Biography
BackgroundMarsha 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.
Key distinction: Blackburn has avoided in-person town hall meetings for several years and declined to debate opponents in both her 2018 and 2024 Senate races. When asked about debates in the governor's race, she has not committed to participating.
Political Timeline
Career2025 – PRESENT
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.
2019 – PRESENT
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.
2003 – 2019
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.
1999 – 2003
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.
1995 – 1999
Chair, TN Film, Entertainment & Music Commission
Appointed by Governor Don Sundquist. First major government role.
Campaign Finance
Follow the MoneyTotal Raised
$5,500,000
In first 5 months since entering race (Aug 2025 – Jan 2026). Broke the state's campaign finance reporting system with volume of contributions.
National Donor Reach: 50 states — Reflects national profile
Total Contributions
33,000
Record for most contributions to a Tennessee gubernatorial campaign in a single reporting period. Filing overwhelmed the Registry of Election Finance system.
Average Contribution
~$167
Calculated: $5.5M ÷ 33,000 contributions. Suggests broad grassroots donor base alongside larger contributions.
Personal Loans
$0
Blackburn's campaign is entirely donor-funded — no personal loans or self-funding. A fully donor-supported campaign at this scale demonstrates strong fundraising infrastructure and broad support.
TNFirefly Analysis
Blackburn's fundraising dominance is the headline story of this race so far — $5.5M in five months with 33,000 individual contributions is a record-setting pace for a Tennessee gubernatorial campaign. Her national profile gives her access to a donor network most state-level candidates can only dream of, with contributors from all 50 states. About 22% of donations come from Tennessee addresses, reflecting that national reach. The 33,000 individual contributions and ~$167 average suggest a healthy mix of grassroots small-dollar support alongside larger donations — exactly the kind of broad coalition that wins primaries.
Sources:
Blackburn Campaign, Feb 3 2026 ·
Axios Nashville, Feb 3 2026 ·
TN Registry of Election Finance ·
TN Lookout, Aug 2025
Note: Cash on hand and detailed expenditure data pending full disclosure report availability from the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance. Campaign reported technical difficulties with filing system.
Note: Cash on hand and detailed expenditure data pending full disclosure report availability from the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance. Campaign reported technical difficulties with filing system.
Where She Stands on Education
TNFirefly FocusSchool Choice & Vouchers
Strongly Supports
Blackburn has consistently championed school choice throughout her career. In her gubernatorial announcement, she promised to "empower parents in education" and described innovating education delivery as a top priority. During her Senate tenure, she co-sponsored multiple bills expanding education savings accounts and voucher programs at the federal level.
"It's going to be a great time for Tennessee to innovate on how we deliver education."
Teacher Pay & Recruitment
No Specific Position
Blackburn has not made teacher pay or recruitment a specific part of her gubernatorial campaign platform to date. As a U.S. Senator, state teacher compensation was outside her direct purview — this is an area where her state-level positions may develop as the campaign shifts to Tennessee-specific policy.
Based on review of campaign materials at marshablackburn.com and public statements through Feb 2026.
Charter Schools
Supports Expansion
Blackburn has supported removing barriers to charter school expansion. As a member of Congress, she backed legislation that promoted charter school growth and public-private education partnerships. Her campaign rhetoric about "innovating education delivery" aligns with charter expansion.
Federal Role in Education
Reduce Federal Role
Blackburn aligns with the Trump administration's position on reducing the federal role in education. Her announcement specifically emphasized that Trump is "sending power back to the states" and that Tennessee needs a governor to "bring that revolution home." This signals support for reducing federal education mandates and returning control to states.
"As he sends power back to the states, he's going to need strong conservative governors who can bring that revolution home."
TCAP & Standardized Testing
No Specific Position
Blackburn has not publicly addressed TCAP, TNReady, or state-level standardized testing policy in her gubernatorial campaign. As a U.S. Senator, testing policy fell outside her federal portfolio — this is an area where her state-level positions will likely develop as the campaign progresses.
Based on review of campaign materials and public statements through Feb 2026. TNFirefly will update this section if the candidate addresses standardized testing.
School Safety
No Specific Position
Blackburn has not released specific school safety proposals for her gubernatorial campaign. School safety has been a growing concern for Tennessee families, and this is an area where her state-level agenda may develop as the campaign moves forward.
Congressional voting record · Campaign platform review through Feb 2026.
TNFirefly Analysis
Blackburn has staked out clear ground on school choice and reducing the federal role in education — two issues that resonate strongly with Tennessee Republican primary voters. Her Senate record on education choice legislation gives her the most established track record of any candidate on these issues. As the campaign develops, TNFirefly will be watching for additional details on state-level education priorities like teacher recruitment, TCAP testing, and TISA funding implementation. Her framing of education as part of a broader "innovation" and "parental empowerment" message positions her well for the primary conversation.
Campaign Platform
Key IssuesTrump Alignment & Conservative Leadership
Blackburn's core pitch is that she's the candidate to "bring the Trump revolution home" to Tennessee. Her announcement centered Trump's agenda and described the need for governors who will implement federal conservative reforms at the state level. Trump has not yet endorsed in the race.
Taxes & Government Spending
Blackburn has pledged to "keep taxes low and get rid of government waste." Her political career was built on opposing the Tennessee state income tax in the early 2000s. She's signed the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge.
Energy Production
Promised "leadership in energy production" in her announcement ad. Aligns with the Trump administration's push for expanded domestic energy including fossil fuels. Specific Tennessee energy proposals have not been detailed.
Immigration & Border Security
Blackburn's campaign ad promised deporting immigrants in the country illegally "whether it takes planes, trains, or starships." Supports Trump's immigration enforcement approach at the state level.
Parental Rights & Social Issues
Has emphasized "empowering parents in education" and "defining boys and girls the way God made them." Aligns with conservative positions on gender identity and parental control in schools.
Second Amendment
Strong Second Amendment advocate throughout her career. Trump praised her for fighting to protect "our always under siege Second Amendment." Has opposed gun restriction legislation in the Senate.
Crime & Public Safety
Listed "fighting crime" as a key priority in her campaign announcement. Specific Tennessee criminal justice proposals have not been detailed beyond general tough-on-crime positioning.
Healthcare
Has mentioned "innovating how we deliver health care" as part of her gubernatorial platform. Specific healthcare proposals for Tennessee have not been released. In the Senate, she has opposed the Affordable Care Act.
Endorsements
SupportLoading endorsements...
Note: This endorsement list is compiled from public sources and will be updated as new endorsements are announced. If you represent a campaign and have endorsements to add, contact our team.
View all candidate endorsements →
View all candidate endorsements →
Key Votes & Record
Senate Record
Yes
2017
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017) — Supported the Trump-era tax reform bill, cutting corporate and individual tax rates
Co-sponsor
Senate
Education Choice for Children Act — Co-sponsored federal education savings account legislation
No
2022
Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — Voted against the gun safety bill passed after the Uvalde shooting. Only major gun legislation to pass in decades.
No
Multiple
Affordable Care Act (various repeal/replace votes) — Consistently voted to repeal the ACA throughout her time in Congress
Yes
2017–2020
All three Trump Supreme Court nominees — Confirmed Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett
Signed
Ongoing
Taxpayer Protection Pledge — Americans for Tax Reform commitment to oppose net tax increases
Sources: All voting records verified via Congress.gov official record and Ballotpedia.
This is a selection of key votes relevant to Tennessee governance. Full voting record available at congress.gov.
This is a selection of key votes relevant to Tennessee governance. Full voting record available at congress.gov.
This tracker is produced by The Tennessee Firefly, an education journalism outlet covering all 95 Tennessee counties. All information is sourced from public records, official filings, and verified reporting. We do not endorse candidates. Factual information is clearly separated from analysis. Learn more about our standards.
