Misam Abidi is running as an independent for Tennessee governor in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He is one of 15 candidates in the race, according to BallotReady election data.

Asked why he is running, Abidi said in our candidate questionnaire: "I am running so people can spend more time living, with less fear about getting by." His campaign slogan is "People Over Institutions," according to his campaign website.

Candidate information

Party: Independent

Residence: Abidi said in our questionnaire: "My wife and I are raising our daughter in Nolensville."

Education: Abidi said in our questionnaire: "Some college, and a lifetime of learning through independent study, work, and lived experience."

Background: Abidi said on his campaign website that he was born and raised in Lahore, Pakistan, and moved to the United States in 1997 as a teenager. He said his career was disrupted by the financial crisis and that he later expanded into cryptocurrency and blockchain innovation after a career in banking.

Experience and public service

He has never held public office. Abidi said in our questionnaire: "I have never held elected or appointed public office. I bring experience from working, raising a family, and listening to people in everyday life, along with a willingness to learn and a commitment to serve."

Asked about his occupation, Abidi said in our questionnaire: "I currently work in consumer debt relief and drive for a rideshare service. My background also includes small-business ownership, entrepreneurship, and solar sales."

According to BallotReady, his work history includes personal banker at Bank of America and sales roles in telecom and renewable energy.

On the issues

Top priority — economic security: Abidi said in our questionnaire: "My top priority is economic security: helping children enter adulthood with earning power, financial understanding, and a foundation for a home." He proposed a "Skills Guarantee" so "every graduate leaves with a diploma and an employable skill," along with financial education in schools and "First Home Accounts" that would give "every child a state-supported account with a starter deposit and matching contributions, growing toward a first home's down payment."

Cost of living: Abidi said in our questionnaire that he would "phase out the state sales tax on groceries, with each step funded through a published budget plan," require major new industrial users, including data centers, "to pay for the grid improvements they need, protecting household bills," and "phase in a $15 minimum wage with temporary support for small businesses."

Education: Abidi said in our questionnaire: "Prioritize qualified teachers, special education, counselors, and rural schools, so opportunity reaches children wherever they live." He called for improved teacher pay, mentoring and classroom support, and for making "every public education dollar traceable, including money supporting private tuition."

Public safety: Abidi said in our questionnaire: "Fund local teams that connect schools, families, and trained professionals to respond to credible threats early, with due process." He said he would "pair officers with mental-health specialists when appropriate" and "connect people leaving incarceration with identification, housing, and employment."

Healthcare: Abidi said on his campaign website that he would lower insurance premiums by 40%, with the state and insurers sharing responsibility for high-cost cases. He said he supports preventive care and recovery systems that treat "the whole person."

Economy and technology: Abidi said on his campaign website that he would create "clear pro-crypto regulations," attract blockchain, artificial intelligence and financial technology companies, and use blockchain to improve government transparency.

What sets him apart: Abidi said in our questionnaire: "My approach combines independence, direct experience with working people, and a vision for making technological progress benefit ordinary households. I want Tennessee to prepare for an economy shaped by artificial intelligence while strengthening what families need today: housing, education, health, and dependable work."

Other candidates

The race includes Charles Van Morgan, Dave Seeman, David Hatley, Dean Brewer, Eddie Lee Murphy, Jerri Green (Democratic), Karl Knox Smithson, L. Webb Taylor, Lauren Pinkston, Marsha Blackburn (Republican), Ray Brown, Robert C. Vick, Victor L. Scoggin and Wendell Jackson, all independents unless noted, according to BallotReady.

Candidate responses were collected through a Surround Sound News questionnaire. All policy positions and biographical claims are attributed to the candidate or the candidate's campaign.