A poll released Monday by the Nashville-based Beacon Center of Tennessee shows U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) with a commanding lead in the 2026 gubernatorial Republican primary.
The poll, which surveyed 1,200 registered voters in Tennessee from January 11-18, shows 56 percent of Republican primary voters support Blackburn in the Republican primary for governor, while just 9 percent support U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-06) and 7 percent support Tennessee State Representative Monty Fritts (Kingston).
Twenty-eight percent remain undecided and just one percent of voters said they would not vote in the upcoming primary election, scheduled for August 6, 2026.
With regard to other state issues, the poll shows that Tennessee voters are broadly aligned around a limited-government, taxpayer-focused agenda, with strong consensus across multiple policy areas.
OUT NOW: the January 2026 Beacon Poll results are here!
A few takeaways…
đĄ 90% of voters agree that there should be a limit on how much localities can raise property taxes each year with voter approval for any increase above that limit.
đ 72% of Tennesseans support the newâŚ
— Beacon Center of TN (@BeaconTN) February 2, 2026
A combined 72 percent of voters believe local governments should not be allowed to hire taxpayer-funded contract lobbyists, compared to just 13 percent who support the practice.
On regulatory oversight, 52 percent of voters support requiring laws or regulations with an economic impact over $1 million to go before the legislature for a vote, while only 20 percent believe state agencies should be able to implement such rules without legislative approval.
Property-related issues also drew overwhelming agreement, the poll shows.
A whopping 90 percent of voters support limits on how much local governments can raise property taxes each year, with any increase above that cap requiring voter approval, while just 5 percent disagree.
Similarly, 87 percent believe property owners should be fairly compensated when government actions reduce the value of their property, and 72 percent say individuals should be free to use their property as they choose so long as it does not harm others or pose health or safety risks.
The poll also underscores Tennesseeâs strong support for right-to-work principles, with 82 percent of voters saying employees should be free to choose whether to join a union and pay dues, compared to just 12 percent who believe union membership and dues should be mandatory as a condition of employment.
Turning to federal issues, the poll shows 53 percent of Tennessee voters approve of the job President Donald Trump is doing, while 43 percent disapprove.
When asked about overall satisfaction âwith the way things are goingâ in the U.S., Tennessee voters remain more pessimistic, with 46 percent saying they are satisfied compared to 52 percent who say they are dissatisfied.
On policy, support is strongest for education-related reforms, as a commanding 72 percent of Tennesseans back the new federal school choice tax credit included in the One Big Beautiful Bill while only 18 percent oppose it.
View the full January 2026 Beacon Poll at tennsight.com/polls/january-2026/.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Marsha Blackburn” by Marsha Blackburn.
