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Sen. Marsha Blackburn wins the Republican primary for governor of Tennessee
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- Sen. Marsha Blackburn has secured the Republican nomination for Tennessee governor, defeating Rep. John Rose in a race notable for President Trump's decision not to endorse either candidate.
- Blackburn, the first woman to represent Tennessee in the Senate, would become the state's first female governor if she wins the general election in the heavily Republican state.
- Despite Trump's absence from the race, both Blackburn and Rose leveraged his influence, with outside groups promoting Blackburn using Trump's favorable comments, while Rose self-funded nearly $13 million of his campaign.
- Blackburn is known for her conservative positions on abortion, transgender rights, and criticism of China, and she is favored to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Bill Lee against Democratic nominee Jerri Green.
- This race is part of a broader trend of sitting senators running for governor, including GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville in Alabama and Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar in Minnesota.
