Misam Abidi, an independent from Nolensville, is running for Tennessee governor in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He is one of 15 candidates, according to BallotReady.

Asked why he is running, Abidi said in our candidate questionnaire: "I am running so people can spend more time living, with less fear about getting by." His campaign slogan is "People Over Institutions," according to his campaign website.

Candidate information

Party: Independent

Residence: Abidi said in our questionnaire: "My wife and I are raising our daughter in Nolensville."

Education: "Some college, and a lifetime of learning through independent study, work, and lived experience," Abidi said in our questionnaire.

Previous public office: None. "I have never held elected or appointed public office," Abidi said in our questionnaire.

Background: Abidi said on his campaign website that he was born and raised in Lahore, Pakistan, and moved to the United States in 1997 as a teenager. He said his businesses were shut down by state enforcement actions and his assets frozen, and that he sold his home to fund his legal defense.

Experience and public service

Abidi described his work history in our questionnaire: "I currently work in consumer debt relief and drive for a rideshare service. My background also includes small-business ownership, entrepreneurship, and solar sales."

According to BallotReady, his employment history also includes personal banker at Bank of America and sales in telecom and renewable energy. He said on his campaign website that he expanded his work into cryptocurrency and blockchain innovation after a career in banking.

Asked about accomplishments, Abidi said in our questionnaire: "I have taken an idea from imagination to a U.S. patent: technology that turns physical cash and spare change into digital money at checkout."

On the issues

Top priority — economic security: Abidi said in our questionnaire: "My top priority is economic security: helping children enter adulthood with earning power, financial understanding, and a foundation for a home." He said he would propose a "Skills Guarantee" so "Every student graduates with a diploma and a skill that pays." He also proposed "First Home Accounts" to "Give every Tennessee child a state-supported account with a starter deposit and matching contributions, growing toward their first home's down payment."

Cost of living: Abidi said he would "phase out the state sales tax on groceries, with each step funded through a published budget plan." He said he would "phase in a $15 minimum wage with temporary support for small businesses" and "require major new industrial users, including data centers, to pay for the grid improvements they need, protecting household bills."

Education: Abidi said he would "prioritize qualified teachers, special education, counselors, and rural schools" and "improve pay, mentoring, and classroom support." He called for making "every public education dollar traceable, including money supporting private tuition."

Public safety: Abidi said he would "fund local teams that connect schools, families, and trained professionals to respond to credible threats early, with due process" and "pair officers with mental-health specialists when appropriate."

Economy and technology: Abidi said in our questionnaire he supports "Shared AI wealth: When public money helps AI businesses grow, secure a public share of returns to build a fund toward income for everyone." He also said on his campaign website that he supports creating "clear pro-crypto regulations" and establishing a "Tennessee Dividend Fund" on blockchain, according to BallotReady.

What sets him apart: "My approach combines independence, direct experience with working people, and a vision for making technological progress benefit ordinary households," Abidi said in our questionnaire. He added: "People can disagree without becoming enemies."

Other candidates in the race include Marsha Blackburn (Republican), Jerri Green (Democratic) and 12 other independents, according to BallotReady.

Candidate responses were collected through a Surround Sound News questionnaire. All policy positions and biographical claims are attributed to the candidate unless otherwise noted.