John Rose Launches Campaign for Tennessee Governor in 2026

LEBANON, Tenn. (AP) — Republican U.S. Rep. John Rose officially announced his candidacy for the Tennessee governor’s office on Thursday, March 20, 2025, gearing up for a potential showdown with U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, who is also poised to enter the race.

Rose is the first major candidate to declare for the 2026 gubernatorial election, following the term-limited Governor Bill Lee. For weeks, he had hinted at his intentions during appearances at various Republican gatherings throughout the state. While Rose is now in the race, Blackburn has yet to formally announce her campaign.

“I’m a conservative outsider, Tennessee small business owner and farmer,” said Rose, who represents a heavily Republican district. “I think that when I can tell the people about my experience and my preparation, hopefully that will make the case, and others can make their case, and we’ll let the people of Tennessee decide.”

At the launch event, held at an agricultural center and surrounded by tractors, Rose outlined several key promises, including plans to widen interstates and highways, ensure emergency medical care accessibility for every Tennessean within a half hour, and commit to hiring a qualified education commissioner. He also emphasized his support for anti-abortion initiatives, gun rights, enhanced mental health resources, and the expansion of nuclear power.

A former state agriculture commissioner and an attorney, Rose is in his fourth term in Congress, representing a district that spans 19 counties, many of which are rural and conservative. He has positioned himself as one of the most conservative members of Congress since his election in 2019, voting against foreign aid to Ukraine and objecting to the certification of the 2020 presidential election.

Both Rose and Blackburn have publicly supported former President Donald Trump, who has considerable influence in Tennessee, a state that supported him in the past three presidential elections. Trump endorsed Blackburn in her Senate races in 2018 and 2024 and supported Rose during his congressional run.

In a response to Rose’s announcement, Blackburn asserted that she intends to be the strongest conservative candidate. “Trump is leading America into a ‘Golden Age,’ and this is our time to prove what conservative leadership can do,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of empowering local governance over key issues such as education and healthcare.

Tennessee has remained solidly Republican, with Lee winning his last election by a significant margin and Trump carrying the state by nearly 30 points in 2024. Four other candidates—Republican Cito Pellegra, Democrat Tim Cyr, and independents Stephen Cortney Maxwell and Manasa Reddy—have also initiated fundraising efforts in anticipation of the gubernatorial race.

Due to Blackburn’s recent re-election, her Senate seat remains secure should she choose to run for governor. However, should she be successful in the gubernatorial race, she would have the opportunity to appoint her successor in the Senate. Rose’s congressional seat is also expected to be contested in the upcoming election.

Rose, who owns Boson Software LLC, an IT training firm, has a personal net worth estimated between $24 million and $106 million, according to a 2023 congressional financial disclosure. He gained some notoriety last year when his son drew attention for his amusing gestures while Rose condemned Trump’s legal challenges during a speech.

Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville contributed to this report.