When it comes to infrastructure, we’re going to have the opportunity to work on infrastructure issues as different components come back to the state: How we strengthen our infrastructure, how we make certain that we’ve got the infrastructure we need. Whether it’s roads or water or broadband, we are going to see growth opportunities there.
Having spent a lot of time in East Tennessee, specifically after the hurricane, the desire to rebuild our infrastructure not just to where it was before, but to take it even further was very clear.
You’re right about that, and continuing to work with those county mayors and with state legislators over the past year, they’ve given a lot of thought to this and have looked really holistically at what we do with broadband, what we do with roads and rails. To me, this is a very promising and exciting time to say, “This is a reset opportunity for us, let’s not waste it.”
Who gets to make the appointment for your Senate seat if you become governor? Will it be Gov. Lee or you? What does the timing look like? Who are the people you’re considering?
We are focused on winning. Our focus is on winning.
After we win the race and get sworn in, there will be time to look at that.
Are you envisioning the appointment happening after the swearing in?
We’re focused on winning right now and we’re going to stay with that focus.
It’s no secret that Gov. Bill Lee has had his challenges with the Republican supermajority. How will you interact with legislators differently to ensure your priorities advance?
I think everybody has their own way of working with people. The fact that I served in the State Senate and have continued to work regularly with members of the General Assembly … one of the things that they recognize is that I have a solid, strong record of delivering for the people of Tennessee. They appreciate that.
Because of that, I’ve continued to work with and talk with different state reps, different state senators. You look at the work I’ve done with (state representatives) Jason Zachary, with Michele (Carringer) and with (state senators) Richard (Briggs) and Becky (Duncan Massey), all of your delegation in Knoxville, if you were to talk to them, they could point to things we worked together on. I’ve had that history of working with them and delivering for the state.
It certainly shows from even before you were a candidate. I can think back to January when endorsements were coming in from some of the people you mentioned. It shows through their willingness to throw their weight behind you right away.
I’m very grateful for the encouragement they gave to say, “Our state needs a leader. We don’t need a manager, we need a leader.” And they have looked at the things that were beginning to happen in D.C. and so many have said, “Marsha, you understand it from a local, state and federal level. You would do a wonderful job working with us.”
I really feel like representing people is kind of a team sport. It takes your local, state and federal working together. That’s why I’ve been in every county in the state and working with them. Finding out what the needs are and then working together as a team.
How do you balance that need to be a leader with the more behind-the-scenes aspects of running a state?
There’s always that part of it. Again, you have a team that is working with you and the legislature is going to have their process and the state’s executive branch, lead by the governor, is going to have their process.
It is a matter of sitting down and working out what may be sticking points, what may be fine points, but keeping in mind that the number one goal is to meet the needs of the state and help the people of the state be able to prosper and for the state economy to grow and to make certain that when it comes to educating children, we’re going to be number one.
We’re going to have those shared goals that we’re going to be working the same direction. I think it’s going to be an exciting time to lead that team.
Who are you thinking about in terms of filing key cabinet positions?
I have not (thought about cabinet roles). We’re focused on the race and making certain we win the race, and then there will be time to do that.
I know you’re close to the president. What are your conversations like with him about endorsements?
I would love to have the president’s endorsement. We’re working hard every day to make certain that we do. Right now, our conversations are on making certain we end this government shutdown, get the government back open.
Who is U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn?
Blackburn became the first woman elected to represent Tennessee in the U.S. Senate when she won in 2018. If she is elected governor, she will be the first woman to serve in that role.
Blackburn was elected to the Tennessee Senate in 1998. She served there until 2003, then was elected to represent part of Middle Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives until her election to the U.S. Senate.
She was reelected to the U.S. Senate in 2024 with 63.8% of the vote.
In the Senate, she’s been a fierce defender of President Donald Trump’s policies. Recently, she successfully passed legislation to change the federal framework for reporting crimes involving the online sexual exploitation of children.
Who else is running for governor?
One of Blackburn’s GOP primary opponents, U.S. Rep. John Rose, announced his run in March. In the time since then, he’s built name recognition based on his plans to run Tennessee like a business, putting hot-button social issues Blackburn has capitalized on in the background.
State Rep. Monty Fritts, a constitutional conservative, announced his run in September, and Cito Pellegra is also running in the May 5 primary election to replace term-limited Gov. Bill Lee.
Allie Feinberg is the politics reporter for Knox News. Email: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com; Reddit: u/KnoxNewsAllie