Misam Abidi

Misam Abidi (independent) is running for election for Governor of Tennessee. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026.[source]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I moved to the United States from Lahore, Pakistan as a teenager in 1997.

Growing up between two very different worlds gave me a simple but powerful realization. One place had deep human connection but limited opportunity. The other had incredible opportunity, but many people were stressed, overworked, and struggling to keep up.

That contrast stayed with me.

In America, I worked my way through real life — not theory. I worked entry-level jobs, drove taxis, worked in retail, technology, and banking, and eventually started businesses in financial education and emerging technologies. I have lived the same pressures that many Tennesseans quietly carry every day — trying to build something stable in a system that often feels confusing and overwhelming.

And through all of it, one belief became clear:

Government should not make life harder.

Government should make it easier for people to move forward and create an environment for its citizens to become healthy, wealthy and prosperous.

I am running for governor because I believe Tennessee can become a place where people are not just surviving — but truly thriving.

A place where hard work actually leads somewhere.

Where families feel stable and cared for.

Where opportunity is real.

Where common sense wins again.

A strong state is a byproduct not the product. The product is a strong citizen.

My goal is simple — help Tennesseans rise.

Learn more www.misamforgovernor.com

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Economic opportunity is the foundation of a healthy society. Tennessee has the opportunity to lead the next generation economy built on emerging technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and financial innovation. My campaign supports clear pro-innovation policies that attract new industries, create jobs, and strengthen long-term economic growth. I also support initiatives like the Tennessee Dividend Fund, which would focus on building long-term financial assets that help expand opportunity for citizens while reducing long-term tax pressure.

Learn more www.misamforgovernor.comEvery young person deserves a real chance to stand on their own.

Right now, too many students leave school without the tools they actually need for life. A diploma alone is not enough.

Every student should graduate with at least one real, usable skill — something they can fall back on no matter what happens.

If life goes according to plan, that’s great.

But if it doesn’t, they should still be able to stand back up.

Skills create confidence.

Skills create independence.

Skills destroy poverty.

This is not complicated. It is common sense.

Why do we not teach about how credit works before they need credit repair?

We owe our kids a system that prepares them for real life — not just the classroom.

Learn more. www.misamforgovernor.comPeople need to feel like the system is fair again.

Government should protect people — not overwhelm them.

That means fair justice, real due process, affordable healthcare, and solutions to addiction that actually help people rebuild their lives instead of trapping them in cycles.

Right now, too many systems feel complicated, expensive, and disconnected from real people.

We can fix that.

When you focus on the human being — their health, their stability, their future — everything else begins to improve.

Stronger people create stronger families.

Stronger families create stronger communities.

And that is how you build a stronger Tennessee.

www.misamforgovernor.com

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am most passionate about human-centered governance.

It is a simple idea: government should be designed around helping people grow, not around expanding systems or complexity.

When policy is built with the individual in mind, everything aligns.

Economic policy should help people build real wealth, not just earn income.

Education should give young people real skills they can rely on.

Healthcare should bring peace of mind, not financial stress.

Justice should feel fair and balanced.

Recovery should help people truly rebuild their lives. Innovation should open new doors of opportunity and wealth.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE CAN BUILD TOGETHER

www.misamforgovernor.com