Shining a light on education & government in TennesseeShining a light on education & government in TennesseeU.S. Senator from Tennessee · Brentwood, Williamson County
"It's going to be a great time for Tennessee to innovate on how we deliver education."
"As he sends power back to the states, he's going to need strong conservative governors who can bring that revolution home."
Marsha Wedgeworth Blackburn is a U.S. Senator representing Tennessee since January 2019. A close ally of President Donald Trump, she previously served 16 years in the U.S. House representing Tennessee's 7th Congressional District (2003–2019) and before that in the Tennessee State Senate representing the 23rd District (1999–2003).
Born in Laurel, Mississippi, Blackburn graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in home economics. She moved to Tennessee and built a career in sales and marketing, including working for the Southwestern Book Company selling Bibles and educational books door-to-door. She later owned Marketing Strategies, a promotion and event management firm based in Williamson County.
Blackburn first rose to political prominence during the early 2000s fight against a proposed Tennessee state income tax, becoming one of the most vocal opponents of the measure. In 2002, she ran for Congress and won, beginning a 16-year tenure representing the 7th District.
In 2018, she became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Tennessee, defeating popular former Governor Phil Bredesen by nearly 11 percentage points. She won re-election in November 2024 by 29 points over Democratic State Rep. Gloria Johnson.
If elected governor, Blackburn would become Tennessee's first female governor and, at 74, the oldest governor in state history at inauguration. Because she was re-elected to a six-year Senate term in 2024, her Senate seat is not at risk — but if she wins the governorship, she would vacate the seat and, as governor, would likely appoint her own temporary replacement.
Campaign website: marshablackburn.com
Candidate for Governor of Tennessee. Announced August 6, 2025. Raised $5.5M with 33,000 contributions in five months. Campaign treasurer is Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs.
U.S. Senator from Tennessee. First woman elected to U.S. Senate from Tennessee. Won 2018 by 10.8 pts over Phil Bredesen, re-elected 2024 by 29 pts. Serves on Commerce, Armed Services, and Judiciary committees.
U.S. Representative, Tennessee 7th District. Served 16 years representing parts of suburban Nashville and West Tennessee. Rose to Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Tennessee State Senator, 23rd District. Rose to prominence as a leading voice against the proposed Tennessee state income tax. This fight established her statewide brand as a fiscal conservative.
Chair, TN Film, Entertainment & Music Commission. Appointed by Governor Don Sundquist. First major government role.
Core pitch is she's the candidate to "bring the Trump revolution home" to Tennessee.
Pledged to "keep taxes low and get rid of government waste." Career built on opposing state income tax. Signed Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge.
Promised "leadership in energy production."
Campaign ad promised deporting immigrants in the country illegally "whether it takes planes, trains, or starships."
Emphasized "empowering parents in education" and "defining boys and girls the way God made them."
Strong advocate throughout career.
Listed "fighting crime" as key priority.
Blackburn raised $5.5M in her first five months, breaking the state's campaign finance reporting system with the volume of contributions. Her 33,000 individual contributions set a record for the most in a single reporting period for a Tennessee gubernatorial campaign. With donors in all 50 states but only 22% from Tennessee, her fundraising reflects a national donor base built during her Senate career. The campaign is entirely donor-funded — $0 in personal loans.
Source: Tennessee Registry of Election Finance. See full finance breakdown →
Blackburn has made school choice a central plank of her campaign, appearing in Americans for Prosperity radio ads with Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs promoting the Education Freedom Scholarships. She compares the fight for school choice to Tennessee's historic battle against the state income tax — framing it as a fundamental conservative cause rather than a policy debate.
Has consistently championed school choice. Promised to "empower parents in education." Co-sponsored multiple federal education savings account bills.
“A parent shouldn't have to win the lottery to have a choice in their child's education.”Tennessee Lookout, Oct 2025
Has not committed to specific teacher pay increases or made recruitment a campaign priority.
“Our children deserve the best person for the job.”Tennessee Firefly, Feb 2025
Voted for original charter bill. Supports rural/suburban expansion.
“Charter schools can be the labs of innovation for public school systems, giving teachers the flexibility, working with students.”Tennessee Firefly, Feb 2026
Aligns with Trump administration position on reducing federal role. "As he sends power back to the states, he's going to need strong conservative governors."
Has not publicly addressed state-level standardized testing policy.
Has not released specific school safety proposals.
Blackburn's education platform is built entirely around school choice — a position that aligns with the GOP base and the Trump administration. What she has not addressed is the daily reality for teachers and students in Tennessee's 1,800+ public schools: teacher pay, testing policy, school safety, and Pre-K access. For voters whose children attend public schools and always will, there's little in her platform that speaks directly to them.
Get TNFirefly's nonpartisan race coverage, poll updates, and education policy analysis delivered to your inbox.
About this tracker
This tracker is produced by The Tennessee Firefly, an independent, nonpartisan news outlet covering education and government in Tennessee. We don't endorse candidates. We don't take political ads. We follow the money, the policy, and the people who shape your kids' schools. All data comes from official filings, verified reporting, and on-the-record sources. Last updated March 17, 2026.