Knoxville Republican Congressman Tim Burchett says he would accept Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s appointment to fill her Senate seat if she wins the state’s gubernatorial race. Blackburn officially launched her campaign for governor this week. Burchett’s House colleague John Rose entered the Republican Primary for Governor in March and has already raised $6.1 million for his effort.
Blackburn was reelected to a six-year term in the Senate in 2024. If she wins the governor’s race in 2026, that will create a vacancy, and she, as Governor, would appoint her replacement. In that case, her Senate appointee would face a special election in 2028 for the remaining two years of her six-year term.
Burchett has dramatically increased his state and national media visibility in the past six months and has become a very effective conservative mouthpiece for the Trump and MAGA agenda. Additionally, he has visited 30 of the state’s 95 counties over the past few months, including stops in each of Tennessee’s three grand divisions. He tells TriStar Daily that he plans to hit many more counties before the end of the year.
“I’ve been a little bit slowed after one of my horses kicked me in the chest and broke one of my ribs when a horsefly bit its rear end, but I only missed one event,” Burchett explained. The House is currently in recess for August, so Burchett is spending extended time in the state.
“I have worked alongside Senator Blackburn since our days together in the state Senate, and I believe she will make a strong governor,” Burchett told TriStar Daily. “My priority is Tennessee’s 2nd Congressional District, but if there was an opportunity to serve in the U.S. Senate, I’d be honored to make that move.”
“Frankly,” Burchett pointed out, “I have been surprised at the large crowds my speeches have drawn across the state, including in places I haven’t really spent much time visiting in the past. There is clearly a hunger for the conservative common sense and straight talk that I have been sharing on national media, on my X posts, and to the Republican groups I’ve been talking to here in Tennessee. It is the same hunger that President Trump feeds with both his words and actions that make him so popular across the country,” Burchett added.
The Congressman, who often wears his signature Carhartt jacket, admitted that August in Tennessee is a bit hot for the Carhartt. “But Fall and Tennessee football are just around the corner and the Carhartt will return,” Burchett laughed.
Burchett has represented the 2nd District since 2019 and previously served eight years as mayor of Knox County. The current Knox County Mayor, Glenn Jacobs, is also reportedly interested in the Senate appointment if Blackburn is elected.
Steve Gill is the publisher of TriStar Daily. He is a national and international political analyst and commentator.
