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Tennessee’s 2026 gubernatorial election is shaping up – and perhaps narrowing down – as two MAGA-aligned members of Congress look to return to the state.

U.S. Rep. John Rose and Sen. Marsha Blackburn plan to run for governor in 2026. In recent weeks, both have soft-launched their campaigns but stopped short of officially declaring their intent, and other prospective candidates already have bowed out.

Rose made news last week when he told a group of Republican women in Williamson County that he would not seek a fifth term when his Congressional seat is up next year, instead plotting to succeed term-limited Gov. Bill Lee when he leaves office at the end of 2026.

“While I’m so excited to serve and implement President (Donald) Trump’s conservative vision for America, I am convinced that my best days are ahead and that the best opportunity I have to serve Tennessee is in a different role,” Rose said in a video obtained by the Banner.

“My plan is to offer myself as a candidate for governor of Tennessee,” he added.

Rose stopped short of launching a campaign in the video, which was provided by a source close to the congressman, but argued his qualifications to be in an executive role, citing his experience in agriculture and business.

Rose doesn’t share much of a platform in the limited clip, but boasts Tennessee’s low taxes and limited government regulation, citing the state’s reliance on Christianity for what he called its “hospitable” environment for business and individuals.

“Fundamentally, I think that environment we have in Tennessee comes from our bedrock values, and much of that emanates from our Christian values,” Rose added.

A source close to Rose told the Banner Monday that the Congressman is “actively making plans and working daily to build support for a gubernatorial bid,” describing Rose as a “a conservative outsider and eighth-generation Tennessee farmer” who wants to “fight for America.”

In January, just two months after winning another six-year term as senator, Blackburn confirmed that she was considering a run for governor. Weeks later, a poll showed that she is an early favorite for the office.

Last week, a source close to Blackburn told the Banner that she will definitely run but has not launched her campaign yet because she is focused on helping Trump with confirmations.

As a close ally of the president, Blackburn’s first term got national attention while she served as chair of the Republican National Committee’s platform committee. She cruised to an easy victory over Democratic challenger State Rep. Gloria Johnson in November.

When asked why Blackburn would leave the Senate halfway through a second term, with her star on the rise and a bedfellow in the White House, the source said she wanted to spend more time in Tennessee.

Blackburn could cherry-pick her own replacement for the Senate seat if elected governor. While that person would only get about half of a term, beginning in 2027, being an incumbent and having Blackburn’s backing would likely help the appointee retain the seat in future elections.

Rose’s seat is up for grabs in November 2026, the same time as the gubernatorial election.

The Blackburn source said anyone working with the gubernatorial campaign is strictly prohibited from discussing the appointment, even internally, until after the election.

Whether because of Blackburn’s winning record and fundraising acumen or, perhaps, to take a run at the appointed Senate seat, two prospective candidates for governor have seemingly decided not to enter the race, instead backing her.

CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger was seen as a likely candidate after hosting a fundraising event with Blackburn, Sen. Bill Haggerty and then-Vice Presidential candidate J.D. Vance and speaking at the party’s Statesmen’s Dinner last summer.

According to the same Blackburn source, Hininger has bowed out and is backing Blackburn’s upcoming campaign. Hininger did not return requests for comment on this story and has not publicly endorsed Blackburn’s campaign, but attended Blackburn’s swearing-in ceremony in D.C. in January.

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs also appeared to explore a bid for governor last year, launching a new PAC and logo. However, he quickly got behind Blackburn when news of her impending campaign broke in January.

“Senator Blackburn has done an outstanding job as a state senator, U.S. congresswoman, and U.S. Senator. She would do an equally outstanding job as Governor and would have my full support if that’s what she decides,” Jacobs wrote on social media.

Last month, Hagerty, who flirted with a bid for governor last year, announced that he would seek reelection to the Senate.

Two heavyweight candidates like Rose and Blackburn seeking the seat makes a large candidate field in the Republican primary for governor unlikely, meaning there won’t be a repeat of the six-way 2018 race for the last open seat, which resulted in the most expensive governor’s race in state history.

The story was provided courtesy of the Nashville Banner.

This article is courtesy of the Nashville Banner. Sign up for the Nashville Banner’s newsletters here.