U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., secured a decisive victory in the GOP primary on Thursday. She aims to succeed outgoing Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. Blackburn is set to become the next governor in a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat to the highest office since 2006.
Governor Lee, in office since 2019, cannot seek re-election due to term limits. In his last election, he defeated Democratic opponent Jason Martin by a substantial margin of 64.9% to 32.9%.
Despite not endorsing any candidate in the competitive three-way Republican race for the 2026 nomination, Lee mentioned his long-standing friendship with Blackburn. “I’ve been friends with Marsha for a long time. She served as my congressman and representative in the General Assembly. I’m proud we have great people running for governor in Tennessee,” Lee commented to local media.
Blackburn emphasized her commitment to key Republican issues. She stated, “As governor, I’ll deport illegals, stop the flow of drugs and drug money. We will crack down on cartels, restrict cash transfers to drug havens, and hit criminals and illegals where it hurts—in their wallets.” She also vowed to keep China from acquiring Tennessee land, underscoring this promise in a popular advertisement featuring her crushing a fortune cookie.
Former President Donald Trump refrained from endorsing any candidate, mentioning connections with Rep. John Rose, another contender from Tennessee. Rose, an 8th-generation farmer and founder of Transcender Corp., an IT certification company, has been part of the Tennessee legislature since 2019. In his campaign, he highlighted, “I know that anything is achievable in Tennessee because I have lived it. Now, I’m asking for you to give me the chance to bring opportunity to all Tennesseans.” His campaign focused on areas like education, infrastructure, healthcare, energy, and economic and community development.
The third candidate, State Rep. Monty Fritts, proposed a small-government approach. “My number one priority is leaving more money in your pockets, in your purses, and in your country bankrolls rather than sending it to Nashville,” Fritts said. He advocated for a reduced state budget, protection of citizen rights against government overreach, and enhanced parental input in education. Fritts faced controversy for his call to ban mosques and other “pagan religions,” citing Islam as more of a political movement than a religion and inconsistent with the U.S. and Tennessee Constitutions.
With the primary behind her, Blackburn will face Democratic opponent Jerri Green, a Memphis City Councilwoman and Chief Public Defender, in the general election on November 3.