On July 29, NBC reported that Hegseth has "privately discussed the idea of running for political office." While the Pentagon’s chief spokesman Sean Parnell denied any idea of Hegseth vying for the governorship in Tennessee, the Secretary of Defense could run for office should he choose to leave his current post.

NBC News has reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is considering a run for Tennessee governor in 2026. Hegseth, a resident of Tennessee, would have to resign from his current position to run for political office. Hegseth has faced controversy for sharing classified information and his stance on women in the military.

After barely six months of leading the nation’s military, embattled Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants to hang it up and run for office. NBC News sources have reported that Hegseth has privately considered running for governor in his home state of Tennessee next year.