KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

After months of rumors that started at the beginning of the year, Sen. Marsha Blackburn has officially announced her campaign for the seat of Tennessee governor.

In her announcement Wednesday, Aug. 6, Blackburn praised President Donald Trump’s first six months in his second term, stating that he was making “historic strides in Making America Great Again.”

“As he sends power back to the states, he’s going to need strong conservative governors who can bring that revolution home,” Blackburn said in her announcement. “I’m running to serve as Tennessee’s next governor to ensure Tennessee is America’s conservative leader.”

She added she was ready to deliver the kind of conservative leadership that will make Tennessee the conservative leader of the country for this generation and the next.

“Here in the Volunteer State, we always lead the way,” Blackburn said. “Tennessee is the greatest place in the world to rear a family and make a life and a living, and together, we can make our great state even better.”

She said as governor, she will make Tennessee America’s number one, job-creating, energy-producing powerhouse; deliver a world-class education for the state’s children by “empowering parents, not the deep state”, and will deport illegal aliens, whether it takes planes, trains or starships.

“Respect for the law starts with enforcing it,” she said.

She concluded her announcement by promising that Tennessee will honor the Constitution, value life and “define our boys and girls the way God made them.”

“I love Tennessee, I believe in Tennesseans and I’m ready to deliver the kind of conservative leadership that will ensure our state is America’s conservative leader for this generation and the next,” Blackburn said.

Blackburn joins U.S. Rep John Rose in the Republican primary race for governor, which the Republican Primary is set for Aug. 6, 2026. Rose announced his campaign for the governor’s seat in March of this year, and will not seek re-election in the U.S. House of Representatives. Gov. Bill Lee will not be able to seek re-election has he served his term limits of two consecutive four-year terms. 

If Blackburn were to win the primary and the election, she would be Tennessee’s first female governor, and she would have to vacate her seat as U.S. Senator. From there, she would appoint an interim replacement until a special election was held to fill the seat.