Marsha Blackburn

Marsha Blackburn is an American Republican politician elected governor of Tennessee on November 3, 2026. She defeated Democratic nominee Jerri Green and a field of independent candidates. Blackburn is expected to become the first woman to serve as Tennessee's governor. The election results remain unofficial pending certification.

Blackburn was born in Laurel, Mississippi, on June 6, 1952. She graduated from Mississippi State University in 1973 and worked in business and marketing before entering elected office.

She served in the Tennessee State Senate from 1999 to 2003, where she was part of the Republican leadership. She was subsequently elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Tennessee's 7th Congressional District from 2003 to 2019.

During her House career, Blackburn served on the Energy and Commerce Committee and chaired its Communications and Technology Subcommittee. Her legislative interests included telecommunications, consumer policy, taxation, healthcare, and federal regulation.

Blackburn won election to the U.S. Senate in 2018, becoming the first woman elected to represent Tennessee in that chamber. She took office in January 2019 and won reelection in 2024.

Her Senate work has included technology regulation, data privacy, online child safety, immigration enforcement, national security, and conservative social policies. She has been a prominent supporter of President Donald Trump.

In 2026, Blackburn ran to succeed term-limited Republican Governor Bill Lee. Her campaign emphasized lower taxes, reduced government spending, school choice, immigration enforcement, public safety, and conservative social policies.

Blackburn won the November general election with less than half the statewide vote, reflecting support for Green and several independent candidates. She will need to leave the U.S. Senate before assuming the governorship in January 2027.