Polling Average
20%15%10%5%0%
14%
8%
Tennessee Democratic Governor nominee?
$10.7K
AUG 7, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleMusician (pedal steel guitarist, guitarist)
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
LocationTennessee
BackgroundMusician (pedal steel guitarist, guitarist)
Show moreShow less
EducationPolitical Science degree (school not publicly specified)
Notable personal detailsAdam “Ditch” Kurtz is a Nashville-based musician and activist who has filed to run as a Democrat for Governor of Tennessee in 2026. He is a pedal steel and guitar player in the Nashville music scene and has performed with a range of artists while also leading projects of his own. His campaign presents him as a grassroots candidate who rejects corporate money and emphasizes education, healthcare, and economic issues.
SourcesShowHide
ditch4governor.comtnfirefly.commaurydems.orglinktr.eeapnews.comballotready.orgen.wikipedia.orgeverything.explained.todayoctagonai.cotndemocracynetwork.orgindependentpoliticalreport.compolymarket.comkalshi.comnashville.govsos-tn-gov-files.tnsosfiles.compublications.tnsosfiles.compublications.stripes.comcdn.ballotpedia.orgnewschannel5.comnashville.citycast.fmmusicmecca.orgcapecharlesmirror.comdoctor.webmd.compbs.orgthima.orgsecure.actblue.comwpln.orgwordandway.orgsuttonsmart.comwsmv.comtennessean.comcalcalistech.comfacebook.comnga.orgfec.govgovinfo.govcongress.govclerk.house.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports policies to lower costs for working Tennesseans through expanded public spending (free or affordable healthcare, free pre-K and child care, raising the minimum wage) and seeks to eliminate the grocery tax while opposing corporate influence in policy such as unchecked tax incentives for large corporations. Advocates directing new revenue (e.g., marijuana tax revenue) toward public schools and emphasizes small-donor, no-corporate-money campaigning.
Healthcare
Supports universal, affordable (including free) healthcare and frames healthcare as a basic human right; calls for expanding access and addressing rising premiums and loss of coverage in Tennessee.
Show moreShow less
Immigration & Border
Adam “Ditch” Kurtz’s campaign materials express support for immigrants and say he wants to respect immigrant neighbors, but they do not provide specific immigration or border policies such as asylum, enforcement, or legalization pathways. Public interviews and local coverage note he discusses immigration as part of his platform, but concrete policy proposals are not detailed in the available sources.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 10, 2026
Adam Kurtz is in the news because Republican-led states are pushing new congressional maps that could reshape House races ahead of the 2026 midterms. The reported redistricting effort, driven by a Supreme Court ruling that weakened Voting Rights Act protections, could affect up to 11 U.S. House seats and may reduce Black Democratic representation. Tennessee and Alabama are among the states moving first, with more legal and political fights possible as the map changes develop.
ditch4governor.com+37
Polls
Tennessee Democratic Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
- Fundraising