For ads-free news, click here.
During a Fox News interview Saturday morning, Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn confirmed the rumors are true… she is indeed considering running for governor in her home state of Tennessee.
Blackburn, 72, has served in the U.S. Senate since January 2019. She just won re-election for her second term in November, with 63.8% of the vote. She previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2003 to 2019.
The current governor of Tennessee, Bill Lee (R), is two years into his second term, and will not be able to run for re-election in November 2026.
Axios had first reported the scoop on Tuesday:
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) has been making calls and telling people she is likely to make a bid for governor, D.C. and Tennessee sources tell Axios.
Why it matters: Blackburn would be a formidable contender in the 2026 gubernatorial race. She would be running to be the first female governor in the state’s history.
State and federal elected officials have been making calls in support of her possible candidacy in recent days, a source tells Axios.
With Tennessee voters leaning solidly Republican, the GOP primary will likely determine the state’s next governor.
In a Fox News interview Saturday, Blackburn said she wants to focus on the next two years to help President Trump implement his agenda, but said she is “strongly considering” running for governor of Tennessee for the 2026 election.
🚨NEWS: @MarshaBlackburn tells me she is “strongly considering” a run for Tennessee governor.
Senator Blackburn just won her bid for a second Senate term with 63.8% of the vote. Republican Tennessee Governor Bill Lee cannot run again in 2026, leaving the GOP field open. pic.twitter.com/k0lShoHIUy— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) January 18, 2025
Below is the full interview:
SCOOP: Sen. Marsha Blackburn has been making calls and telling people she is likely to make a bid for governor, D.C. and Tennessee sources tell Axios. https://t.co/xPZAy47V4L
— Axios (@axios) January 14, 2025
Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter.)
The DML News App: www.X.com/DMLNewsApp
The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast archive is available below, with the most recent on top. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.
