A recent poll by the Beacon Center reveals a rise in support for former President Donald Trump among Tennesseans following his felony conviction. The survey, conducted from June 20 to July 1 among 1,200 residents, shows that 34% are more likely to vote for Trump in November due to his guilty verdict in New York, while 22% are less likely. The poll, conducted before the attempted assassination of Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, indicates that 40% of respondents said the trial's outcome would not influence their vote.

The Beacon Center also found that 57% of Tennesseans believe the trial was politically motivated, although opinions are divided on whether Trump committed the crimes he was convicted of. Mark Cunningham, the Beacon Center's spokesperson, noted that many people view the trial as politically motivated yet still consider Trump guilty and are more inclined to support him. Since the last poll in April, Trump’s lead over President Joe Biden has increased by 20 points, with Trump now holding a significant 30-point lead in Tennessee, a traditionally red state.

In contrast to Trump’s strong performance, the poll highlights a closer race between U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) and state Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), with about a 20-point difference. Additionally, Democratic Senate candidates Johnson and Marquita Bradshaw are outperforming Biden by nearly 10 points in Tennessee. The poll also reveals substantial opposition to using state tax dollars to fund a new Major League Baseball (MLB) stadium in Nashville, with 58% of Tennessee voters against public funding for the stadium's construction, including 59% of Middle Tennesseans where the stadium would be located.