Tennessee Rep. Monty Fritts announces run for governor

Another Republican candidate, state Rep. Monty Fritts, R-Kingston, on Friday announced his campaign for Tennessee governor.

Fritts, who identifies as a constitutionalist and Christian, announced his candidacy for governor on the radio in Nashville.

Fritts, 61, aims to reduce the size of state government, he said later by phone. Fritts prayed about the decision for several months, he said, and felt called by God to run for governor.

“I think we have to get back to that creationist worldview in America, in Tennessee, and hold vigorously our liberty and relentlessly defend our constitution,” Fritts said. “And we’re failing to do that now, because we have found that it’s easy to come up with programs to spend your money and ways to infringe upon your rights.”

POLICIES

The lawmaker has introduced a resolution to declare July a statewide month of prayer and fasting for those spiritually inclined and physically able, he said. Public issues, like what he viewed as a high number of children in state custody and rampant fentanyl overdose deaths, are problems that need God’s help, Fritts said, although he added the government should not force religion on anyone.

Fritts also said he opposes geoengineering on constitutional and moral grounds.

“Constitutionally, we the people have not given any authority to be test subjects and breathe in, and have our water polluted, our soil contaminated, our food supplies harmed by chemicals that we inject into the atmosphere over our head that eventually come down, and we end up absorbing them, breathing them, drinking them or eating in our food supply,” Fritts said. “We shouldn’t monetize rainfall and try to control the weather.”

Fritts was one of two representatives who voted against a bill that banned first-cousin marriage, he said. He called the bill a ploy by Democrats and said that the government should stay out of the issue.

“I think that they offered that as just an insult toward Tennesseans,” he said, “And I think if you look at the voting record of at least four of those men that carried that bill, there’s probably been some genetic inbreeding in their families for a long time for the way they were voting on things.”

Fritts stood against what he described as budget and inflation issues in Washington, D.C., and he said those problems also affect Tennessee, where “gray-haired people in Nashville” have the budget trending to where it will cripple the next generation. While he excluded the average state employee, Fritts said much of the senior leadership in Nashville has forgotten accountability to the Constitution and the people.

“When we take taxes and put them into government programs, however good that program may sound, and it’s outside the bounds of the Constitution, we have deprived you of liberty along the way,” he said. “I think Tennesseans are hungry for liberty and they want less government in Tennessee.”

Born in Rockwood, Tennessee, Fritts is married with children and grandchildren, according to the General Assembly website. His work career resume on his campaign website, fritts4tn.com, lists military service and nuclear industry experience. Some of his listed education includes a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and a Master of Arts in theological studies.

REACTIONS

Two other announced Republican candidates are U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and U.S. Rep. John Rose, R-Cookeville.

The spokesperson for Rose’s campaign, Chris Devaney, said by text that while Rose’s team has a lot of respect for anyone campaigning for public service, the focus right now is on Rose’s campaign.

Blackburn’s campaign manager, Abigail Sigler, said by text that Blackburn is the best candidate for governor because of her record and plan to make Tennessee America’s conservative leader.

One other Republican, Cito Pellegra, will run in the GOP primary, according to Ballotpedia. Four Democratic candidates, including Memphis attorney Jerri Green, and two independents are also listed as registered candidates.

The primary election is Aug. 6, and the general election is Nov. 3, 2026.