U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) officially announced her campaign for Tennessee governor on Wednesday morning.
Blackburn said she is running in the 2026 gubernatorial race to “ensure Tennessee is America’s conservative leader,” adding, “I’m ready to deliver the kind of conservative leadership that will ensure our state is America’s conservative leader for this generation and the next.”
The Tennessee senator accredited President Donald Trump’s success with regard to sending power back to the states as her decision to run for governor.
“In his first six months, President Trump has made historic strides in Making America Great Again, but as he sends power back to the states, he’s going to need strong conservative governors who can bring that revolution home,” she said.
In a video announcing her campaign titled, “BETTER THAN EVER,” Blackburn said as governor, she would work to make Tennessee “America’s number one, job-creating, energy-producing powerhouse.”
Further, Blackburn said with her as governor, Tennessee would empower parents to make decisions regarding their children’s education; carry out immigration enforcement; honor the Constitution; value life; and “define our boys and girls the way God made them.”
“I love Tennessee. I believe in Tennesseans. And I’m ready to deliver the kind of conservative leadership that will ensure our state is America’s conservative leader for this generation and the next,” Blackburn said in her campaign video.
Blackburn kicked off her campaign exactly one year before the Republican primary in the race will take place on August 6, 2026.
As one of three Republicans who have declared themselves as candidates in the gubernatorial race at this point, Blackburn is set to face U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-06) and Cito Pellegra of Arlington for the GOP nomination.
Prior to her official announcement Wednesday, Blackburn’s candidacy for governor has been endorsed by multiple prominent Tennessee leaders, including Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03), Tennessee State Representative Jake McCalmon (R-Franklin), Carroll County Mayor Joseph Butler, and others.
Watch Blackburn’s first campaign video:
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Republican/Conservative males are more likely to be strong leaders than females. Marsha Blackburn is no Conservative. For these two reasons she should be challenged in a primary by a strong male role model, Mayor Kane from Knox County for example. Sorry Marsha.
It’s time for her to come home & be a grandma. She been an elected official for decades.
She betrayed Tennesseans on J6 2021, when she voted to certify Joe Biden as POTUS after she promised she would not. SHE CAVED UNDER PRESSURE.
Additionally, a Deputy Sheriff ( Stan McAbee) from her County, was arrested & imprisoned for being at the Legal Stop the Steal Protest on J6 2021. She won’t even talk about that day.
She was asked about it today on Super Talk 97 radio. She gave the most absurd “answer”. It was insulting.
She lost my vote J6 2021.
UGH!