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

Asked in our candidate questionnaire why he is running, Abidi said: "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: Abidi said in our questionnaire: "Some college, and a lifetime of learning through independent study, work, and lived experience."

Biography: 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 career was disrupted by the financial crisis. 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. He also said he expanded his work into cryptocurrency and blockchain innovation after a career in banking.

Experience and public service

Asked about his work history, Abidi said 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."

BallotReady profile data lists previous employment including personal banker at Bank of America, sales in telecom and renewable energy, and work at McDonald's.

Asked about previous public office, Abidi said in our questionnaire: "I have never held elected or appointed public office."

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 that "every graduate leaves with a diploma and an employable skill," along with "First Home Accounts" to give "every child a state-supported account with a starter deposit and matching contributions, growing toward a first home's down payment."

Cost of living: Asked what the state should do about everyday expenses, Abidi said in our questionnaire he would "phase out the state sales tax on groceries, with each step funded through a published budget plan." He also said he would "require major new industrial users, including data centers, to pay for the grid improvements they need, protecting household bills" and "phase in a $15 minimum wage with temporary support for small businesses, alongside training that leads to better-paying local jobs."

Education: Asked about K-12 changes, Abidi said in our questionnaire: "Prioritize qualified teachers, special education, counselors, and rural schools, so opportunity reaches children wherever they live. … Improve pay, mentoring, and classroom support, giving good educators reasons to stay. … Make every public education dollar traceable, including money supporting private tuition."

Public safety: Asked about reducing crime, Abidi said in our questionnaire: "Fund local teams that connect schools, families, and trained professionals to respond to credible threats early, with due process. … Connect people leaving incarceration with identification, housing, and employment, reducing barriers to rebuilding their lives."

Economy and technology: Abidi's campaign website says he would create "clear pro-crypto regulations," attract blockchain, artificial intelligence and financial technology companies, and establish a "Tennessee Dividend Fund" on blockchain. On healthcare, his campaign says he would aim to lower insurance premiums by 40%.

What sets him apart: Abidi said in our questionnaire: "I want Tennessee to prepare for an economy shaped by artificial intelligence while strengthening what families need today: housing, education, health, and dependable work."

Other candidates

The race includes Marsha Blackburn (Republican), Jerri Green (Democratic) and 12 other independent candidates: Charles Van Morgan, Dave Seeman, David Hatley, Dean Brewer, Eddie Lee Murphy, Karl Knox Smithson, L. Webb Taylor, Lauren Pinkston, Ray Brown, Robert C. Vick, Victor L. Scoggin and Wendell Jackson, according to BallotReady.

Candidate responses were collected through a Surround Sound News questionnaire. Answers are presented in the candidate's own words. This profile is AI-curated and human-edited.