Who is Marsha Blackburn? What to know about the senator running for Tennessee governor
Knox News

It’s official: Current U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn is looking to be the next governor of Tennessee.

Blackburn announced her campaign on X, formerly Twitter, with a post and video just after 8 a.m. Aug. 6.

“It’s official!” the post reads. “I’m running for Governor to ensure Tennessee is America’s conservative leader for this generation and the next.”

Blackburn is not the first candidate to announce for the 2026 Tennessee governor’s race. U.S. Rep. John Rose, R-Cookeville, was the first to formally announce a bid in March.

Current Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is term-limited and will leave the Tennessee governor’s office in January 2027. Voters will decide in November 2026 who will succeed him.

Who is Marsha Blackburn?

Blackburn is a senior U.S. senator from Tennessee now serving her second term in office. She is looking to leave Congress to serve as the next governor of Tennessee

Blackburn is a prominent member of the Republican Party in Tennessee and vocally opposes abortion and supports deporting undocumented residents, creating more jobs in the Volunteer State and “fighting wokeness.” All are issues cited on her Senate website.During her tenure in the Senate,

Blackburn has successfully sponsored legislation to protect kids from exploitation online and to curb the smuggling and trafficking of women and girls. Blackburn is also a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party.

Where is Marsha Blackburn from?

Blackburn was born in Laurel, Mississippi. The town is located in Jones County, about 90 miles southeast of Jackson, Miss.

In Tennessee, Blackburn is a resident of Brentwood in Middle Tennessee.She lives in Williamson County, according to the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives website

Does Marsha Blackburn have children?

Marsha Blackburn and her husband, Chuck, have two adult children, Mary Morgan Ketchel and Chad Blackburn.

Blackburn also has four grandchildren, according to her newly refurbished campaign website.

Where did Marsha Blackburn go to college?

Blackburn graduated from Mississippi State University in 1973 with a bachelor of science degree in home economics, according to the school’s library records.

While attending the university, Blackburn was a 4-H scholarship recipient, was president of the Associated Women Students, and was a member of Gamma Beta Phi, a national collegiate honor society.

How old is Marsha Blackburn?

Blackburn was born on June 6, 1952, according to her Congress biography.She is 73 years old.

What political offices has Marsha Blackburn previously held?

Blackburn was first elected to the Tennessee Senate in 1998 and served until 2003.

Then, Blackburn was elected to represent part of Middle Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives. She served eight terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.