On this page
Judicial Elections
Tennessee Supreme Court Elections 2026
Tennessee Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor from a list drawn up by a nominating commission and confirmed by the General Assembly, then face voters in yes/no retention elections every 8 years.
Rules as of October 15, 2026 · candidates as of October 15, 2026 · source Ballotpedia
Are judges elected in Tennessee?
- Highest court
- Tennessee Supreme Court — 5 justices
- How chosen
- Commission + appointment
- Voters
- Voters decide retention
- Term
- 8 years
- To serve again
- Yes/no retention vote
- 2026 ballot
- 2 seats, decided Aug 6, 2026
How Tennessee chooses its judges
Tennessee Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor from a list drawn up by a nominating commission and confirmed by the General Assembly, then face voters in yes/no retention elections every 8 years.
- Seats: 5 justices on the Tennessee Supreme Court.
- Term: 8 years.
- Confirmation: appointees must be approved by the General Assembly.
- To serve again: Yes/no retention vote.
- Other courts: Appellate judges are appointed the same way; trial judges are elected.
Retention elections are held in August, not November.
Compare every state on the judicial selection table.
Tennessee Supreme Court elections in 2026
Tennessee decided its 2 seats on August 6, 2026, so no Tennessee Supreme Court race is on the November ballot.
Western Section
Decided- Kyle Hixson (winner)IncumbentRetained
Western Section
Decided- Mary L. Wagner (winner)IncumbentRetained
Candidates as of October 15, 2026 from Ballotpedia. Party labels are not shown because they do not appear on the ballot.
How to research judges on your Tennessee ballot
- Official evaluations: Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission — the state’s official reviews of judges facing voters.
- Your sample ballot: Tennessee’s official election site shows every judicial race on your ballot, including local courts.
- Deadlines and voting options: How to vote in Tennessee — registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
- Candidate details: Ballotpedia tracks each candidate’s background, endorsements and spending; local news and the state bar often publish candidate surveys.
Judicial ethics rules bar candidates from promising how they will rule, so a judge’s record and experience usually say more than campaign ads. This site does not endorse or rate candidates.
Federal judges in Tennessee
Federal judges are never on a ballot: the President nominates them and the U.S. Senate confirms them for life. Tennessee’s two senators vote on every nominee and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
Tennessee’s senators: Bill Hagerty (Republican) and Marsha Blackburn (Republican).
Confirmed by recorded vote in 2026
| Judge | Court | Date | Vote | Hagerty | Blackburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Charles Lea | District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee | Feb 5, 2026 | 50–46 | Yea | Yea |
District judges for courts in Tennessee and circuit judges from the state. Judges confirmed by voice vote leave no roll call; the Senate’s list of confirmed nominations has them. Roll calls from the snapshot refreshed Oct 1, 2026.
Open federal judgeships
- Eastern District of Tennessee: seat of Thomas A. Varlan (senior, Oct 5, 2026) — nominee Samuel D. Adkisson, nominated Sep 14, 2026.
Source: uscourts.gov current judicial vacancies. Every vacancy nationwide is on the judicial elections hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are judges elected in Tennessee?
Tennessee Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor from a list drawn up by a nominating commission and confirmed by the General Assembly, then face voters in yes/no retention elections every 8 years. Appellate judges are appointed the same way; trial judges are elected.
How long is a term on the Tennessee Supreme Court?
8 years. At the end of a term, they face yes/no retention votes to stay on the court.
Who is running for the Tennessee Supreme Court in 2026?
Tennessee's 2 seats were decided on August 6, 2026: Kyle Hixson, Mary L. Wagner.
How do I research judges on my Tennessee ballot?
Start with the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission, the state's official judicial performance evaluation program (https://www.tncourts.gov/boards-commissions/boards-commissions/judicial-performance-evaluation-commission). Your sample ballot from https://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/register-vote lists every judicial race, including local courts. Ballotpedia, local news and the state bar cover candidates' experience and endorsements.
Who appoints federal judges in Tennessee?
The President nominates and the U.S. Senate confirms them; they serve for life. Tennessee's senators, Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn, vote on every nomination and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state. The Senate confirmed 1 judge tied to Tennessee by recorded vote in 2026.
Related
Judicial Elections in Every State
How all 50 states choose judges, every 2026 supreme court race, and federal confirmations.
How to Vote in Tennessee
Registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
Tennessee Senators & Representatives
Your delegation in Congress and when each term ends.
What Can Congress Do?
Can Congress declare war, override a veto, impeach a cabinet member, remove a senator, overrule the Supreme Court, or invoke the 25th Amendment? Question by question, with live vote math.