November 2026 Beacon Poll Results
Today, we released the latest installment of the Beacon Poll, a statewide survey of 1,200 Tennessee voters featuring questions about voters’ views on property taxes, Flock cameras, the death penalty, and so much more.
An astonishing 88% of Tennessee voters say local property taxes should be limited in how much they can increase each year. Sixty-four percent say they’d be more likely to vote for a legislator who backed a statewide cap on local property tax increases, compared to 7% less likely.
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Opinions on license plate readers depend on how they are used. Overall, 55% oppose law enforcement using them. But 79% support using them to locate stolen vehicles or missing people, and 78% support using them to investigate violent crimes after they occur. Voters are split on traffic or parking enforcement (42% support, 51% oppose) and oppose general patrol or monitoring without a specific investigation (31% support, 65% oppose).
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Seventy percent support the death penalty for first-degree murder, and 22% oppose. Eighty-three percent were aware of the failed execution attempt of Christa Pike. Forty-nine percent say it didn’t change their view, 21% say it made them more supportive, and 25% less.
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Seventy-eight percent support renaming Nashville International Airport in honor of Dolly Parton (55% strongly). “I Will Always Love You” leads as favorite song at 27%, closely followed by “Jolene” (22%) and “9 to 5” (17%).
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Democrats prefer capitalism over socialism: Tennessee Democrats prefer capitalism 48% to 37%. Statewide, it’s 65% to 22%.
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Voters are split on tariffs, but few say they help. Forty-seven percent support the U.S. imposing tariffs, and 46% oppose. Forty-seven percent say tariffs have affected them mostly negatively, compared to 9% mostly positively. A quarter noticed no impact.
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A majority oppose sports stadium subsidies. Fifty-five percent oppose using state tax incentives for a professional sports team stadium (31% strongly), and 38% support.
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