Marsha Blackburn is the Republican nominee for governor of Tennessee following her victory in the August 2026 primary election. Born and raised in Laurel, Mississippi, Blackburn earned a bachelor's degree in home economics from Mississippi State University before beginning a career in business and marketing. She founded a marketing and event management company and later served as executive director of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment, and Music Commission. In 1998, Blackburn was elected to the Tennessee State Senate, where she served until her election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002. After sixteen years in the House, she became the first woman elected to represent Tennessee in the United States Senate in 2018. In her gubernatorial campaign, Blackburn has emphasized economic growth, tax reductions, reduced government spending, stricter immigration enforcement, and public safety. The general election will take place on Tuesday, November 3.
