Tennessee will execute Anthony Darrell Hines, 66, on Thursday, three months after a lethal injection attempt in the state was called off due to problems inserting an intravenous line. Alabama and Oklahoma also have executions scheduled for the same day, a rare occurrence in the United States.
The last time three executions were carried out on the same day was Jan. 7, 2010, involving inmates in Louisiana, Ohio and Texas. Three executions were scheduled for one day in 2018, but only one proceeded after a Texas man received a reprieve and Alabama prison officials encountered problems with an IV line.
A small number of states consistently account for the majority of executions in the United States. Robin Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, said this concentration is clear across the country.
Eleven states executed a total of 47 people in 2025, the highest number since 2009. Florida led with 19 executions, followed by Alabama, South Carolina and Texas, which each carried out five. Tennessee conducted three executions, while Oklahoma, Mississippi, Arizona and Indiana each performed two. Louisiana and Missouri each carried out one.
So far in 2026, 19 executions have occurred across four states. Florida again leads the country, having executed two inmates on the same day in July.
Tennessee's upcoming execution of Hines draws particular attention because of the state's recent difficulties. In May, an attempted execution of inmate Tony Carruthers was halted after the IV team spent more than an hour trying to insert a required backup line, despite establishing a primary line quickly. Carruthers was granted a one-year reprieve.
Hines has challenged his execution, citing his own health issues, including two strokes that left him partially paralyzed. He argues these conditions increase the risk of complications during lethal injection. Hines also claimed the doctor who oversaw Carruthers' attempted execution was unqualified and likely to mishandle his execution.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has declined to intervene. Last week, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled against a stay of execution, saying Hines had not provided proof that the doctor was unqualified. State officials have not disclosed whether the same medical professional will oversee Hines' execution.
Maher said "all eyes really are on Tennessee at this moment because of the problem that happened."
