Blackburn to Run for Governor

Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Republican U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn announced Wednesday she will run for Tennessee governor in 2026, officially launching a widely anticipated campaign and setting up a high-profile primary battle with U.S. Representative John Rose.

A staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, Blackburn had long signaled her intent to seek the governor’s office. Both she and Rose, also a Trump supporter, will compete in the August 2026 Republican primary to succeed term-limited GOP Governor Bill Lee.

Blackburn made history in 2018 as the first woman elected to represent Tennessee in the U.S. Senate. If successful in her gubernatorial bid, she would become the state’s first female governor.

She secured her Senate seat by defeating former Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen by nearly 11 points, and won reelection in 2024 with a commanding 29-point margin over Democratic state Rep. Gloria Johnson — a sign of her strong support among Tennessee conservatives.