Blackburn on track to succeed Lee as Tennessee governor after primary win

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Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is projected to advance in the Republican gubernatorial primary, making her likely to succeed Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) as the Volunteer State’s next chief executive, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).

Blackburn defeated Rep. John Rose (R-Tenn.) in his attempt to succeed term-limited Lee. The duo backed President Trump’s agenda as they both jockeyed to lead a state the president won in 2024, 2020 and 2016.

The Tennessee senator held a strong lead ahead of Rose going into Tuesday’s primary. Internal polling published in The Tennessean in July found Blackburn with a 31-point lead over Rose, 51-20.

Rose self-funded about 85 percent of his campaign and struggled to establish name recognition. This self-funding led to attacks, namely from Blackburn campaign strategist Ward Baker, who told The Tennessean that the governor’s office “is not for sale.”

Blackburn mulled over a gubernatorial run in January 2025 before launching her campaign seven months later. Blackburn vowed to make Tennessee the country’s “powerhouse” for creating jobs, producing energy, emphasizing parents’ right to improve their children’s education and deporting undocumented immigrants.

“This is Tennessee,” she said in her campaign launch video. “We’ll honor the Constitution, we’ll value life, and 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.”

Blackburn first won her Senate seat in 2018 after 16 years in the House representing Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. Entering the race, she received endorsements from Tennessee lawmakers, including Republican Reps. Tim Burchett, Chuck Fleischmann, Matt Van Epps and former Rep. Jimmy Duncan.

Blackburn would be the first woman to become Tennessee’s governor if she wins the November general election. She will face off against Memphis City Council member Jeri Green, who is projected to win the Democratic primary Thursday.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Read the full story at The Hill ↗

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is projected to advance in the Republican gubernatorial primary, making her likely to succeed Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) as the Volunteer State's…

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Skip to content

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is projected to advance in the Republican gubernatorial primary, making her likely to succeed Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) as the Volunteer State’s next chief executive, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).

Blackburn defeated Rep. John Rose (R-Tenn.) in his attempt to succeed term-limited Lee. The duo backed President Trump’s agenda as they both jockeyed to lead a state the president won in 2024, 2020 and 2016.

The Tennessee senator held a strong lead ahead of Rose going into Tuesday’s primary. Internal polling published in The Tennessean in July found Blackburn with a 31-point lead over Rose, 51-20.

Rose self-funded about 85 percent of his campaign and struggled to establish name recognition. This self-funding led to attacks, namely from Blackburn campaign strategist Ward Baker, who told The Tennessean that the governor’s office “is not for sale.”

Blackburn mulled over a gubernatorial run in January 2025 before launching her campaign seven months later. Blackburn vowed to make Tennessee the country’s “powerhouse” for creating jobs, producing energy, emphasizing parents’ right to improve their children’s education and deporting undocumented immigrants.

“This is Tennessee,” she said in her campaign launch video. “We’ll honor the Constitution, we’ll value life, and 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.”

Blackburn first won her Senate seat in 2018 after 16 years in the House representing Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. Entering the race, she received endorsements from Tennessee lawmakers, including Republican Reps. Tim Burchett, Chuck Fleischmann, Matt Van Epps and former Rep. Jimmy Duncan.

Blackburn would be the first woman to become Tennessee’s governor if she wins the November general election. She will face off against Memphis City Council member Jeri Green, who is projected to win the Democratic primary Thursday.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Read the full story at The Hill ↗

Skip to content

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is projected to advance in the Republican gubernatorial primary, making her likely to succeed Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) as the Volunteer State’s next chief executive, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).

Blackburn defeated Rep. John Rose (R-Tenn.) in his attempt to succeed term-limited Lee. The duo backed President Trump’s agenda as they both jockeyed to lead a state the president won in 2024, 2020 and 2016.

The Tennessee senator held a strong lead ahead of Rose going into Tuesday’s primary. Internal polling published in The Tennessean in July found Blackburn with a 31-point lead over Rose, 51-20.

Rose self-funded about 85 percent of his campaign and struggled to establish name recognition. This self-funding led to attacks, namely from Blackburn campaign strategist Ward Baker, who told The Tennessean that the governor’s office “is not for sale.”

Blackburn mulled over a gubernatorial run in January 2025 before launching her campaign seven months later. Blackburn vowed to make Tennessee the country’s “powerhouse” for creating jobs, producing energy, emphasizing parents’ right to improve their children’s education and deporting undocumented immigrants.

“This is Tennessee,” she said in her campaign launch video. “We’ll honor the Constitution, we’ll value life, and 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.”

Blackburn first won her Senate seat in 2018 after 16 years in the House representing Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. Entering the race, she received endorsements from Tennessee lawmakers, including Republican Reps. Tim Burchett, Chuck Fleischmann, Matt Van Epps and former Rep. Jimmy Duncan.

Blackburn would be the first woman to become Tennessee’s governor if she wins the November general election. She will face off against Memphis City Council member Jeri Green, who is projected to win the Democratic primary Thursday.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Read the full story at The Hill ↗

This lens runs the verified story through Cinnamon's AI — wired in the next step.

• Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is projected to advance in the Republican gubernatorial primary, making her likely to succeed Tennessee Gov.
• Bill Lee (R) as the Volunteer State's…