Jerri Green

Jerri Green is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. She graduated from White Station High School in Memphis, earned a bachelor of arts in English and political science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and received a juris doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.⁠[1][2]

Green is a Tennessee-licensed attorney who has practiced public interest law in Washington, D.C., Nashville and Memphis. After law school she worked as a juvenile public defender in Nashville; she later taught criminal law and juvenile justice for almost a decade and served as executive director of the Community Legal Center in Memphis.⁠[2][1][3]

She was senior policy advisor and deputy chief of staff to Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, and started Shelby County’s first free gun lock-by-mail program.⁠[2][4]

She has been president of the Democratic Women of Shelby County and statewide election lead for the Tennessee chapter of Moms Demand Action, and has served on the boards of Habitat for Humanity of Memphis, Girls Inc. of Memphis, the Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County, and the Overton Shell.⁠[1]

On November 16, 2023, Green was elected to the Memphis City Council for District 2. On the council she chairs the Economic Development, Tourism & Technology Committee and is vice chair of the Transportation Committee.⁠[2]

As of August 2026 she was also interim chief public defender for Shelby County.⁠[3][2]

In the August 6, 2026, primary Green won the Democratic nomination for governor of Tennessee, with the Associated Press projecting her victory. Explaining her decision to run, she said, “I can no longer stand on the sidelines.”⁠[4]

Republicans nominated U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn the same day, making it Tennessee’s first governor’s race between two women nominated by the major parties.⁠[5][3]

During the general election campaign Green said, “The American dream seems out of reach in Tennessee right now.” She said she supports ending school vouchers, eliminating the state sales tax on groceries and legalizing marijuana, and on data centers said, “I think we need to put a moratorium on them while we figure out the laws around them.” She released an ad challenging Blackburn to a debate, which Blackburn did not agree to.⁠[3]

In the November 3 general election the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office called the race for Blackburn at about 11:24 p.m.; at that point Green had 42.95% of the vote (902,953 votes) to Blackburn’s 45.52% (957,136). Green gave an apparent concession speech that night.⁠[6][7]

Jerri Green for Governor: Official website: https://greenforgovernor.com/ (opens in a new window).⁠[1]

X: Public account: https://x.com/Jerri_M_Green (opens in a new window).⁠[1]