Dean Brewer, an Independent candidate from Knoxville, is running for governor of Tennessee in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Brewer says on his campaign's Facebook page that he is running to put people before party, with a focus on helping veterans.
Candidate information
- Name: Dean Brewer
- Party: Independent
- Residence: Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee
- Office sought: Governor of Tennessee
- Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
- Ballot status: Certified for the ballot
Brewer filed his petition for governor on March 10, 2026, according to Tennessee Secretary of State records. His petition signatures were approved.
On the issues
Campaign rationale
Brewer has framed his candidacy around bipartisan cooperation. "I'm running as independent. It's time we remember how to be America and work together as Americans again," Brewer said in a response published by the Daughter of Tennessee independent voter guide.
Veterans housing and workforce development
Brewer has described a program that would take homeless veterans, provide them counseling and a place to live, and teach them a skilled trade with on-the-job training, according to his response in the Daughter of Tennessee voter guide. He has not detailed funding sources or a timeline for the proposal.
Other candidates
The governor's race includes a large field. Other candidates certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data, include Marsha Blackburn (Republican), Jerri Green (Democratic), Charles Van Morgan (Independent), Dave Seeman (Independent), David Hatley (Independent), Eddie Lee Murphy (Independent) and Karl Knox Smithson (Independent). Also on the ballot are L. Webb Taylor (Independent), Lauren Pinkston (Independent), Misam Abidi (Independent), Ray Brown (Independent), Robert C. Vick (Independent), Victor L. Scoggin (Independent) and Wendell Jackson (Independent).
Candidate responses referenced in this profile were collected by the Daughter of Tennessee independent voter guide and the candidate's Facebook campaign page. The Mt. Juliet Journal did not interview the candidate. Responses reflect the candidate's own claims and have been attributed accordingly.
