Marsha Blackburn Smacks Down Democrats To Win Tennessee Governor

Marsha Blackburn won the bid to become Tennessee’s next governor.

The historic result makes her the first woman to hold the office in the state. According to RedState, she defeated Democrat Jerri Green with about 46 percent of the vote. Daily Wire reports that with 95 percent of the vote counted, she led Green 45 percent to 43 percent. The race was called early Wednesday morning, per Breitbart. She will replace term-limited Gov. Bill Lee when she is sworn in on January 16.

A Conservative Victory

The Republican senator built her campaign on a strong conservative brand. She secured an endorsement from President Donald Trump shortly after her primary win. In a post on X, Trump reiterated his support for her on Tuesday. He called her opponent a “Radical Left Democrat” who wants “Open Borders” and “Men playing in Women’s Sports,” per Breitbart. Blackburn ran on a platform focused on faith, family, and freedom. This summer she stated in an interview with The Daily Wire that Tennessee could become “America’s conservative leader.”

She was clear about her vision for the state. “Tennessee is a conservative state — we don’t have a state income tax, we don’t allow illegals to run our state, we fight to protect faith, family, freedom, hope, and opportunity,” Blackburn said. “And I want to keep it that way.” Her victory comes in a deep-red state that has not elected a Democrat to statewide office since 2006, according to Daily Wire. According to Washington Examiner, Phil Bredesen was the final Democrat to secure a statewide victory in 2006.

The Third-Party Factor

Independent candidate David Hatley added complexity to the race. He siphoned off nearly 10 percent of the vote, per Daily Wire. Per Washington Examiner, he funded over $12 million from his personal wealth. He ran on a fully conservative platform but was barred from the Republican ballot due to a 1998 felony conviction. Some Democrats hoped he would take enough votes to help Green. That did not happen. Blackburn won by a solid margin despite the third-party split.

Her opponent, Jerri Green, is a Memphis city councilwoman and public defender. She campaigned on affordability and healthcare. Green pledged to end Tennessee Highway Patrol cooperation with ICE. She also promised to issue an order for a statewide data center moratorium. However, the conservative base stayed with Blackburn.

The Senate Seat Question

The victory opens up a new legal debate in Nashville. Blackburn plans to stay in her Senate seat until she is sworn in as governor. This move would allow her to appoint her own replacement in Washington. Washington Examiner reports that the legality of this plan is unclear and has sparked debate. She must resign from the Senate before taking the governor’s oath on January 16. The timing remains a point of intrigue as she transitions to the governor’s mansion.

Blackburn is 74 years old and has served in the Senate for seven years. Before that, she represented Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District from 2003 to 2019. Her win marks a second historic first for the state, as she was also the first woman elected to the Senate.

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