Tennessee Gubernatorial Candidates Face Off in MTSU Forum

Murfreesboro Forum Brings Three Gubernatorial Hopefuls Together

Voters across Tennessee are getting a rare side-by-side look at their statewide candidates this week as the race enters its final stretch. The Tennessee Press Association and Middle Tennessee State University hosted a gubernatorial forum Tuesday night on the university’s Murfreesboro campus, giving citizens a direct channel to three candidates vying for the state’s highest office.

The 7 p.m. event marked a critical juncture in an election cycle that will result in a new governor for the first time in eight years. With Election Day looming on November 3, the gathering stood out as the sole nonpartisan statewide forum of its kind for the governor’s race, drawing attention from voters trying to weigh their choices before casting ballots.

The Empty Chair in Murfreesboro

Not everyone on the ballot shared the stage. Democratic nominee Jerri Green and independent candidates David Hatley and Lauren Pinkston participated in the evening’s discussions, addressing questions from journalists and moderators. Republican nominee Marsha Blackburn was invited to take part but opted not to attend, leaving an empty podium among the leading tier of candidates.

Instead of heading to Murfreesboro, Blackburn spent Tuesday evening in Hendersonville, where she hosted a campaign event rallying support for her candidacy and other Republicans on the Tennessee ballot. Speaking to media outlets after that gathering, Blackburn defended her scheduling choice by pointing to her campaign’s grassroots reach across the state.

“We have met people where they are. We have had dozens of meetings with people all across the state. We have knocked on a million doors. We have done tens of thousands of phone calls, and as you can see, we had a room-full here tonight,” Blackburn said, as reported by WSMV.

The decision to skip the MTSU event followed a rejected request from Green, who had publicly pushed for a series of debates between the top polling contenders prior to the midterms. While the Murfreesboro forum proceeded with the remaining three participants, Blackburn’s absence followed her decision not to participate in the event.

The Road to November 3

Tuesday’s forum offered a final structured environment for voters to evaluate Green, Hatley, and Pinkston on policy issues. For communities tracking the race, the event provided the most comprehensive multi-candidate exchange available on a single stage before early voting totals and election returns are tallied.

Instagram

With just days remaining before polls close, campaigns are making their final push across Tennessee’s urban centers and rural counties alike. Voters have until Tuesday, November 3, to cast their ballots in a race that will shape the state’s executive leadership for the remainder of the decade.