Governor Lee Enjoys Strong Support As Tennesseans Take First Step to Elect Next Governor
New poll by Believe in Tennessee shows Republicans know Tennessee is moving in the right direction; voters overwhelmingly support Governor Lee, President Trump, and the conservative agenda
Nashville, TN – As Tennesseans begin early voting to select the party nominees to become the next governor of Tennessee, new polling by Believe in Tennessee shows term-limited Governor Bill Lee enjoys strong support among Republican primary voters. Lee’s favorability stands at 67%, with just 20% holding an unfavorable view – a net positive rating of +47 points. The governor’s popularity is consistent, with more than 60% support in every congressional district.
View the poll toplines here.
Nearly 74% of respondents believe Tennessee is headed in the right direction. Only 18% say the state is on the wrong track.
“Governor Lee has built a strong record of conservative leadership and commonsense results, and Tennesseans are showing their gratitude for his incredible tenure as our state’s chief executive,” said Damon Hininger, Chairman of Believe in Tennessee. “Tennessee is America at its best—and Governor Lee and our legislative leaders have done the hard work to protect our values and keep our state the top place to raise a family and grow a business.”
The poll of 600 likely Republican primary voters was conducted July 10-11, 2026, by Cygnal, a reputable and highly respected GOP polling firm. It has a margin of error of 4%.
The top issues on voters’ minds were conservative values, inflation and the cost of living, taxes and government spending, and illegal immigration and deportations.
Asked about Governor Lee’s signature Education Freedom Scholarship program, 62% support the program. Only 25% oppose.
The strongest number in the survey is the near-universal support for the Memphis Safe Task Force, the successful effort supported by President Trump, Governor Lee, and our U.S. Senators, to reduce violent crime in Memphis: 89% of respondents support the task force, with 78% strongly supporting.
President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance continue to enjoy overwhelming support among Republicans, holding nearly identical favorability at 81%.
“President Trump is a force of nature, and I’m incredibly pleased to see Tennessee Republicans continue to stand firmly in the president’s corner as he continues to make America great again, again,” concluded Hininger, who in March hosted a fundraiser in his home with Vice President Vance. The event was one of the most successful of this election cycle, raising $3 million for the Republican National Committee’s efforts to protect the GOP’s House and Senate majorities.
While the 2028 Republican Presidential Primary remains several years away, the new poll showed Vice President J.D. Vance dominating the prospective ballot in Tennessee with 47.2% support. Secretary of State Marco Rubio follows at 22.4%. No other candidate reached 5% support.
More about Believe in Tennessee:
Believe in Tennessee is a conservative non-profit organization focused on keeping Tennessee the best place to raise a family and grow a business. The Co-Founders, Damon and Carrie Hininger, have launched the group to support conservative principles and public policy leaders across the Volunteer State. Learn more at: believeintn.com.
Media Contact:
press@believeintn.com
