Eddie Lee Murphy runs for Tennessee governor as independent

Eddie Lee Murphy, an independent from Spring Hill, is running for Tennessee governor in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

Murphy filed his independent gubernatorial petition with the Tennessee Secretary of State on Feb. 17, 2026. The Secretary of State's office recorded his petition signatures as approved. He is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady.

Murphy lives in Spring Hill, Maury County. He was a Republican primary candidate in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District special election, with the primary held Oct. 7, 2025, according to Tennessee Firefly.

Other certified candidates include Marsha Blackburn (Republican), Jerri Green (Democratic), Charles Van Morgan, Dave Seeman, David Hatley, Dean Brewer, Karl Knox Smithson, L. Webb Taylor, Lauren Pinkston, Misam Abidi, Ray Brown, Robert C. Vick, Victor L. Scoggin and Wendell Jackson, all independents.