U.S. Rep. John Rose, R-Cookeville, announced at the Wilson County Tennessee State Fairgrounds in Lebanon that he will seek the 2026 Republican nomination to run for governor. He is the first to formally announce a major campaign, according to the Tennessean. Rose said his priorities as governor would be to safeguard the state’s low taxes, low debt, low regulations and Christian values through strong conservative leadership. He said his years of experience as a private businessman and farmer set him apart in the race. Rose has served in Congress since 2018, when he was elected to fill the seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Diane Black. He previously was the state’s agriculture commissioner. He is expected to face U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn for the nomination. While she has not made an official announcement she told the Tennessee Journal this week that she intends to run.

U.S. Rep. John Rose, a Republican from Cookeville in his fourth term, announced his plans to run for governor an event in Williamson County, WSMV reports. According to sources, Rose said at a Republican women’s function, “I am convinced my best days are ahead and that the best opportunity I have to serve Tennessee is in a different role. So, I’m going to come home at the end of this period and I’m going to offer myself … as a candidate for governor.” Before being elected to Congress, Rose served as Tennessee’s agriculture commissioner. He is also a farmer, attorney and owner of an IT training enterprise.

U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty announced his reelection bid this week, ending speculation about a potential gubernatorial bid, The Hill reports. A former businessman and U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Hagerty was elected as Tennessee’s junior senator in 2020, beating Democrat Marquita Bradshaw with 62% of the vote. The decision leaves the state’s senior U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn as the highest profile Republican to express interest in a gubernatorial run. Other Republicans who have indicated interest in succeeding Gov. Bill Lee, who is term limited, include U.S. Rep. John Rose, state Sen. Page Walley of Savannah and CoreCivic President Damon Hininger, Tennessee Journal reports.