Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn announced on Wednesday her candidacy for governor of Tennessee. If successful, she would become the first female governor in the state's history. Blackburn, a staunch ally of Donald Trump, has been a vocal opponent of abortion and supported Trump's baseless claims of fraud in the 2020 election.
In her campaign launch video, Blackburn said, 'Trump is back, America is blessed, and Tennessee: better than ever.' She promised to 'define our boys and girls the way God made them,' deport undocumented immigrants, and 'deliver a world-class education for our children by empowering parents, not the deep state.'
Blackburn served in the House of Representatives for 16 years before becoming Tennessee's first female US senator in 2018. She championed legislation to strip federal funding from abortion providers and initially opposed certifying Joe Biden's 2020 victory, but changed her stance after the January 6 attack.
In the Republican primary, Blackburn faces Congressman John Rose, though other candidates may emerge. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has also been mentioned as a potential contender. A poll by Trump's pollster Tony Fabrizio suggests Blackburn is the clear frontrunner, with 82% of GOP primary voters viewing her favourably.
If elected, Blackburn could appoint her successor to the Senate seat. She was re-elected to a second term in 2024 with 64% of the vote, defeating Democratic state representative Gloria Johnson.
