Marsha Blackburn Launches Governor Bid, Pledges To ‘Make Tennessee America’s Conservative Leader’

NASHVILLE—Tennessee’s Marsha Blackburn is officially throwing her hat in the ring for governor, saying she wants to help make the increasingly red state “America’s conservative leader.”

Freshly elected to her second term in the Senate, Blackburn has emerged as a close ally of President Donald Trump in Tennessee. Her opening pitch to voters in her gubernatorial run highlights her relationship with the president, saying Trump needs “strong conservative governors” to deliver his agenda.

“In his first six months, President Trump has made historic strides in Making America Great Again, but as he sends power back to the states, he’s going to need strong conservative governors who can bring that revolution home,” Blackburn said. “I’m running to serve as Tennessee’s next governor to ensure Tennessee is America’s conservative leader.”

Blackburn has been openly considering a run for governor since January, but a packed legislative schedule in Washington, D.C. — with pressure to pass not only Trump’s signature legislation, but also confirm his nominees — has made launching a statewide campaign in Tennessee a challenge. Her announcement comes exactly a year before the Republican primary and just days after Trump greenlit Senate Republicans to break for recess.

The senator is immediately the favorite, with near certainty that she’ll enter the primary with Trump’s endorsement. Her chief competitor will be Republican Rep. John Rose, a wealthy businessman who declared in March and is expected to self-fund his campaign.

Blackburn’s opening ad aligns with Trump’s priorities, pledging to deport illegal aliens “whether it takes planes, trains, or starships,” “define our boys and girls the way God made them,” and keep the momentum going for Tennessee, which is booming in popularity.

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“Tennessee is the greatest place in the world to rear a family and make a life and a living, and together, we can make our great state even better,” Blackburn says.

Blackburn, who lives in the Nashville area, has been a Tennessee lawmaker since 1999, when she was elected to the state legislature. Before being elected to the Senate, she represented Tennessee in the House of Representatives for nearly two decades.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R.), who is serving his second term, is term limited and cannot run for re-election. The state has not been led by a Democrat since 2011.