Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-5-103: Candidates for statewide elections

(a) Each independent or primary candidate for an office elected by the voters of the entire state shall file the candidate's original nominating petition in the office of the state election commission and a certified duplicate with the coordinator of elections and with the chair of the party's state executive committee in the case of primary candidates.

(b) The chair of the state election commission shall, no later than twelve (12:00) noon prevailing time on the first Thursday after the deadlines set in § 2-5-101 , certify to the chairs of the county election commissions the names of all candidates who have qualified under this section to have their names on the ballots for general or primary elections.