Tennessee’s senators threw their support behind former President Donald J. Trump in the Republican Presidential Primary race and celebrated his massive victory in Monday night’s Iowa caucuses.
“[Donald Trump] will be the Republican nominee. He will be the next #POTUS. And he’ll Make America Great Again!” said Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on X Tuesday morning.
.@realDonaldTrump will be the Republican nominee.
He will be the next #POTUS.
And he'll Make America Great Again! 🇺🇸
— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) January 16, 2024
“Last night, Iowans sent a clear message to the country that they want President Donald Trump to be the Republican nominee who defeats Joe Biden,” Blackburn told The Tennessee Star Tuesday. “He won in a historic landslide, getting more votes than everyone against him combined. President Trump handed Biden the most secure border in recent history, all for Joe Biden to destroy it within three years. Trump will enforce border security, he will build the wall, and he will protect our country again. The American people know he will rescue our economy and put America first once again.”
Blackburn was an early supporter of Trump’s 2024 reelection bid, endorsing him last April.
“Under President Trump, our economy was booming, gas prices were low, and inflation was under control,” she said at the time. “Our border was secure, our adversaries feared us, & our military was strong. I am proud to endorse Donald Trump for President and can’t wait until he’s back in the White House.”
Under President Trump, our economy was booming, gas prices were low, and inflation was under control. Our border was secure, our adversaries feared us, & our military was strong.
I am proud to endorse Donald Trump for President and can't wait until he's back in the White House. pic.twitter.com/1M9lpBNXqI
— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) April 17, 2023
Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) celebrated the victory, too.
“[Donald Trump] is what America needs. Big win tonight in Iowa!” he said on X Monday night.
.@realDonaldTrump is what America needs. Big win tonight in Iowa! pic.twitter.com/0DHNVIEZYR
— Bill Hagerty (@BillHagertyTN) January 16, 2024
Trump dominated the Iowa caucuses, where America’s first primary votes are cast.
According to The New York Times, he received 56,260 votes.
Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis (R) placed second with 23,420 votes, while former South Carolina Governor and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley (R) placed third with 21,085 votes.
Trump picked up 20 primary delegates while DeSantis netted nine and Haley earned eight.
Fourth-place finisher Vivek Ramaswamy, a political newcomer who garnered a surprising amount of attention on the campaign trail, immediately dropped out of the presidential race Monday night and endorsed Trump.
“This entire campaign is about speaking the TRUTH. We did not achieve our goal tonight & we need an America-First patriot in the White House,” he said. “The people spoke loud & clear about who they want. Tonight I am suspending my campaign and endorsing Donald J. Trump and will do everything I can to make sure he is the next U.S. President. I am enormously proud of this team, this movement, and our country.”
This entire campaign is about speaking the TRUTH. We did not achieve our goal tonight & we need an America-First patriot in the White House. The people spoke loud & clear about who they want. Tonight I am suspending my campaign and endorsing Donald J. Trump and will do everything…
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 16, 2024
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter.
Photo “Marsha Blackburn and Donald Trump” by Marsha Blackburn.Â
Both should be replaced with stronger Republican replacements
Oh dear, have our two formerly stalwart conservative U.S. Senators both caught Potomac Fever? Conservatives should be aware of a decline in both of their Heritage scores. For Marsha the decline has only been from the high 80’s to its present 85. Hagerty’s score, however, has fallen off a cliff. From the 90’s shortly after taking office to its present 81
At Hagerty’s present pace of voting with the centrist Republicans he will soon become yet another uninteresting tepid conservative. If that’s how he will appear when he runs for reelection perhaps it will be time for a new US Senator.