--- title: Meet Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee Governor Hopeful description: Blackburn is running for state Governor in a bid to turn her home state into America’s "conservative leader." canonical: https://time.com/7307957/marsha-blackburn-republican-tennessee-governor-run/ author: Solcyré Burga article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2025-08-06T18:11:01.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T04:50:52.790Z article:section: Politics og:title: Meet Marsha Blackburn Who Is Running for Tennessee Governor og:description: Blackburn is running for state Governor in a bid to turn her home state into America’s "conservative leader." og:url: https://time.com/7307957/marsha-blackburn-republican-tennessee-governor-run/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7e61d36d90be55b6/6998c8d6d32e934729cd73b4/GettyImages-2185958377.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5686 og:image:height: 3198 og:image:alt: Vice President-Elect JD Vance On Capitol Hill For Lawmaker Meetings With Defense Secretary Nominee Pete Hegseth og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Meet Marsha Blackburn Who Is Running for Tennessee Governor twitter:description: Blackburn is running for state Governor in a bid to turn her home state into America’s "conservative leader." twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7e61d36d90be55b6/6998c8d6d32e934729cd73b4/GettyImages-2185958377.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Meet Marsha Blackburn, the Tennessee Republican Running for Governor > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters.  by [Solcyré Burga](https://time.com/author/solcyre-burga/)  ## Solcyré Burga Reporter Aug 6, 2025 6:11 PM UTC  Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn speaks to reporters in the Russell Senate Office Building on Nov. 21, 2024, in Washington, D.C. Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn speaks to reporters in the Russell Senate Office Building on Nov. 21, 2024, in Washington, D.C. Kevin Dietsch—Getty Images  by [Solcyré Burga](https://time.com/author/solcyre-burga/)  ## Solcyré Burga Reporter Aug 6, 2025 6:11 PM UTC Republican [Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee](https://time.com/5445358/marsha-blackburn-tennessee-midterms-results/) is running for state Governor in a bid to turn her home state into America’s “conservative leader.” The lawmaker’s announcement adds to the growing trend of Congress members seeking election for positions in their home state, away from the nation’s capital. With today’s announcement, Blackburn joins fellow Republicans Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, and Rep. John Rose, her opponent in the race. Across the aisle, Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado is also running for Governor in his home state. Blackburn, 73, has only grown in prominence due to her fierce loyalty to President Donald Trump, a status which she appears to be touting in her campaign launch. “Trump is back, America is blessed—and Tennessee—better than ever,” the elected official said in a video [shared online](https://x.com/VoteMarsha/status/1953064763660873767) on Wednesday. “Here in the Volunteer State, we always lead the way. And that's why I am announcing my candidacy for Governor.” Blackburn made history in 2018 when she was elected as the first woman to represent Tennessee in the U.S. Senate, securing her Congressional seat in spite of vocal opposition from [critics including megastar Taylor Swift.](https://time.com/7020404/taylor-swift-endorsements-politics-timeline/) If she wins this next race, Blackburn could again break the glass ceiling as the state’s first female Governor. **Read More**: [_The ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Solidifies Trump’s Hold on the Republican Party_](https://time.com/7300059/trump-bill-house-medicaid-republican/) The Republican primary is set to take place in August 2026, followed by a general gubernatorial election that November. In light of her run for Governor, here’s what to know about Blackburn: ## Blackburn’s career origins include a stint with the Tennessee Film, Entertainment, and Music Commission The Mississippi State University [alum](https://www.library.msstate.edu/mpc/marsha-blackburn) started her career in public service as a member of the Tennessee State Senate, where she [served for four years](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marsha-Blackburn) and worked to [defeat a proposed](https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/about-marsha) state income tax. Blackburn later won the election to represent Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District in 2002, ten years after her first attempt to win a seat was unsuccessful. Before her role as an elected official, Blackburn served as the executive director of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment, and Music Commission. ## Conservative values are a hallmark of Blackburn’s voting record Blackburn is known for her strong anti-abortion stance and her calls for greater border security and stronger fiscal responsibility. The Tennessee native has introduced legislation “requiring 1%, 2%, and 5% across-the-board cuts to non-defense, non-veterans, and non-homeland security spending,” [according to her Senate biography](https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/about-marsha). In July, Blackburn voted in favor of [Trump's “One Big Beautiful Bill,”](https://time.com/7300177/trump-signs-big-beautiful-bill/) which, among a slew of changes, proposed cuts to funding for[ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)](https://time.com/7272755/what-is-snap-challenges-it-faces-under-trump-administration-rfk-jr/) benefits. It also cut funds for [Medicaid](https://time.com/7298772/medicaid-big-beautiful-bill-health-insurance/), potentially impacting the more than 70 million Americans who are insured through the program. Elsewhere, Blackburn advocated to repeal the military’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate in 2022, and in[ 2024 voted against](https://tennesseelookout.com/2024/09/18/in-vitro-fertilization-bills-from-both-democrats-and-gop-blocked-in-u-s-senate/) advancing the Right to IVF Act, which would have expanded and protected access to in vitro fertilization in the country. Blackburn [earned](https://sbaprolife.org/senator/marsha-blackburn) an A+ by the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America organization, which ranks elected officials based on their votes on bills and other actions. The ranking pointed to Blackburn’s [introduction](https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2023/3/issues/pro-life/blackburn-introduces-bill-to-help-end-taxpayer-funded-abortion) of the [Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act,](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/88) which would have prohibited the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from awarding grants to organizations that perform or fund abortions. (The bill did not pass.) The Senator has also been vocal in her criticism of [China](https://time.com/7304355/china-invasion-taiwan-2027/), and notably [met](https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/about-marsha) with former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in 2022. Meanwhile, in May, Blackburn collaborated across party lines, joining forces with Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal to [reintroduce the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)](https://time.com/7288539/kids-online-safety-act-status-what-to-know/). **Read More**: [_What to Know About the Kids Online Safety Act and Where It Currently Stands_](https://time.com/7288539/kids-online-safety-act-status-what-to-know/)  President Donald Trump greets Sen. Marsha Blackburn during the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Vice President J.D. Vance is also pictured. Win McNamee—Getty Images ## Blackburn’s allegiance to Trump As mentioned, the MAGA Republican has a strong connection to the President and [served on the executive committee](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/whos-who-in-the-new-trump-transition-team-line-up) of his transition team during his first presidential term. Blackburn has leveraged her strong allegiance to Trump in recent years, and appears to be making it a prominent part of her campaign. Footage of voters with signs reading “Women for Trump” at a local rally mark the start of her campaign video, and multiple images of the pair are sprinkled throughout the clip. “President Trump is ushering in a new Golden Age of America marked by strong, innovative, and fearless leadership, which stands in stark contrast to four years of weakness and failure under Joe Biden,” Blackburn said in an April [statement](https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/index.php/2025/4/general/blackburn-celebrates-president-trump-s-triumphant-first-100-days-promises-made-promises-kept) commemorating [Trump’s first 100 days](https://time.com/7280106/trump-interview-100-days-2025/) of his second term. “The lives of Tennesseans and Americans are made better because of President Trump’s willingness to put America first at every turn, and I congratulate him on a remarkable start to his Administration.” **Read More**: [_Senators Reject 10-Year Ban on State-Level AI Regulation_](https://time.com/7299044/senators-reject-10-year-ban-on-state-level-ai-regulation-in-blow-to-big-tech/) ## A look at Blackburn’s early campaign promises While Blackburn’s fully-fledged plan for the state has yet to be unveiled, the Senator teased some campaign promises on Wednesday. Among them were vows to make Tennessee the number one state for job creation and energy production, plus an intention to deliver stronger education for children “by empowering parents**,** not the deep state.” The Tennessee lawmaker has also already established a strong focus on [immigration matters,](https://time.com/7281034/trump-immigration-crackdown-executive-orders/) a hallmark of Trump’s second term in the White House. Blackburn has so far proposed to deport undocumented immigrants whether it takes, “planes, trains, or starships,” stating that “respect for the law starts with enforcing it.” Blackburn also shared her anti-abortion views once more in her campaign launch, and spoke out against the use of pronoun-inclusivity, seemingly taking aim at the LGBTQ+ community. “We’ll define our boys and girls the way God made them,” she said. During the 2024 Senate election, during which Blackburn was [endorsed](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/112509274904589263) by Trump, she picked up [more than 63%](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/tennessee-senate-results) of the vote. Prior to her announcement about running for Governor, Blackburn [earned the endorsement](https://www.knoxnews.com/story/opinion/columnists/2025/02/09/glenn-jacobs-endorses-marsha-blackburn-as-tennessees-next-governor/78333258007/?tbref=hp) of Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/7307957/marsha-blackburn-republican-tennessee-governor-run/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/7307957/marsha-blackburn-republican-tennessee-governor-run/"},"headline":"Meet Marsha Blackburn, the Tennessee Republican Running for Governor","datePublished":"2025-08-06T18:11:01.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:50:52.790Z","description":"Blackburn is running for state Governor in a bid to turn her home state into America’s \"conservative leader.\"","url":"https://time.com/7307957/marsha-blackburn-republican-tennessee-governor-run/","keywords":["elections","Donald Trump","News Desk"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7e61d36d90be55b6/6998c8d6d32e934729cd73b4/GettyImages-2185958377.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Solcyré Burga","jobTitle":"Reporter","url":"https://time.com/author/solcyre-burga/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7e61d36d90be55b6/6998c8d6d32e934729cd73b4/GettyImages-2185958377.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Vice President-Elect JD Vance On Capitol Hill For Lawmaker Meetings With Defense Secretary Nominee Pete Hegseth","caption":"Vice President-Elect JD Vance On Capitol Hill For Lawmaker Meetings With Defense Secretary Nominee Pete Hegseth","creditText":"Kevin Dietsch—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/elections/","name":"elections"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/7307957/marsha-blackburn-republican-tennessee-governor-run/","name":"Meet Marsha Blackburn, the Tennessee Republican Running for Governor"}}]}] ```