Ray Brown, an electrician from Oliver Springs in Anderson County, is running as an independent for Tennessee governor in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
Brown filed his independent candidacy petition with the Tennessee Secretary of State on Jan. 14, 2026, the earliest filing among the 13 independent gubernatorial candidates, according to Tennessee Firefly. He is certified for the ballot.
The race also includes Republican Marsha Blackburn, Democrat Jerri Green and 12 other independents: Charles Van Morgan, Dave Seeman, David Hatley, Dean Brewer, Eddie Lee Murphy, Karl Knox Smithson, L. Webb Taylor, Lauren Pinkston, Misam Abidi, Robert C. Vick, Victor L. Scoggin and Wendell Jackson.
Candidate information
- Full name: Edgar Ray Brown
- Party: Independent
- Residence: Oliver Springs, Anderson County, Tennessee
- Education: Associate's degree in science, Roane State Community College, 2005; associate's degree in advanced materials technology, Roane State Community College, 2011; associate's degree in electrical and electronics engineering, Pellissippi State Community College, 2023
Experience
Brown has worked as an electrician at the Y-12 National Security Complex since 2018, according to his BallotReady profile. He previously served as an intelligence specialist at Delta 21 from 2011 to 2026, worked as a software tech at Sitel from 2010 to 2011 and was an assistant store manager at K-Va-T from 2008 to 2010.
Brown has not held elected office, according to his BallotReady profile.
On the issues
Government corruption: In a candidate questionnaire published by Daughter of Tennessee, Brown said, "I have the balls to stand up against corruption within both legislative and judicial system."
Candidate questionnaire responses are the candidate's own statements and have not been independently verified.
