The polls have closed in Tennessee and the spotlight is on conservative Sen. Marsha Blackburn as she seeks to swap a Washington address for the governor’s mansion in Nashville. Her campaign has dominated chatter in a GOP primary that will pick a successor to term-limited Gov. Bill Lee, while other state and federal contests move forward under maps drawn by Republicans. This runoff-style primary season is shaping up as a clear test of Tennessee’s conservative energy and the party’s bench for 2026.
Blackburn arrives with a national profile and a reputation for fighting conservative battles on cable and Capitol Hill, which makes her the clear front-runner in most eyes. Her decision to run for governor has been framed as a move to take conservative governance from rhetoric to direct action at the state level. Voters who want a governor unafraid to stand up to federal overreach are watching closely and many see Blackburn as a top choice.
Her opponents include four-term Rep. John Rose and state Rep. Monty Fritts, both solidly conservative figures with their own bases of support inside Tennessee. The race drew extra attention because President Trump stayed neutral and declined to make Tennessee his primary intervention, even as he endorsed candidates elsewhere. “Unfortunately, she’s running for governor. She’s running for governor of Tennessee. I’d love her not to, I begged her,” Trump said in January. “‘I said, ‘Marsha, don’t. We don’t want to lose you in the Senate.’”
The president has still spoken positively of Blackburn while noting Rose’s loyalty, and Blackburn has been clear about her alignment with Trump-era priorities. “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 wrote on the eve of the primary in a social media post that included a photo of her and Trump. That messaging aims squarely at voters who want state leadership that pushes back on federal mandates and prioritizes individual freedom.
The Republican primary takes place in a state that has not elected a Democratic governor in two decades, a record that underlines how solid Tennessee has been for conservative leadership. On the Democratic side five candidates, including Memphis City Councilwoman Jerri Green, are competing for the chance to make a run in November. Their field will have a steep climb in a state where Republican turnout and organization are strong.
Meanwhile, Tennessee’s other U.S. senator, Republican Bill Hagerty, faces no opposition within his party as he seeks a second term in the Senate. Five Democrats are stepping up to challenge him in the general election, though historical trends are firmly against them; then-Sen. Al Gore’s re-election 36 years ago was the last time a Democrat won a Senate race in Tennessee. Hagerty’s unopposed primary underscores GOP unity heading into the general campaign.
The U.S. House map also shifted this year after Republicans redrew districts to reflect population changes and make better use of Tennessee’s GOP advantage. The new map produced an additional right-leaning seat and prompted longtime Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen to decide not to run for re-election in the new configuration. That redistricting outcome has Republican strategists optimistic about expanding their delegation.
One high-profile House primary to watch involves two-term Republican Rep. Andy Ogles, a well-known Trump ally, who is being challenged by Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher. Gov. Bill Lee made his preference known by endorsing Hatcher earlier this week, and the contest has drawn substantial outside spending that underscores its national significance. Voters in that primary will decide whether they want to stick with a Trump-aligned incumbent or back a candidate with the governor’s blessing.
