Ray Brown, an electrician from Oliver Springs in Anderson County, is running as an independent candidate for Tennessee governor in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
Brown filed his independent candidacy petition with the Tennessee Secretary of State on Jan. 14, 2026, the earliest filing among the 13 independent gubernatorial candidates, according to Tennessee Firefly. He is certified for the ballot.
The race includes Marsha Blackburn (Republican), Jerri Green (Democratic) and 13 independents, including Brown. The other independent candidates are Charles Van Morgan, Dave Seeman, David Hatley, Dean Brewer, Eddie Lee Murphy, Karl Knox Smithson, L. Webb Taylor, Lauren Pinkston, Misam Abidi, Robert C. Vick, Victor L. Scoggin and Wendell Jackson.
Candidate information
- Full name: Edgar Ray Brown (known as Ray Brown)
- Party: Independent
- Residence: Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee
- Occupation: Electrician
Education, per his BallotReady profile:
- Associate's degree in science, Roane State Community College (2005)
- Associate's degree in advanced materials technology, Roane State Community College (2011)
- Associate's degree in electrical and electronics engineering, Pellissippi State Community College (2023)
Experience
Brown has worked as an electrician at the Y-12 National Security Complex since 2018, according to BallotReady. He previously worked as an intelligence specialist at Delta 21 from 2011 to 2026, as a software tech at Sitel from 2010 to 2011 and as an assistant store manager at K-Va-T from 2008 to 2010.
On the issues
Brown provided one response to a candidate questionnaire published by Daughter of Tennessee. On the topic of government corruption, Brown said he would "stand up against corruption within both legislative and judicial system."
Brown did not respond to other policy questions in the questionnaire.
