Overview
- Senator Marsha Blackburn, a Republican from Tennessee, is reportedly exploring a run for governor in 2026, according to sources cited by Axios.
- Blackburn has been reaching out to political figures in Washington, D.C., and Tennessee, signaling her likely candidacy for the open gubernatorial seat.
- Current Governor Bill Lee is term-limited, leaving the race open in a state that strongly leans Republican, making the GOP primary highly significant.
- Blackburn, a staunch ally of President-elect Donald Trump, has received early support from prominent Tennessee conservatives, including Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and Daily Wire CEO Jeremy Boreing.
- If she enters and wins, Blackburn would become Tennessee's first female governor, adding to her history as the state's first female senator.