TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Mar 4, 2026

Former NASA astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore has notified the Tennessee secretary of state his intention to run for governor, WBIR reports. He has until March 10 at noon to officially file. Wilmore would join the Republican race alongside U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Rep. John Rose of Cookeville and state Rep. Monty Fritts of Kingston. A Tennessee native, Wilmore is a graduate of the University of Tennessee Space Institute. He was a test pilot before becoming an astronaut in 2000, and spent 25 years with NASA before retiring in August.