Tag: 2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election

Exclusive: Blackburn Makes Her Case to Tennessee Voters Ahead of Early Voting

Kaitlin Housler
Marsha Blackburn

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.

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Some Lee Administration Officials Reportedly Oppose Another Christa Pike Execution as Blackburn Slams 30-Year Wait

Tom Pappert
Christa Pike

Officials serving under Governor Bill Lee are reportedly in disagreement about the fate of Christa Pike, who was convicted 30 years ago for murdering Colleen Slemmer during a prolonged attack in 1995.

Lee paused all executions scheduled for the remainder of 2026 after Pike survived two doses of lethal injection administered under the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) last month.

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TN Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee Jerri Green Courts Walz, Whitmer, and Beshear Ahead of November 3 Election

Kaitlin Housler
Jerri Green and Tim Walz

Tennessee Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jerri Green is courting support from Democratic governors across the country, touting recent meetings and exchanges with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear as she campaigns for governor ahead of the November election.

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Blackburn Pledges to ‘Bring Back Electric Chair’ for Rapid Executions if Elected Governor After Botched Execution of Convicted Killer

Tom Pappert
Marsha Blackburn

In response to the botched execution of Christa Pike, who was convicted more than 20 years ago for the 1995 premeditated murder of Colleen Slemmer, on Thursday U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said she will “bring back the electric chair” if elected Governor of Tennessee in November.

“This situation is tragic. Christa Pike should have been executed long ago,” wrote Blackburn in a Thursday post to X. “Now, this botched process is extending the pain for the family of Colleen Slemmer.”

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Marsha Blackburn Holds 21-Point Lead over Democrat Jerri Green in Race to Become Tennessee’s Next Governor

Tom Pappert
Marsha Blackburn

Polling released Thursday morning shows U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) holds a 21-point lead over the Democrats’ nominee, Jerri Brown, in the race to become Tennessee’s next governor. 

Beacon Center of Tennessee’s analysis of its poll, conducted by Targoz Market Research from August 15 through August 26, found that 55 percent of likely voters prefer Blackburn, while just 34 percent would vote for Green. 

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Marsha Blackburn’s Life, Political Rise Featured in New Educational Coloring Book

Kaitlin Housler
Marsha Blackburn

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is the subject of a new 40-page educational coloring book highlighting her life, career, and path to becoming the first woman elected to represent the Volunteer State in the U.S. Senate.

Really Big Coloring Books, Inc. announced Sunday the release of Marsha Blackburn: An American Success Story, describing the publication as a “fact-based, nonpartisan account of Blackburn’s personal and professional milestones” designed for “school-age readers, teens, families, educators, libraries, and history enthusiasts.”

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Campaign, Tax and Corporate Filings Link Group Behind Anti-Blackburn Ads to Jeff Roe-Connected PAC Network

Tom Pappert
Marsha Blackburn

The American Exceptionalism Institute (AEI), the dark money group currently spending more than $1 million to defeat U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) in the Republican gubernatorial primary, is connected through tax, business, and campaign paperwork to at least three other political action committees (PACs) that have operated in Tennessee since 2024, which seem to all share connection to Missouri-based political strategist Jeff Roe, or his company, Axiom Strategies.

For example, tax records from 2023 show AEI contributed $3.25 million to the American Policy Coalition (APC). That year, APC sent $95,000 to the East Tennessee Conservatives, which Tennessee campaign records show heavily supported the campaign of State Senator Bobby Harshbarger (R-Sullivan County).

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Robby Starbuck Backs Blackburn in Tennessee Governor’s Race

Kaitlin Housler
Robby Starbuck

Documentary filmmaker and conservative political pundit Robby Starbuck endorsed U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) in Tennessee’s Republican gubernatorial primary, calling her the candidate who would provide the conservative leadership the state needs ahead of Thursday’s election.

During an interview with Blackburn on The Robby Starbuck Show, Starbuck announced his endorsement, saying, “I want to endorse you. I think you’re going to be a great governor for the state of Tennessee. It’s a state I love immensely. This is where we’ve raised our kids, and I think Tennessee needs leadership that is even more conservative than we have had in the past that is going to have their eye on these issues. I think you’re going to do a great job.”

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Pappert: John Rose’s Financial Filings ‘Don’t Add Up’ as Campaign Declines to Respond

Kaitlin Housler
John Rose

Tom Pappert, lead reporter at The Tennessee Star, said Monday that unanswered questions surrounding U.S. Representative John Rose’s (R-TN-06) congressional financial disclosures could be easily resolved, but remain unanswered because the congressman’s office has not responded to requests for clarification.

Pappert discussed his reporting during Monday’s edition of The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, where he said Rose’s financial disclosure filings appear to contain inconsistencies involving reported holdings and sales of Alphabet Inc. stock and a mutual fund.

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Tom Pappert Questions Media Coverage of Competing Tennessee Governor Polls After Blackburn Survey Shows 17-Point Lead

Kaitlin Housler
Marsha Blackburn

Tom Pappert, lead reporter at The Tennessee Star, said the latest internal polling conducted by President Donald Trump’s 2024 chief pollster shows U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) maintaining a commanding lead in Tennessee’s Republican gubernatorial primary, while questioning the credibility and media coverage of a competing survey.

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John Rose Reported Holding Up to $500,000 in Google Parent Stock at End of 2024, then Selling $1 Million to $5 Million in June 2025

Tom Pappert
Rep. John Rose

Federal financial disclosure filings submitted by U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-06) appear inconsistent, with his 2024 annual report listing between $250,001 and $500,000 in Alphabet Class A stock on December 31, and a transaction report filed last year stating he sold between $1 million and $5 million of the same stock from the same brokerage account on June 3, 2025. Alphabet is the parent company of Google. 

Two more items on the June 2025 report appear to indicate Rose sold between $1 million and $2 million worth of shares of the American Funds SMALLCAP World Fund Class A mutual fund, while his 2024 annual disclosure showed he held between $500,001 and $1 million worth of shares in the fund.

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John Rose Supported 2017 Tennessee Gas Tax Increase That Failed to Generate Sufficient Revenue to Cover Road Projects

Tom Pappert
Road construction

When campaigning for his first term in Congress, U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-06) publicly supported former Governor Bill Haslam’s Improving Manufacturing, Public Roads, and Opportunities for a Vibrant Economy Act (IMPROVE) of 2017, which saw Tennessee gas taxes increase six cents over three years.

Rose stated his public position on the gas tax hike during a Smith County event in August 2017, when he told Haslam, “I just want to say I applaud you for making this proposal. I fully support it.”

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Marsha Blackburn Leads Republican Tennessee Gubernatorial Primary by 17 Points: New Poll

Tom Pappert
Marsha Blackburn, John Rose, Monty Fritts

New polling released to The Tennessee Star on Friday shows U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) with a 17-point lead in the Republican Party gubernatorial primary in Tennessee with less than one week until voters head to the polls. 

The internal poll by Fabrizio, Lee and Associates found Blackburn polling at 42 percent, with U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-06) and State Representative Monty Fritts “distantly behind,” respectively polling at 25 percent and 22 percent.

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Exclusive: Blackburn Makes Case for SAVE America Act, Closed Tennessee Primaries

Kaitlin Housler
Marsha Blackburn

In an exclusive interview, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said she will continue pushing to keep the U.S. Senate in session through its August recess to advance the SAVE Act while also reaffirming her commitment to work with Tennessee lawmakers to close the state’s primary elections if elected governor.

During a Friday appearance on The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, Blackburn discussed efforts to pass the SAVE America Act in Congress and expanded on her recently announced support for requiring Tennessee voters to register with a political party in order to vote in that party’s primary election.

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John Rose Claims Role in Tennessee Tax Revolt, Cites Photo of Bullhorn Red Truck Taken Two Years After Final Protest

Tom Pappert

U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-05) on Wednesday claimed he participated in the Tennessee Tax Revolt that paralyzed the Tennessee General Assembly as it considered enacting a statewide income tax in 2002, but The Tennessee Star has confirmed the photo Rose uploaded to social media was taken at a 2004 reunion event. 

In a portion of a social media post extolling his conservative credentials, Rose wrote Wednesday to X, “This red truck is what my friend John and I drove around the State Capitol during the income tax debates. The locomotive horn on the back was so loud, it shook the glass inside the Capitol!”

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Pappert: Rose Campaign Continues to Dodge Questions on Democratic Voting History and Donations

Kaitlin Housler
John Rose

Tom Pappert, lead reporter at The Tennessee Star, said U.S. Rep. John Rose’s (R-TN-06) gubernatorial campaign has still not answered key questions from The Star about Rose’s past donations to Tennessee Democrats who supported a state income tax or his participation in Democratic primary elections, arguing that the campaign has characterized the outlet’s reporting as a “political attack” rather than disputing its factual findings.

During Tuesday’s edition of The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, Pappert discussed the campaign’s response to The Star’s reporting documenting Rose’s donations to Democrats who backed a state income tax between 1998 and 2002, as well as records showing Rose voted in three Democratic primary elections, including Tennessee’s 2004 Democratic presidential primary.

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Blackburn Sends Legal Demands over Ad by Virginia Dark Money Group Released ‘Without a Shred of Factual Support’

Tom Pappert
Marsha Blackburn

An attorney representing U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on Monday sent a legal demand letter to two political consultants affiliated with the American Exceptionalism Institute AEI, which recently released an advertisement that accused her of engaging in public corruption to flood the country with opiates. 

Addressed to Wayne Ducote and Joel Riter, the letter accuses the American Exceptionalism Institute of sponsoring an advertisement containing “knowingly false and defamatory accusations of bribery and criminal corruption.” 

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John Rose Refuses to Say Whether He Voted for Howard Dean or John Kerry in 2004 Tennessee Democratic Presidential Primary

Tom Pappert
John Rose

U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-06) and his gubernatorial campaign did not respond to a Monday inquiry from The Tennessee Star asking which Democratic presidential candidate received a vote from Rose during the 2004 Democratic primary in Tennessee, which was one of three nominating contests where Rose returned a Democratic ballot.

While the Rose campaign told The Star on Monday that its reporting about his donations to Democrats who supported a state income tax, and his participation in three Democratic Party primary contests during the early 2000s, was a political attack, Rose and his campaign did not respond to a follow-up inquiry seeking information about how he voted during his participation in the Tennessee Democrats’ presidential primary in 2004.

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Exclusive: Blackburn Unveils Tennessee DOGE Proposal, Vows to Eliminate Government Waste

Kaitlin Housler
Marsha Blackburn

Tennessee Republican gubernatorial candidate U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said her longstanding relationships with members of the Tennessee General Assembly would allow her to work effectively with lawmakers while also pledging to launch a “Tennessee DOGE” initiative aimed at identifying waste, fraud, and government bloat if elected.

During an exclusive sitdown interview with The Tennessee Star’s CEO and Editor-in-Chief Michael Patrick Leahy, Blackburn emphasized that her ability to work with legislators across the state is built on years of collaboration and would be a key asset if she becomes governor.

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Outkick Founder Clay Travis Backs Blackburn, Hagerty, Taylor After Voting Early in Tennessee Primary

Kaitlin Housler
Clay Travis

OutKick founder Clay Travis revealed the candidates he supported after casting his ballot during Tennessee’s early voting period for the August 6 Republican primary elections, publicly backing U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) for governor, U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) for reelection, and State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District.

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Prediction Market Shows Sen. Marsha Blackburn Overwhelming Favorite to Become Republican Nominee for Governor of Tennessee

Tom Pappert
Marsha Blackburn

A major prediction market platform that became popular during the 2024 election shows U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) with a 95 percent probability of being the Republican nominee to become the next Governor of Tennessee. By contrast, the market implies U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-06) and State Representative Monty Fritts (R-Kingston) each have less than a 10 percent chance of securing the party’s nomination. 

At press time, the prediction website Kalshi shows Blackburn with a market-indicated 95.2 percent chance of securing the Republican gubernatorial nomination, while the market-implied chance of Rose attaining the nomination was at just 5 percent. Fritts followed, with trading prices implying the state lawmaker has a 3 percent chance of success.

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NRA Backing Blackburn for Tennessee Governor

Kaitlin Housler
Marsha Blackburn

The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) announced its endorsement and highest “A+” rating for U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) in the 2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election.

In its endorsement statement, NRA-PVF Chairman John Commerford said Blackburn’s record in Washington demonstrated consistent support for Second Amendment issues and gun owners.

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Blackburn Turns Tables on Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell, Blasts His Support of Illegal Aliens over Tennesseans

Kaitlin Housler
Freddie O'Connell

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell released a new campaign advertisement parodying U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn’s (R-TN) recent anti-China gubernatorial campaign commercial, prompting a swift response from the senator, who accused the mayor of trying to distract voters from his record on illegal immigration.

O’Connell’s mayoral re-election ad recreates the setting of Blackburn’s original commercial at Nashville’s Elliston Place Soda Shop, where the senator filmed her anti-China campaign ad in a staged Chinese restaurant.

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Exclusive: Blackburn Lays Out Conservative Agenda for Tennessee, Says State Must Shrink Government as Power Returns from Washington

Kaitlin Housler
Marsha Blackburn

Tennessee gubernatorial candidate U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn laid out an ambitious conservative agenda for the Volunteer State during an exclusive interview with The Tennessee Star’s CEO and Editor-in-Chief Michael Patrick Leahy, saying she is prepared to lead Tennessee as authority continues shifting from Washington back to the states.

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Exclusive: Blackburn Recalls Leading Grassroots Revolt That Defeated Tennessee State Income Tax

Kaitlin Housler
Marsha Blackburn

Tennessee Republican gubernatorial candidate U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is revisiting one of the defining political battles of her career, describing in an exclusive sit-down interview how she led a four-year effort in the Tennessee General Assembly to defeat a proposed state income tax and arguing that the fight reshaped the state’s future.

During an interview with The Tennessee Star’s CEO and editor-in-chief, Michael Patrick Leahy, Blackburn recounted her opposition to then-Governor Don Sundquist’s proposal, which she said came as an unexpected reversal after his campaign pledge not to support a state income tax.

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Tea Party Nation Founder Judson Phillips Torches John Rose Campaign After Fritts Feud

Kaitlin Housler
Rose and Fritts

Judson Phillips, founder of Tea Party Nation, criticized U.S. Representative John Rose’s (R-TN-06) gubernatorial campaign strategy following a public social media dispute between Rose and State Representative Monty Fritts (R-Kingston).

The exchange between Rose and Fritts began after Rose posted on social media that he was the “only major candidate” in the Republican gubernatorial primary who was born and raised in Tennessee.

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Pappert Predicts Difficult Path for Republicans Challenging Blackburn in Governor’s Race

Kaitlin Housler
Marsha Blackburn, Tom Pappert

With a new poll showing U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) continuing to dominate the Republican field in the upcoming 2026 gubernatorial primary, The Tennessee Star’s lead reporter Tom Pappert said Thursday that Blackburn has become so entrenched in Tennessee politics that only a political collapse by the senator herself could fundamentally alter the race.

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Blackburn Expands Substantial Lead in Upcoming GOP Primary for Governor, New Poll Shows

Kaitlin Housler
Sen. Marsha Blackburn

A new poll released by the Nashville-based Beacon Center of Tennessee shows U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) continuing to dominate the Republican field in the upcoming 2026 gubernatorial primary, expanding her already significant lead.

The latest Beacon Poll finds Blackburn now earning 63 percent support among Republican primary voters, up from 56 percent in January. Her nearest competitor, U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-06), garners 10 percent, while Tennessee State Representative Monty Fritts (R-Kingston) trails with 5 percent. Just 22 percent of voters remain undecided.

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