Buford Ellington Democratic Winfield Dunn Republican The 1970 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970, to elect the next governor of Tennessee.

Incumbent Democratic governor Buford Ellington was term-limited and was prohibited by the Constitution of Tennessee from seeking another term.

Republican nominee Winfield Dunn, defeated Democratic opponent John Jay Hooker with 52.0% of the vote.

[1] 24.5% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary.

[2] 10.1% of the voting age population participated in the Republican primary.