Senator Marsha Blackburn is running for governor of Tennessee
WATE 6 News

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Senator Marsha Blackburn, a Republican, is running for governor of Tennessee, she announced Wednesday morning.

“Trump is back, America is blessed, and Tennessee—better than ever!” Blackburn said. “Tennessee is the greatest place in the world to rear a family, make a life and a living, and together we can make our great state even better.

In the announcement video, Blackburn said she plans to make Tennessee number one in the country on energy production and job creation. She promised to deliver a “world class” education by “empowering parents, not the deep state” and to deport immigrants who are in the country illegally.

“We’ll honor the Constitution, we’ll value life and we’ll define our boys and girls the way God made them,” Blackburn said. Text in the video said, “Get rid of gender pronoun insanity.”

Multiple images in the video show the Senator alongside President Trump.

Current Tennessee Governor Bill Lee is reaching the end of his two-term limit after being reelected in 2022. Other Republicans running include Rep. John Rose and Cito Pellegra of Arlington have declared that they are running. Several Democrats have also announced or begun fundraising, including Memphis City Councilwoman Jerri Green, Memphis community advocate Carnita Atwater, musician Adam “Ditch” Kurtz, and Tim Cyr from Gallatin.

Knoxville Mayor Glenn Jacobs said he would not run for governor if Blackburn did. On Wednesday, he said he plans to vote for her.