Blackburn advances to general election, first woman to win party nomination

Tennessee Lookout ^ | August 6, 2026 | J. Holly McCall

[Steven Scharf]

Blackburn advances to general election, first woman to win party nomination Despite polls predicting a tight race, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn easily beats two Republican opponents

By J. Holly McCall - August 6, 2026 8:42 pm

U.S. Sen.Marsha Blackburn, photographed on Aug. 6, 2026, will be the Republican gubernatorial candidate in November (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn on Thursday advanced to the general election in November, defeating U.S. Rep. John Rose and becoming the first woman to win the Republican nomination for governor.

Despite polls in the final weeks of the campaign showing a tightening race, Blackburn cruised to victory. By 9 p.m. Thursday, after The Associated Press called the race, she had 43.8% of the primary vote with several precinct vote totals yet to be recorded.

Rose had 32.7% of the primary vote and state Rep. Monty Fritts of Kingston received 23.4% as the race was called.

Soon after Blackburn was reelected to her second Senate term in November 2024, she began floating rumors she would run for governor, but didn’t make a formal announcement of her gubernatorial campaign until August 2025.

She ran her first campaign ad in June, a spot that featured her touting her toughness on threats from China while crushing fortune cookies in a Nashville restaurant decorated to look like a Chinese restaurant.

Rose, a former state commissioner of agriculture who was elected to Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District in 2018, announced his candidacy in March 2025, but got off to a slow start.

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TOPICS: News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: governor; marshablackburn; tennessee

[Steven Scharf]

I think Marsha has this one in the bag.

Her Dem opponent will be Memphis City Council Member Jerri Green. The Green Pages do not track state race money.

I noticed that Senator Bill Hagerty won renomination. • FEC S0TN00169; 17 Jul 26; Tot $7,162,897; Dsb $3,855,937

His Dem opponent Marquita Bradshaw • FEC S4TN00542; 17 Jul 26; Tot $2,257; Dsb $1,293.

None of the other candidates listed has raised more than $10,000. What the hell do you do with so little money in a state wide race?

[Steven Scharf]

Real annoying I wrote a whole post from a banned source and FR just poofed it without letting me say the information.

[Steven Scharf]

I didn’t even know Tennessee was having a primary today and surprised no one had posted about it.

Marsha has a commanding warchest. I would be embarrased to even be attempting to run this race.

2026 Pre-Primary for JERRI GREEN submitted on 07/30/2026

Beginning Balance $207,125.41
TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS $146,830.25
TOTAL EXPENDITURES $235,953.93
ENDING BALANCE $118,001.73

2026 Pre-Primary for MARSHA BLACKBURN submitted on 07/30/2026
Beginning Balance $6,039,638.66
TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS $1,233,789.22
TOTAL EXPENDITURES $4,574,204.69
ENDING BALANCE $2,691,223.61

I noticed this one as I scrolled down the page.
WALTRIP , MICHAEL
Retired Primary 07/02/2026 $15.62
I think it was a $20 online contribution after the bank fee. (Which is an excessive bank fee).

[roving]

I don’t think we have to worry about her not winning Tennessee.

[House Atreides]

We’ll miss this DEPENDABLE vote in the US Senate. The good news is that she’ll appoint her interim replacement (to serve until the 2028 general election selects the permanent replacement). I TRUST HER TO NAME A WORTHY MAGA REPLACEMENT

[nuconvert]

Agree

[CFW]

Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee has lost his Republican primary, NBC News projects, falling to a former state official in a primary season that has seen an unusually high number of incumbents lose renomination.

Charlie Hatcher, the former state agricultural commissioner, rode support from prominent establishment Republicans to a victory over the controversial congressman backed by Trump.