Monty Fritts Launches Governor Bid Against Marsha Blackburn and John Rose at Trump Day Dinner

Washington County, TN – In his first public appearance since announcing his candidacy for Governor, Tennessee State Representative of the 32nd District Monty Fritts took the stage at the Washington County Trump Day Dinner, pledging to defend constitutional rights, protect public education, and bring accountability to current state government employees.

“Our leaders have forgotten they work for you, the Tennessean,” he told the crowd, promising to reassign state employees who “lobby against your rights” to more responsive roles serving citizens. “You’ll talk to a person when you call the governor’s office — because liberty and less government in Tennessee means they work for you.”

On education, he drew a sharp line against current school voucher programs. “The General Assembly shall provide for a system of free public schools,” he said, citing Article 11, Section 12 of the Tennessee Constitution. “There’s no authorization for us to expend your public funds on private school. As governor, I will suspend that program on day one.”

Fritts also gave attendees insight on his background. From his early years in the army and spending time working for Y-12 before attending college, he then found success serving in the Department of Energy under President Donald Trump.

He took a moment to commend Congressman Tim Burchett, recalling traveling together to Washington during his time at the Department of Energy. “I saw him help older folks and mothers with babies get off the shuttle,” he said. “He represented a Tennessee gentleman all the time, and it always impressed me.”

Closing his remarks, he tied his candidacy to his service as Veterans Caucus chair and his concern for vulnerable Tennesseans. “I saw in D.C. what happens when a city is run by people who hate the country. That will not happen here,” he declared. Fritts pledged to carry the lessons of his military service, his career in public and private sectors, and his conservative convictions into the governor’s office. His first speech on the campaign trail made clear that his bid will center on constitutional governance, protecting families, and ensuring that Tennessee remains, in his words, “a place where liberty thrives and government remembers who it works for.”

Fritts becomes the third Republican to join the race, joining Congressman John Rose and Senator Marsha Blackburn. The primary is set to take place on August 6, 2026.