Victor L. Scoggin is running for Tennessee governor as an independent in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

Scoggin, a U.S. Navy veteran and retired volunteer firefighter, said in his candidate questionnaire that he accepts no outside funding. "I am not funded by anybody. Nobody jerks my chain. I answer to no one except the Tennessee law abiding taxpayers," Scoggin said.

The field is crowded. Other candidates on the ballot include Republican Marsha Blackburn, Democrat Jerri Green and a dozen independents, according to BallotReady.

Candidate information

  • Name: Victor L. Scoggin
  • Party: Independent
  • Office sought: Tennessee governor
  • Election: Nov. 3, 2026, general election
  • Ballot status: Certified, according to BallotReady
  • Education: Associate's degree in history and geography, Nashville State Community College; high school diploma, Mt. Juliet High School
  • Military service: U.S. Navy, 1977–1981; U.S. Merchant Marine, 1994–2012, according to BallotReady

Experience and public service

Scoggin said he served as a volunteer firefighter for 43 years before retiring. He holds an active 100 Ton Master Western Rivers Captain credential, serves as a Coast Guard auxiliarist and is a Tennessee armed guard, according to his campaign website.

He worked as a power plant operator at the Nashville Glass Plant, later known as Carlex, from 1985 to 2017, according to BallotReady. He is also listed as a stationary engineer at Carlex and Ford Motor Company starting in 1985, a role BallotReady lists as ongoing.

Scoggin is president and founder of Save The Cumberland Inc., started in 1996, and of Western Rivers Exploration LLC, founded in 2011, according to BallotReady.

He said he swam 696 miles in 1996 at his own expense to draw attention to pollution of the Cumberland River as a drinking water source. He also said he fought a $300 million marina project to protect a federally endangered crayfish and won.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Scoggin's candidate questionnaire responses. All statements reflect the candidate's own claims.

Taxes and property tax reform. Scoggin said he supports property tax reform and would eliminate property taxes for retirees. He also said he opposes tax breaks for special interests.

Criminal justice and public safety. Scoggin said he supports speedy trials for violent crimes, license plate readers on interstates, jail time for scammers and hackers, and restoring Second Amendment and voting rights for nonviolent felons. He also called for eliminating bail and plea deals as part of justice system reform.

Environment and energy. Scoggin said he opposes a proposed dam on the Duck River 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.

Government reform. Scoggin said he supports term limits for elected offices, campaign spending limits, drug testing for government employees and a ban on PACs, including AIPAC, and lobbyists. He also said he supports applying what he called "DOGE" reviews to all state agencies.

Education. Scoggin said he supports securing schools with fences and metal detectors. He also said state-funded schools and colleges should have an equal number of conservative and liberal educators.

Scoggin's positions were collected through BallotReady's candidate questionnaire process and from his campaign website. The Hendersonville Register did not interview the candidate. This profile is part of the outlet's 2026 election coverage. Responses have been condensed for clarity.