Victor L. Scoggin is running as an independent for Tennessee governor in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He is certified for the ballot in a crowded field that includes candidates from both major parties and multiple independents, according to BallotReady election data.

He accepts no outside funding. Scoggin said on his campaign website that no donors or special interests back his campaign. "I am not funded by anybody. Nobody jerks my chain. I answer to no one except the Tennessee law abiding taxpayers," Scoggin said in his candidate response.

Candidate information

  • Name: Victor L. Scoggin
  • Party: Independent
  • Office sought: Tennessee Governor
  • Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
  • Education: Associate's in history, geography, Nashville State Community College; high school diploma, Mt. Juliet High School

Experience and public service

Scoggin said he served in the U.S. Navy from 1977 to 1981 and in the U.S. Merchant Marine from 1994 to 2012, according to BallotReady profile data. He said he is an active 100 Ton Master Western Rivers Captain, an active Coast Guard Auxiliarist and an active Tennessee Armed Guard.

He worked as a power plant operator at Nashville Glass Plant/Carlex from 1985 to 2017 and as a stationary engineer at Carlex/Ford Motor Company/Nashville Glass starting in 1985, according to BallotReady. He said he is a retired volunteer firefighter with 43 years of service.

Scoggin said he founded Save The Cumberland Inc. in 1996 and Western Rivers Exploration LLC in 2011. He said he swam 696 miles in 1996 to draw attention to pollution of the Cumberland River as a drinking water source. He said he fought a $300 million marina over a federally endangered crayfish and won.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Scoggin's responses to BallotReady questionnaires and his campaign website. All statements reflect the candidate's own claims.

Property taxes and government reform: Scoggin said he supports eliminating property taxes for retirees and property tax reform. He said he wants term limits on elected offices, campaign spending limits, a ban on PACs, AIPAC and lobbyists, and drug testing for government employees. He said he would "DOGE all state agencies," using the term associated with federal efficiency efforts.

Criminal justice and public safety: Scoggin said he supports speedy trials for violent crimes, RICO laws targeting Antifa and gangs, license plate readers on interstates and jail time for scammers and hackers. He said he wants to restore Second Amendment and voting rights for nonviolent felons. He also said he supports eliminating bail and plea deals as part of justice system reform.

Education: Scoggin said he wants to secure schools with fences and metal detectors. He said he supports requiring an equal number of conservative and liberal educators in state-funded schools and colleges.

Environment and energy: Scoggin said he opposes a proposed Duck River Dam in Columbia, Tennessee, and opposes state-issued NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) water permits. He said he supports requiring biodegradable packaging on consumable products and banning Styrofoam. He also said he opposes data centers in the state.

Guns and Second Amendment: Scoggin said he supports constitutional carry and firearm lockers at courthouses.

Other candidates certified for this race include Marsha Blackburn (Republican), Jerri Green (Democratic), Charles Van Morgan, Dave Seeman, David Hatley, Dean Brewer, Eddie Lee Murphy, Karl Knox Smithson, L. Webb Taylor, Lauren Pinkston, Misam Abidi, Ray Brown, Robert C. Vick and Wendell Jackson (all Independent), according to BallotReady.

Candidate positions were drawn from responses submitted to BallotReady and from the candidate's campaign website. The Brentwood-Nolensville Record did not interview the candidate for this profile.