Political Notebook: History in the Making in Tennessee Governor’s Race?

Marsha Blackburn supporters have long been pointing to the fact that if she wins the Governor’s race in November she will make history as the FIRST female Governor of the state. But she has to defeat two other women and one man to achieve that historical objective. Democrat Jerri Green and Independent Lauren Pinkston, along with Independent David Hatley stand in Marsha’s way. (Democrats aren’t talking as much about Jerri Green possibly being the first female Governor since their party and Supreme Court nominees have a hard time defining what a woman is.)

But another form of history is almost certain in November as well. In deep red Tennessee Marsha (Marsha, Marsha) is likely to win and in fact become the first female governor in the state’s history. But with the split of votes between her, Green, Pinkston and the very well funded Hatley, it is almost certain that the winner will secure less than 50% of the votes on November 3. Tennessee does not have runoff elections, as many other states do, when a “winner” comes in under a 50% threshold. 

Blackburn received 43% of the GOP primary vote. Even with a Republican Party trying to unify under her banner, it appears likely that she will not secure more than 50% of the votes on November 3. In that case, she will still make history as the first female governor of Tennessee. 

But she would also make history as the first Governor of Tennessee elected without a majority of the general election vote votes since 1896. The last time a candidate won a Tennessee gubernatorial general election with less than 50% of the popular vote was 130 years ago! Democrat
Robert Love Taylor defeated
Republican G. N. Tillman 48.75%-
46.61% (with the remainder going to Populist and Prohibition candidates).

Blackburn is probably going to make history on two fronts this Fall as the first female Governor and as the first Governor in 130 years to win without getting a majority of the votes from Tennesseans, although her team is likely to focus more on the former rather than the latter. A plurality of votes is still a win in Tennessee. And “Minority Marsha” might not like the nickname but she definitely won’t be too upset as long as the title is GOVERNOR Minority Marsha.

Steve Gill is editor in Publisher of TriStar Daily.