Polling Average
20%15%10%5%0%
14%
8%
Tennessee Democratic Governor nominee?
$19.3K
AUG 7, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleMusician (pedal steel guitarist and guitarist)
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
LocationTennessee
BackgroundMusician (pedal steel guitarist and guitarist)
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EducationPolitical Science degree (school not specified)
Notable personal detailsAdam “Ditch” Kurtz is a Nashville-based musician and activist running as a Democrat for Governor of Tennessee in the 2026 election cycle. He is a pedal steel and guitar player who has worked in the Nashville music scene for over a decade after moving from the Boston area. His campaign platform emphasizes lowering costs (including eliminating the grocery tax), expanding access to healthcare and childcare, and investing in public schools while rejecting corporate money.
SourcesShowHide
ditch4governor.comnashville.govtnfirefly.comlinktr.eenga.orgkalshi.commaurydems.orgoctagonai.coen.wikipedia.orgapnews.compolymarket.comtnpolitico.comradioink.compagenweb.orgballotready.orgttabvue.uspto.govdocquery.fec.govsos-tn-gov-files.tnsosfiles.comeseanetwork.orgnewschannel5.comnashville.citycast.fmmusicmecca.orgcapecharlesmirror.comdoctor.webmd.compbs.orgthima.orgsecure.actblue.comwpln.orgwordandway.orgsuttonsmart.comfacebook.comyahoo.comballotpedia.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgdonate.ballotpedia.orgdata.ballotpedia.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orgfec.govgovinfo.govcongress.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 updatedMar 14, 2026
Adam Kurtz is showing up in election-related coverage tied to Tennessee’s 2026 primary, with key dates approaching for voter registration, absentee requests, and early voting ahead of the May 5 contest. Broader 2026 election dynamics are also in focus as the U.S. Supreme Court considers a Voting Rights Act decision that could affect redistricting and the partisan balance of House seats, potentially shaping the environment for candidates.
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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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