U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has reportedly narrowed her list of candidates for her Senate successor to four names: U.S. Representatives Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) and Chuck Fleschmann (R-TN-03), Deputy Governor Stuart McWhorter, and former Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs.
The four candidates were named separately by The Nashville Banner and The Washington Sun, both of which cited people close to Blackburn as the source. Both Burchett and Jacobs campaigned frequently with Blackburn, while she recently named McWhorter the head of her gubernatorial transition team.
After first saying he would “love the opportunity to be in the U.S. Senate” during an October 2025 appearance on The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, Burchett confirmed Sunday that he remains interested in being selected by Blackburn.
“I think I could win statewide,” Burchett said during a Fox News appearance. “I’m very pleased that Marsha Blackburn – who is, historically, the first female governor of the State of Tennessee, which I find very cool because I’ve got a 19-year-old daughter – she said she’s not going to allow Washington to decide that.”
Burchett stated, “I’ve prayed about it; I would absolutely take on that role.”
Confirming he intends to run for Senate in 2028, he added, “And if not, I would absolutely run for it in two years.”
Before being asked about his potential selection, Burchett expressed his displeasure with Senate leadership and suggested that Republicans in both branches of Congress were responsible for the midterm defeats Republicans suffered last week.
“Washington needs to stop blaming Trump and start blaming themselves for the mess we’re in right now,” said Burchett. He later stated, “We need to message better. The Big Beautiful Bill had thousands of things in there that we should have messaged but we didn’t.”
Burchett told radio host Todd Starnes that he has been told that Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) does not want him to be Blackburn’s successor.
“I’m sure John Thune is a good guy, but I don’t think his leadership is what we need right now in the United States Senate. And I love the fact that he’s not for me,” Burchett said.
While Burchett may intend to run for Senate in 2028, a person close to Jacobs reportedly told The Washington Sun that the former Knox County mayor’s odds improved after it was confirmed Blackburn was not considering Hegseth.
“He can talk to both the kind of ‘establishment’ type people but then also the regular voters too,” stated the individual, according to the outlet. “He kind of has that appeal.”
Fleischmann also confirmed he was interested in a promotion to the U.S. Senate in a statement to Punchbowl News last month, and told The Sun that he would seek reelection to the Senate if tapped for the position by Blackburn.
He said last year that he “would not be a placeholder” if selected.
While McWhorter has not commented on his potential selection for the U.S. Senate, his name appeared on Blackburn’s nominating petition in March. He also appeared on her Unmuted with Marsha podcast last year and participated in a roundtable event she hosted in 2023.
Blackburn has not commented on her potential selection. Asked last week, the governor-elect stated, “We’ll have conversations about the Senate at a later date. It’s not a conversation for today.”
– – –
Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Glenn Jacobs” by Glenn Jacobs.
