Senator Marsha Blackburn made it official on Wednesday: she’s running for governor of Tennessee. The announcement ends months of speculation and sets the stage for a high-stakes Republican primary clash in 2026—one that could shape the ideological future of Tennessee’s GOP for years to come.
“It’s official! I’m running for Governor to ensure Tennessee is America’s conservative leader for this generation and the next,” Blackburn posted on social media. “I would be honored to have your support.”
The post may have been brief, but its implications are anything but. Blackburn’s entry into the race places her directly in competition with Rep. John Rose, another staunch Trump supporter who threw his hat in the ring earlier this year. Both candidates are vying to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who is set to leave office after two four-year terms.
While both Blackburn and Rose share pro-Trump credentials, their backgrounds, styles, and political bases could offer voters sharply different flavors of conservative leadership. Blackburn, a longtime national figure and veteran of high-profile Senate battles, is expected to campaign as a tested fighter for Tennessee values on the national stage. Her landslide reelection last November—defeating Democrat Gloria Johnson by over 29 points—only cemented her clout within the state.
John Rose, meanwhile, brings a more business-oriented, legislative-focused approach. First elected to Congress in 2018, he’s championed conservative priorities and aligned himself closely with President Trump, making him no slouch in a red state that Trump carried by nearly 30 points in 2024.
According to AP’s reporting, the race is expected to reflect deeper currents within the GOP, with factions of the party rallying behind their preferred standard-bearer. With two high-profile candidates already in, the primary promises to be one of the most watched contests in the country.
While the Republican showdown will dominate headlines, Democrats are already organizing on the sidelines. Early contenders include Memphis City Councilmember Sherri Green, community advocate Carnita Atwater, musician Adam “Ditch” Kurtz, and Tim Cyr of Gallatin. While no Democrat has won a statewide race in Tennessee in over a decade, their early entry signals they’re preparing for a long-haul campaign.
Still, the odds remain firmly in the GOP’s favor. In 2022, Gov. Lee crushed his Democratic opponent by 32 percentage points. And with the state’s continued rightward trajectory, the eventual Republican nominee will be strongly positioned in the general.
That makes the Blackburn-Rose matchup the main event—one likely to turn into a proxy battle among conservative power players. Blackburn has long been seen as a favorite of the MAGA grassroots, having built a reputation as one of the Senate’s most vocal defenders of President Trump during impeachment battles and beyond. Rose, while less nationally known, has quietly built credibility among fiscal conservatives and constitutionalists.
One wild card? President Trump himself. With both candidates professing loyalty, it remains to be seen whether Trump will endorse—or stay out of it. A nod from the 47th president could tip the balance in a race that may otherwise be decided by base enthusiasm, fundraising power, and sheer name ID.
For now, the gloves are off and the race is on. Tennessee’s political future—and perhaps the direction of the post-Trump GOP—will come into sharper focus as the 2026 primary approaches.