GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn on Sunday confirmed she is “strongly considering” launching a bid for governor in 2026.
Blackburn made the remarks during an appearance on Fox News, telling host Jacqui Heinrich, “We are strongly considering it and we’re looking at it.”
“We know that I’ve got this job to help President Trump. This first two years of his term is all about sending that power and control back to the states. We know that to implement that, like returning healthcare, returning education, it is going to take strong governors and strong state legislatures. So we’re strongly considering it,” Blackburn added.
Incumbent Tennessee Governor Bill Lee was elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022. His current and final term ends on January 16, 2027.
Blackburn, who was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2018 after previously serving in the U.S. House and Tennessee Senate, won her reelection bid against Tennessee State Representative Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) in the November 5 general election by a nearly 30-point margin.
Reports of Blackburn’s potential bid for governor were highlighted this week when another potential gubernatorial candidate, Knox County Mayor Glen Jacobs, made news when he said Blackburn is the only potential candidate whose candidacy would take him “out of the mix” for the governor. More here