Tennessee Primary Polls Close as Blackburn Leads GOP Governor's Race

Polls have now closed in Tennessee, with conservative Senator Marsha Blackburn making a bid to transition from her role in Washington D.C. to the governor's mansion in Nashville.

Blackburn, a former long-serving congresswoman and current two-term senator, has cultivated a strong national presence through frequent media appearances. She is widely regarded as the front-runner in Thursday's Republican gubernatorial primary, aiming to succeed the term-limited Republican Governor Bill Lee.

The Republican contest for Tennessee's governorship is a marquee event in a state where the Democratic Party has not secured the top executive office in two decades. This primary is central to the red-leaning southeastern state's broader nomination contests for both state and federal positions.

Republican Gubernatorial Contest

Blackburn is competing against several other candidates, including four-term Representative John Rose, who, like Blackburn, is a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill, and state Representative Monty Fritts.

Notably, President Trump chose to remain neutral in the Tennessee gubernatorial primary, despite having issued endorsements in other Republican gubernatorial contests this election cycle.

"Unfortunately, she’s running for governor. She’s running for governor of Tennessee. I’d love her not to, I begged her," Trump remarked in January. "‘I said, ‘Marsha, don’t. We don’t want to lose you in the Senate.’"

Despite his plea for her to remain in the Senate, the former president has also indicated that Blackburn would be an effective governor, while also acknowledging Representative Rose's unwavering loyalty.

Even without a direct endorsement from Trump, Blackburn has consistently highlighted her alignment with his policies and vision.

"As President Trump sends power and authority back to the states, I'm ready to deliver for the people of the Volunteer State and make our state America's conservative leader," she posted on social media the day before the primary, accompanying her message with a photo of herself alongside Trump.

On the Democratic side, five candidates are seeking their party's nomination for governor, including Memphis City Councilwoman Jerri Green.

Other Key Races Across the State

Tennessee's other U.S. senator, Republican Bill Hagerty, is running unopposed in his party's primary as he seeks a second six-year term in the Senate.

Five Democratic candidates are vying for the opportunity to challenge Senator Hagerty in the general election. The last time a Democrat won a Senate race in Tennessee was 36 years ago, with the re-election of then-Senator Al Gore.

In U.S. House races, voters in Memphis are casting ballots for their Democratic and Republican nominees under a newly drawn, GOP-crafted congressional district map. This new map created an additional Republican-leaning seat and resulted in longtime Democratic Representative Steve Cohen deciding not to seek re-election.

Meanwhile, two-term Republican Representative Andy Ogles, a prominent ally of President Trump in the House and endorsed by the former president, faces a significant primary challenge from Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher. Hatcher received an endorsement from Governor Bill Lee earlier this week, and this particular race has seen a substantial influx of funding from external political organizations.