A new poll from Vanderbilt University found U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-TN, is maintaining consistent support from Tennessee voters as she runs for governor.¶
Blackburn’s 51 percent approval is identical to the university’s polling from April 2025. The same holds for her 46 percent disapproval in the survey.¶
It’s the latest poll to show that a majority of voters support Blackburn in advance of the August 6 primary. The Beacon Center of Tennessee released a poll earlier this month that found 63 percent of likely Republican primary voters backing the U.S. Senator over Congressman John Rose, R-TN, and State Representative Monty Fritts, R-Kingston. That poll also found Blackburn with a 24-point lead over Democratic gubernatorial contributions leader Jerri Green.¶
Vanderbilt did not release any polling of support for Green, Rose, Fritts, or any other gubernatorial candidate.¶
President Loses Support¶
The Vanderbilt poll provided less positive news for President Donald Trump.¶
The president’s approval rating dropped seven points from November polling to 49 percent. Pollsters found Trump continued to receive a strong 94 percent approval from his MAGA base in Tennessee, but he lost significant ground with Independent voters.Just 36 percent of Independent voters expressed support for Trump in the Vanderbilt Poll.¶
Vanderbilt Poll Co-Director and Professor of Political Science John Geer said if this pattern continues, it could impact November races.¶
“What you’re going to see is a big gap in turnout,” said Geer. “The Democratic Party and its supporters are motivated, and the MAGA supporters are discouraged, and that (discouragement) isn’t going to lead them to vote for Democrats, but it will lead them to stay at home.”¶
