Sen. Marsha Blackburn Enters Tennessee Governor Race

Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn announced her run to be governor in her home state Wednesday, making her the third senator this Congress to announce a departure from Washington for gubernatorial ambitions.

“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.”

Blackburn is running to replace Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who is term-limited. Since joining the Senate in 2019, Blackburn has been a conservative voice in the chamber and has championed the Kids Online Safety Act, which would regulate Big Tech and social media companies.

More recently, Blackburn introduced an amendment to the “big, beautiful” budget reconciliation bill that struck a provision that would have discouraged the regulation of artificial intelligence.

Blackburn’s run for governor begins as Sens. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and Michael Bennet, D-Colo., also seek the office in their respective states.

Although she is leaving Washington, Blackburn argues that she will still be supporting President Donald Trump’s agenda.

“In his first six months, President Trump has made historic strides in Making America Great Again, but as he sends power back to the states, he’s going to need strong conservative governors who can bring that revolution home,” she said in a statement.

Blackburn’s departure will likely open up the Senate primary race to a number of viable contenders, as Tennessee currently has seven Republicans in the House of Representatives, as well as Republican supermajorities in both houses of its state Legislature.