Polling Average
20%15%10%5%0%
14%
8%
Tennessee Democratic Governor nominee?
$9.4K
AUG 7, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleMusician
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
GenderMale
LocationTennessee
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BackgroundMusician
EducationUniversity of Rochester (Political Science degree)
Notable personal detailsAdam "Ditch" Kurtz is a Nashville-based pedal steel and guitar musician and a Democratic candidate for Governor of Tennessee in 2026. He has performed and collaborated with a range of country and Americana artists and leads a Buck Owens tribute act, Buck N Stuff. He earned a Political Science degree from the University of Rochester and has lived in Nashville for over a decade.
SourcesShowHide
ditch4governor.comnashville.goven.wikipedia.orgbsky.appaxios.commaurydems.orgapnews.comlines.comhighlandecho.comgovbase.comknoxvilledemocrats.orgisidewith.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgopencampaign.comwcdptn.orgtndp.orgdtnpf.comdocquery.fec.govnewschannel5.comtnfirefly.comnashville.citycast.fmmusicmecca.orgcapecharlesmirror.comdoctor.webmd.compbs.orgthima.orgsecure.actblue.comwpln.orgwordandway.orgsuttonsmart.comx.comcdn.ballotpedia.orgtwitter.comblog.x.comnga.orghagerty.senate.govfec.govhistory.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.
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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 updatedMay 24, 2026
Adam Kurtz is being mentioned in coverage of a broader Republican redistricting push that could reshape several U.S. House seats before the 2026 midterms. The reports say GOP-led states, including Tennessee and Alabama, are moving toward new congressional maps after a Supreme Court ruling weakened Voting Rights Act protections. The overall effort could affect the partisan balance of seats and may lead to more litigation and additional map changes in other Southern states.
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Polls
Tennessee Democratic Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
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We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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