Karl Knox Smithson, an independent candidate from McMinnville, is running for Tennessee governor in the 2026 general election. He is certified for the ballot alongside candidates from both major parties and several other independents, according to BallotReady election data.
Smithson filed his independent gubernatorial petition on Feb. 19, 2026. The Tennessee Secretary of State recorded his petition signatures as approved.
He has raised no funds per available campaign finance disclosures, according to Tennessee Firefly.
Candidate information
- Name: Karl Knox Smithson
- Party: Independent
- Residence: McMinnville, Warren County, Tennessee
- Occupation: Homeless community activist and frequent candidate, according to Politics1
- Office sought: Tennessee Governor
- Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
On the issues
The Hendersonville Register invited all certified candidates to complete a questionnaire for this profile series. This profile is based on publicly available records and candidate-tracking sources. If the candidate provides additional information, this article will be updated.
Other candidates in the race
The general election for Tennessee governor includes the following certified candidates: Marsha Blackburn (Republican), Jerri Green (Democratic), Charles Van Morgan (Independent), Dave Seeman (Independent), David Hatley (Independent), Dean Brewer (Independent), Eddie Lee Murphy (Independent), L. Webb Taylor (Independent), Lauren Pinkston (Independent), Misam Abidi (Independent), Ray Brown (Independent), Robert C. Vick (Independent), Victor L. Scoggin (Independent) and Wendell Jackson (Independent).
