Republican gubernatorial nominee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) made her case to Tennessee voters in an exclusive interview with The Tennessee Star’s CEO and Editor-in-Chief Michael Patrick Leahy this week as early voting approaches, declaring she is the race’s “only conservative Republican” and warning her opponents would raise taxes, drive up prices, and make the state less safe.
“The campaign is going great; we are working hard,” Blackburn said Monday during an appearance on The Michael Patrick Leahy Show.
“I remind people every day, yes, I need their vote, every vote counts, and there is only one conservative Republican in this race, only one, and it is me, and I need their vote,” she added.
Blackburn said she believes her record of delivering for Tennesseans will distinguish her from her opponents in the November 3 general election.
“Everybody else in the race would end up raising prices, raising your taxes, making our state less safe, and I have a track record of delivering for the people of this state, and I think Tennesseans know they can count on me to deliver for them, and I’m looking forward to doing that,” Blackburn said.
Early voting begins Wednesday, October 14, and runs through Thursday, October 29, ahead of Election Day on November 3.
During Monday’s interview, Blackburn also addressed the failed execution of convicted murderer Christa Pike, reiterating her support for the death penalty and promising to address leadership problems at the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) if elected governor.
Pike survived two doses of lethal injection last month, prompting Governor Bill Lee to halt the remaining executions scheduled for 2026. Lee also accepted the resignation of former TDOC Commissioner Frank Strada following the failed execution.
“One thing we do know, Tennesseans overwhelmingly support the death penalty,” Blackburn said. “They want to see it enforced.”
Blackburn said Tennessee has two execution methods available: lethal injection and the electric chair. She has previously called for the electric chair to be used as an alternative following Pike’s failed execution.
“You’ve got two options in Tennessee. You can do lethal injection or the electric chair,” Blackburn said.
She pledged to bring new leadership to TDOC and ensure the department has the personnel needed to carry out executions successfully.
“I’m going to bring the leadership to the Department of Corrections to get that thing straightened out, to make certain we have good leadership and personnel at the department,” Blackburn said.
She added that the Tennessee General Assembly would determine any changes to execution policies, procedures, and protocols.
Blackburn also emphasized the impact lengthy delays have on victims’ families as she defended carrying out death sentences after appeals are exhausted.
“The way a victim’s family gets closure to this heinous crime is to see the execution carried out,” Blackburn said. “Nobody wants to see these individuals living 30, 40 years on death row.”
Blackburn concluded by urging Tennesseans to support her campaign, saying she looks forward to celebrating a victory on November 3.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Marsha Blackburn” by Marsha Blackburn.
