editor: Andrew Henderson

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I wanna call you on your bird phone. Ring ring — it's our new podcast Calls from the Wild — now available on the NPR app and NPR One, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

On the “Calls from the Wild” podcast, you'll hear what kudzu, bears, mussels and bats have to tell us about our changing environment. Guests include former NYT columnist Margaret Renkl and pubic radio reporters from throughout our region. Your narrator is John Boyle.

It's easy listening. And after you listen you are invited to join our project on iNaturalist (inaturalistorg). It covers Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia and roaming in the region is encouraged. It's easy, it's free, and it's a great way to get into the habit of noticing and recording the birds, plants, insects and animals around you. And when you contribute — congratulations — you made some science!

Tap link in bio to get to the podcast.

Calls from the Wild is a collaboration of Nashville Public Radio and the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom. (@porchlightnews)

Video producer: Megan Jones
Editor: Andrew Henderson

Early voting in Tennessee starts Oct. 14.

While voters think toward the future, The Backstory from Nashville Public Radio was checking out the past for some of the most interesting – and surprising -- chapters in our state’s election history.

You can listen on the NashVillager podcast with host Nina Cardona (@ninacardonawpln) on the way to the polls or read while you’re waiting in line to vote.

Tap link in bio to access Backstory on our site and subscribe to the NashVillager podcast for the morning’s news plus a hit of history every weekday.

This project is funded under an agreement with the State of Tennessee administered by the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial (@Tennessee250).

Photos and images: The Associated Press, Tennessee State Library and Archives (@tnlibarchives)

Producer: Alexis Marshall
Editor: Megan Jones

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“I see patients every week in my office who are tortured by the results of tests that they really didn’t need to ever have,” said Rita Redberg, a University of California-San Francisco Medical Center professor and cardiologist.

Medical tests like full-body scans are often marketed as a way to find diseases early and seek peace of mind. But many medical screenings carry costs and risks that patients might not expect. And the results often lead to additional testing in a phenomenon known as a “diagnostic cascade.” Studies show that overtesting and overdiagnosis can leave patients worse off than simply doing nothing.

So how do you decide whether a test is right for you? Redberg suggests asking yourself and your medical provider: What am I going to learn from this test? How is this test going to help in my care? Could I improve my health without doing this test?

She told HealthQ’s Cara Anthony that many test results, especially in her field of cardiology, end up pointing patients back to the basics of a healthy lifestyle, like eating well, exercising, and not smoking. And patients could make those changes even without a test.

The QTip: Before saying yes to the test, ask about the risks and benefits — even if your doctor recommends it.

Illustration: @studioria

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“I see patients every week in my office who are tortured by the results of tests that they really didn’t need to ever have,” said Rita Redberg, a University of California-San Francisco Medical Center professor and cardiologist.

Medical tests like full-body scans are often marketed as a way to find diseases early and seek peace of mind. But many medical screenings carry costs and risks that patients might not expect. And the results often lead to additional testing in a phenomenon known as a “diagnostic cascade.” Studies show that overtesting and overdiagnosis can leave patients worse off than simply doing nothing.

So how do you decide whether a test is right for you? Redberg suggests asking yourself and your medical provider: What am I going to learn from this test? How is this test going to help in my care? Could I improve my health without doing this test?

She told HealthQ’s Cara Anthony that many test results, especially in her field of cardiology, end up pointing patients back to the basics of a healthy lifestyle, like eating well, exercising, and not smoking. And patients could make those changes even without a test.

The QTip: Before saying yes to the test, ask about the risks and benefits — even if your doctor recommends it.

Illustration: @studioria

Elections. Your voice, your vote. But what do you do when you have changed your mind about a candidate or a party? Do you tell your friends? Family? Church group? Social media?

Reporter Justin Barney (@justinbarney) went out to talk to voters about just that. What could change a voter’s mind about a candidate? What factors determine if someone is public about their vote or private? Who influences a person’s feelings about a candidate or party?

You will hear three voter voices here. The last two voices are from our election event held Oct 6, 2026, at Nashville Public Radio, and the first is from a polling place in Tennessee in August 2026.

“I think if we were more vocal about who we support and who we want, we would actually be able to understand where people are coming from. I think people wanna be private so that they aren`t confronted, therefore they won`t be able to be held accountable,” says our second voter voice.

Who or what influences how you vote? What things do you consider if you are thinking about changing party or candidate? Do you choose to keep your vote private? Or do you prefer to publicize the candidates you vote for?

Tap link in bio for ongoing coverage of elections.

Photo: Tricia Drake / WPLN
Producer: Megan Jones
Editor: LaTonya Turner

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Elections. Your voice, your vote. But what do you do when you have changed your mind about a candidate or a party? Do you tell your friends? Family? Church group? Social media?

Reporter Justin Barney (@justinbarney) went out to talk to voters about just that. What could change a voter’s mind about a candidate? What factors determine if someone is public about their vote or private? Who influences a person’s feelings about a candidate or party?

You will hear three voter voices here. The last two voices are from our election event held Oct 6, 2026, at Nashville Public Radio, and the first is from a polling place in Tennessee in August 2026.

“I think if we were more vocal about who we support and who we want, we would actually be able to understand where people are coming from. I think people wanna be private so that they aren't confronted, therefore they won't be able to be held accountable,” says our second voter voice.

Who or what influences how you vote? What things do you consider if you are thinking about changing party or candidate? Do you choose to keep your vote private? Or do you prefer to publicize the candidates you vote for?

Tap link in bio for ongoing coverage of elections.

Photo: Tricia Drake / WPLN
Producer: Megan Jones
Editor: LaTonya Turner

Tennessee is expecting rain, strong winds and possible spin-up tornadoes this weekend as the remnants of Hurricane Isaias pass through.

Much of the state will enter a flood watch tonight.

The storm is proijected to bring 1-3 inches of rain, which could help ease the drought that has taken hold over most of Middle and West Tennessee.

The National Weather Service warn that tropical storms like this one can evolve rapidly, so stay weather aware and keep an eye on the forecast.

Images: National Weather Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Producer: Alexis Marshall
Editor: Megan Jones

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Tennessee is expecting rain, strong winds and possible spin-up tornadoes this weekend as the remnants of Hurricane Isaias pass through.

Much of the state will enter a flood watch tonight.

The storm is proijected to bring 1-3 inches of rain, which could help ease the drought that has taken hold over most of Middle and West Tennessee.

The National Weather Service warn that tropical storms like this one can evolve rapidly, so stay weather aware and keep an eye on the forecast.

Images: National Weather Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Producer: Alexis Marshall
Editor: Megan Jones

Former HBCU students are suing state officials over claims their schools were underfunded by billions of dollars. Tennessee is one of the states that might soon face litigation.

The group filed its first lawsuit in Missouri. In 2023, federal officials sent letters to 16 governors urging them to fix the funding disparity between land-grant Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their non-HBCU counterparts. That includes Tennessee State University (@tennstateu).

A group of attorneys joined together with the goal of getting states to pay their debts, and even though they’ve already started litigation, WPLN reporter Camellia Burris (@camelllia.elaine) reports that they’re open to settling the matter outside of court.

The plaintiffs of the first lawsuit are former students of Lincoln University who claim that underfunding left them in deteriorating dorms using outdated technology.

TSU students have made similar complaints over the years.

Tap link in bio fo the full story.

Producer/Editor: LaTonya Turner and Megan Jones
Photos: Alexis Marshall / WPLN and TSU sign courtesy of Tennessee State University

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Former HBCU students are suing state officials over claims their schools were underfunded by billions of dollars. Tennessee is one of the states that might soon face litigation.

The group filed its first lawsuit in Missouri. In 2023, federal officials sent letters to 16 governors urging them to fix the funding disparity between land-grant Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their non-HBCU counterparts. That includes Tennessee State University (@tennstateu).

A group of attorneys joined together with the goal of getting states to pay their debts, and even though they’ve already started litigation, WPLN reporter Camellia Burris (@camelllia.elaine) reports that they’re open to settling the matter outside of court.

The plaintiffs of the first lawsuit are former students of Lincoln University who claim that underfunding left them in deteriorating dorms using outdated technology.

TSU students have made similar complaints over the years.

Tap link in bio fo the full story.

Producer/Editor: LaTonya Turner and Megan Jones
Photos: Alexis Marshall / WPLN and TSU sign courtesy of Tennessee State University

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Curious Nashville Returns!

Back by popular demand, the WPLN fan favorite series Curious Nashville is here to investigate oddities, share local history, tell stories of interesting people, and explain how local institutions operate.

You ask the questions, and we answer.

ASK YOUR QUESTION