In August 2025, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn announced her candidacy for Governor of Tennessee, entering a race to succeed the term-limited Bill Lee. If elected, she would become Tennessee’s first female governor and, at 74, its oldest. She immediately became the Republican frontrunner, polling at 68% against her nearest challenger, U.S. Rep. John Rose, who trails at 14%.
But name recognition is not a record. And Blackburn’s 22-year record in Congress — from the House to the Senate — raises serious questions about whether the senator who voted against Tennessee’s interests on opioids, healthcare, infrastructure, veterans, and broadband is the right person to lead the state.
The Race at a Glance
The Republican primary is set for August 6, 2026. The confirmed Republican candidates are Blackburn, U.S. Rep. John Rose, Monty Fritts, and Cito Pellegra. On the Democratic side, Memphis City Council member JB Smiley Jr. is the leading candidate. Tennessee has not elected a Democrat to statewide office since Phil Bredesen won re-election as governor in 2006, and Trump carried the state by nearly 30 points in 2024.
Blackburn’s campaign has framed her run as an extension of the MAGA movement at the state level. In her announcement video, she pledged to make Tennessee “the country’s number one job-creating, energy-producing powerhouse.” Her opponent Rose has taken a different approach, arguing that his business experience running a nursery and farm operation makes him better suited for the executive role of governor than Blackburn’s legislative career.
Campaign Finance Controversy
In February 2026, longtime Knoxville Republican activist Gary Loe filed a sworn complaint with the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance alleging that Blackburn committed “flagrant violations” of federal and state campaign finance law. The complaint centers on what Loe says is a suspicious spending pattern: in 2019 — the year after her first Senate win — Blackburn reported spending just under $686,000 from her federal campaign account. But in 2025, after her re-election and ahead of her gubernatorial announcement, she reported spending $3.1 million — nearly five times as much.
According to the filing, when she launched her governor’s race, Blackburn had 17 full-time staffers and five consultants, and spent $300,000 on travel, including $200,000 on private planes — all from her Senate account. The complaint alleges these were effectively state campaign expenditures disguised as federal spending. Blackburn’s campaign manager called the complaint “frivolous” and a “fundamental misunderstanding” of campaign finance law.
Her Voting Record: 10 Issues That Matter for Tennessee
Blackburn’s 22-year congressional career provides a detailed record of where she stands — and where she has stood against Tennessee’s interests. GovTrack ranked her as the most ideologically conservative member of the entire U.S. Senate in 2019, and she remained the second-most conservative in 2024. Here are 10 key votes that tell the story:
- Weakened DEA opioid enforcement — Co-sponsored a 2016 law that made it harder for the DEA to stop suspicious opioid shipments, while receiving over $715,000 from pharmaceutical-related PACs during her career.
- Voted to let ISPs sell your data — Backed the measure overturning broadband privacy rules requiring ISPs to get consent before selling customer browsing data.
- Led the fight against net neutrality — Authored legislation preempting state net neutrality rules, favoring large ISPs over rural Tennessee consumers.
- Voted to repeal the ACA — Supported a repeal bill that CBO projected would leave 23 million more Americans uninsured by 2026.
- Voted against the Infrastructure Law — Opposed the bipartisan bill funding highways, bridges, broadband, and water systems across Appalachia.
- Voted against the CHIPS Act — Opposed semiconductor and science funding directly relevant to Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
- Voted against capping insulin at $35 — Opposed the Inflation Reduction Act, which capped Medicare insulin costs and enabled drug price negotiation.
- Delayed the PACT Act for veterans — Initially voted to block expanded care for burn-pit-exposed veterans before reversing after public backlash.
- Voted against COVID relief — Opposed the American Rescue Plan funding vaccines, schools, direct payments, and state recovery funds.
- Voted against the Violence Against Women Act — Opposed reauthorization of VAWA, which funds victim services and law enforcement programs used by rural agencies.
What the Polls Show
A Beacon Center poll conducted July 27 to August 1, 2025 gave Blackburn a commanding 68% to 14% advantage over Rose among 571 Republican voters surveyed. A later Fabrizio Lee & Associates survey from January 2026 found 71% of respondents would vote for Blackburn in the primary. Rose has responded by loaning his campaign $5 million from personal funds and investing heavily in paid media.
However, polls this early in a race primarily reflect name recognition. Blackburn has won two statewide races (2018 and 2024 Senate elections), while Rose represents a single congressional district in middle and east Tennessee. Whether Blackburn’s record can withstand scrutiny as the primary heats up remains to be seen.
The Bottom Line
Marsha Blackburn wants to be Tennessee’s next governor. But before voters decide, they should examine the record she’d bring to Nashville. A senator who voted against infrastructure for Appalachian roads and bridges, against capping insulin prices for seniors, against broadband funding for rural communities, and against expanded healthcare for veterans is asking to be the chief executive of a state where all of those issues hit home every day.
The 2026 primary is August 6. The general election is November 3. Tennessee voters have time to look at the record — and this site exists to help them do exactly that.
What Blackburn’s Senate Record Means for Tennessee Governance
Understanding how a senator votes in Washington reveals how they would likely govern in Nashville. Blackburn’s federal record provides a roadmap for what Tennessee could expect from her as governor, particularly in areas where state and federal policy intersect.
Healthcare Access in Rural Tennessee
Blackburn’s repeated votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act directly threatened coverage for hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans. Tennessee’s 1st Congressional District has some of the state’s highest rates of uninsured residents and rural hospital closures. A governor who has historically opposed healthcare expansion would face immediate pressure from rural communities already struggling with access to basic medical care.
Tennessee is one of the states that has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, and the governor plays a key role in that decision. Blackburn’s track record of opposing the ACA suggests she would continue to resist Medicaid expansion, even as neighboring states like Virginia and Kentucky have seen positive results from expanding coverage.
Broadband and Digital Infrastructure
As a senator, Blackburn voted to allow internet service providers to sell customer browsing data and opposed net neutrality protections. For a state where large portions of rural East Tennessee still lack reliable broadband access, these votes raise questions about whether she would prioritize corporate interests over expanding connectivity for underserved communities.
The governor’s office plays a crucial role in directing state broadband funding and working with federal programs to close the digital divide. Tennessee received significant federal broadband investment through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — a bill Blackburn voted against.
Education and Public Schools
Tennessee’s public education system is overseen by the governor’s office, which appoints the commissioner of education and sets the tone for education policy statewide. Blackburn’s federal record includes support for school voucher programs that redirect public funds to private schools, a policy that has proven particularly controversial in rural areas where public schools are often the only option and a key community institution.
Veterans and Military Communities
Tennessee has one of the largest veteran populations in the Southeast, and the governor works closely with the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services. Blackburn’s initial vote against the PACT Act — which expanded healthcare coverage for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits — drew sharp criticism from veterans’ advocacy groups. While she ultimately voted for the bill after public backlash, the initial opposition raised concerns about her commitment to veteran support.
Key Policy Questions for the 2026 Campaign
As the gubernatorial race takes shape, several policy areas deserve close scrutiny from Tennessee voters:
- Medicaid Expansion: Will Blackburn support or continue to oppose expanding Medicaid coverage in Tennessee? An estimated 300,000 Tennesseans could gain coverage through expansion.
- Infrastructure Spending: How will she approach state infrastructure projects given her vote against the federal infrastructure bill that directed billions to Tennessee?
- Public Education Funding: What is her position on Tennessee’s school funding formula and teacher pay, which ranks below the national average?
- Economic Development: How does her opposition to the CHIPS Act align with supporting Tennessee’s growing technology sector, including the Oak Ridge National Laboratory?
- Opioid Crisis Response: Given her co-sponsorship of legislation that made it harder for the DEA to stop suspicious opioid shipments, what is her plan for addressing addiction in East Tennessee?
How East Tennessee Voters Are Affected
For voters in the 1st Congressional District — spanning communities from Johnson City and Kingsport to the rural counties along the Virginia and North Carolina borders — the governor’s race carries particular weight. This region faces unique challenges including higher-than-average poverty rates, limited healthcare access, and economic transitions as traditional industries decline.
The governor controls significant levers of power that affect daily life in East Tennessee: transportation funding for mountain roads, economic development incentives for the Tri-Cities region, environmental regulations affecting water quality and air standards, and education policies that shape the future workforce. Understanding Blackburn’s record on these interconnected issues is essential for making an informed choice at the ballot box.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marsha Blackburn running for Tennessee governor in 2026?
Yes. Senator Marsha Blackburn has signaled her intention to run for governor of Tennessee in the 2026 gubernatorial election. Current Governor Bill Lee is term-limited and cannot run again, creating an open race.
What is Blackburn’s voting record on healthcare?
Blackburn has consistently voted to repeal or weaken the Affordable Care Act, including voting for the 2017 “skinny repeal” that would have eliminated the individual mandate and reduced coverage. She has opposed Medicaid expansion efforts and voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which capped insulin costs at $35 per month for Medicare recipients.
How has Blackburn voted on infrastructure for Tennessee?
Blackburn voted against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, which allocated billions of dollars to Tennessee for roads, bridges, broadband, and water systems. She also voted against the CHIPS and Science Act, which funded semiconductor manufacturing and scientific research at facilities like Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
What are the main criticisms of Blackburn’s Senate record?
Critics point to her co-sponsorship of the 2016 opioid bill that weakened DEA enforcement during the opioid crisis, her vote to allow ISPs to sell customer browsing data, opposition to net neutrality, votes against infrastructure and clean energy investments benefiting Tennessee, and her initial opposition to the PACT Act for veterans exposed to burn pits.
When is the Tennessee gubernatorial election?
The Tennessee gubernatorial election is scheduled for November 3, 2026. Primary elections will take place in August 2026. The Republican and Democratic primaries will determine each party’s nominee for governor.