Marsha Blackburn, the Republican nominee for Tennessee governor, faces Democratic nominee Jerri Green and multiple independent candidates in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
Blackburn won the Republican primary on Aug. 6 with 43.6% of the vote, or 308,322 votes, defeating John Rose and Monty Fritts, according to WSMV. She was the first woman elected as a U.S. senator from Tennessee, WSMV reported.
At 74, she would be the state's oldest and first female governor if elected, according to the Nashville Banner.
The independent candidates on the ballot are Charles Van Morgan, Dave Seeman, David Hatley, Dean Brewer, Eddie Lee Murphy, Karl Knox Smithson, L. Webb Taylor, Lauren Pinkston, Misam Abidi, Ray Brown, Robert C. Vick, Victor L. Scoggin and Wendell Jackson, according to BallotReady.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Residence: Williamson County, Tennessee
- Education: Bachelor's degree in home economics, Mississippi State University
- Family: Married; two children; four grandchildren, according to her campaign website
Experience and public service
Blackburn has held elected office at the state and federal level for more than two decades. The following is drawn from BallotReady and the Nashville Banner:
- U.S. senator, 2019 to present
- U.S. representative, 2003 to 2018
- Tennessee state senator, beginning in 1998
- Executive director, Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission, 1995
- Co-founder, Williamson County Young Republicans
- Platform committee chair, 2024 Republican National Convention
On the issues
The following positions are drawn from Blackburn's campaign website and public statements. They reflect the candidate's own claims unless otherwise noted.
Taxes and spending: Blackburn said on her campaign website that she led the fight against a state income tax while in the Tennessee State Senate. She said she plans to pursue low-tax, pro-growth policies as governor, cut government waste and reduce regulations to attract businesses and jobs to Tennessee.
Education and parental rights: Blackburn said she supports expanding the Education Freedom Scholarship Program so that every parent can choose the education that fits their child's needs. She said on her campaign website that the program should not be weighed down by state-imposed requirements. She also said she supports expanding school choice, charter schools and homeschooling options.
Immigration and public safety: Blackburn said her top priority as governor would be keeping Tennesseans safe. She said she supports enforcing immigration laws and backing law enforcement. At a Hamilton County rally, she said she plans to focus on deportation of unauthorized immigrants, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Energy and agriculture: Blackburn said she wants to grow nuclear energy in Tennessee, according to the Times Free Press. On her campaign website, she said she is concerned about the rate at which Tennessee farmland is being developed and wants to ban China from owning land in the state.
Infrastructure: Blackburn said on her campaign website that she has led efforts to bring broadband to rural communities and is committed to closing the digital divide as governor. She also said she supports restructuring how federal highway projects are selected, maintained and regulated.
Endorsements
The Nashville Banner reported endorsements from the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Americans for Prosperity. BallotReady listed endorsements from the following:
- Stand With Crypto
- Value In Electing Women Political Action Committee
- Turning Point Action
- Club for Growth
The general election is Nov. 3.
Candidate positions were drawn from Blackburn's campaign website and news coverage. The Mt. Juliet Journal did not interview the candidate for this profile.
