Incumbent Whig Governor Newton Cannon lost re-election to a third term against Democratic nominee and former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives James K.

[1] Democrats, determined to defeat governor Cannon, convinced rising politician and Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives James K. Polk to run against him.

The two candidates toured the state together to give a series of public debates, the first of which took place at Murfreesboro on April 11, 1839.

Cannon typically delivered slower, more methodical arguments and was outshone in the debates by the quicker and wittier Polk.

[2] On election day, 1 August 1839, Democratic nominee James K. Polk won the election by a margin of 2,675 votes against his Whig opponent and incumbent Governor Newton Cannon, thereby gaining Democratic control over the office of Governor.