Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn is running for Governor, ending months of speculation regarding her “imminent” announcement. Blackburn announced her plan to help Tennessee be “America’s conservative leader” for generations to come.
Blackburn would be the state’s first female Governor if she wins, and is leaning heavily on her support for President Donald Trump in her announcement video. The first images in the video are of the president, before Blackburn takes over to declare: “Trump is back, America is blessed, and Tennessee — better than ever.”
Blackburn was reelected to a six year term in the Senate in 2024. If she is elected Governor she will appoint someone to fill her Senate seat for two years, pending a special election for the two years remaining in her full term in 2028. If she loses the Governor‘s race, she will continue to be a US Senator from Tennessee as she is unlikely to resign during the campaign.
“Here in the Volunteer State, we always lead the way. And that’s why I am announcing my candidacy for governor,” she says, promising to bring more jobs and energy production to the state, adding she plans to “deliver a world-class education for our children by empowering parents, not the deep state.”
She framed herself as a stalwart of conservative policy who will carry forward those values as governor — promising to deport illegal aliens “whether it takes planes, trains or starships;” promising to “value life;” waving at the debate over transgender athletes participating in women’s sports by saying “we’ll define our boys and girls the way God made them.”
“I love Tennessee, I believe in Tennesseans, and I’m ready to deliver the kind of conservative leadership that will ensure our state is America’s conservative leader for this generation and the next,” she added.
Blackburn will join a primary that includes Rep. John Rose, who has loaned his campaign $5 million and has already raised another million dollars. Rose has also emphasized his ties to and support for President Trump. Governor Bill Lee cannot run again due to term limits.
Blackburn has long been a significant force in Republican politics in Tennessee, having served in elected office for a quarter-century, and led the fight against a state income tax against Republican Governor Don Sundquist as a State Senator two decades ago. She has also taken high-profile roles in the Senate on issues like abortion and banning transgender athletes from women’s sports. She has been an early and strong supporter of President Trump. Trump has not yet weighed in with a preference in the race but a flurry of endorsements for Blackburn from legislative leaders and other elected officials in the state followed immediately after her video announcement.
At this point, there is not a significant Democratic Party candidate for Governor appearing on the horizon. So either Blackburn or Rose appear to be strong favorites to keep the office in Republican hands.
Steve Gill is Publisher of TriStar Daily.
