Sen. Marsha Blackburn Considers Tennessee Gubernatorial Run

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., is reportedly considering a run for Tennessee governor in 2026, according to sources close to the senator. Blackburn, who recently won re-election to the Senate in 2024, has been making calls to gauge support for a potential gubernatorial bid.

State and federal elected officials have already begun rallying behind Blackburn, with Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs publicly endorsing her potential candidacy. “Senator Blackburn has done an outstanding job as a state senator, U.S. congresswoman, and U.S. Senator. She would do an equally outstanding job as Governor and would have my full support if that’s what she decides,” Jacobs wrote in a post on X.

Blackburn, who became the first woman elected to represent Tennessee in the U.S. Senate in 2018, would also make history as the state’s first female governor if elected. Her current Senate term runs through early 2031, but the 2026 gubernatorial race presents an opportunity as incumbent Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, is term-limited and cannot seek re-election.

At the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce‘s annual kickoff event in Nashville on Jan. 14, attendees reportedly addressed Blackburn as “Gov. Blackburn,” fueling speculation about her intentions. Michael Lotfi, deputy director for Americans for Prosperity-TN, noted, “It’s all anyone has been talking about at the state capitol.”

Susan Richardson Williams, a former Tennessee Republican Party chair, told Knox News that she had heard from several people tapped by Blackburn to host campaign fundraisers. “If (Blackburn running for governor) is a rumor, it’s a very hot rumor,” Williams said.

Jacobs, a close ally of Blackburn and former WWE wrestler known as “Kane,” has also positioned himself to potentially fill Blackburn’s Senate seat if she vacates it. His political action committee, Big Red PAC, could serve as a fundraising vehicle for Blackburn’s campaign. The PAC has already donated $3,000 to Blackburn’s Senate fund and supported her directly in past campaigns.

Blackburn has a long history in Tennessee politics, first elected to the state Senate in 1998 before serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2003 to 2019. She won her Senate seat in 2018 with 54.7% of the vote and was re-elected in 2024 with 63.8% support in the general election.

As the 2025 Tennessee Legislative Session begins, Blackburn has emphasized her commitment to conservative values. “It’s time to get to work, protect our state’s conservative values, and fight for all Tennesseans,” she tweeted on Tuesday.

Fox News Digital reached out to Blackburn’s campaign for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.