Dean Brewer, an Independent from Knoxville, is running for governor of Tennessee in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady.

Brewer said he is running to put people before party, with a focus on helping veterans, according to his campaign's Facebook page.

Candidate information

  • Name: Dean Brewer
  • Party: Independent
  • Office sought: Tennessee governor
  • Residence: Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee
  • Ballot status: Certified for the ballot

Brewer lives in Knoxville, Knox County, according to Tennessee Firefly election coverage. He filed his petition for governor on March 10, 2026, as an Independent candidate, according to Tennessee Secretary of State records. His petition signatures were approved.

On the issues

Campaign rationale

"I'm running as independent. It's time we remember how to be America and work together as Americans again," Brewer said in a response published by the Daughter of Tennessee independent voter guide.

Veterans housing and workforce development

Brewer has described a program to house homeless veterans, provide counseling and teach them a skilled trade with on-the-job training. He outlined the proposal in his response to the Daughter of Tennessee voter guide. The candidate has not detailed funding sources or an implementation timeline.

Other candidates in this race

The general election for Tennessee governor includes candidates from both major parties and multiple Independents, according to BallotReady:

  • Marsha Blackburn (Republican)
  • Jerri Green (Democratic)
  • Charles Van Morgan (Independent)
  • Dave Seeman (Independent)
  • David Hatley (Independent)
  • Eddie Lee Murphy (Independent)
  • Karl Knox Smithson (Independent)
  • L. Webb Taylor (Independent)
  • Lauren Pinkston (Independent)
  • Misam Abidi (Independent)
  • Ray Brown (Independent)
  • Robert C. Vick (Independent)
  • Victor L. Scoggin (Independent)
  • Wendell Jackson (Independent)

Candidate responses referenced in this profile were collected by the Daughter of Tennessee independent voter guide and the candidate's Facebook campaign page. The Brentwood-Nolensville Record did not interview the candidate. No experience, public service history or endorsements were available in reviewed sources for this profile.