{"id":30785,"date":"2026-08-07T06:41:39","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T01:41:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=30785"},"modified":"2026-08-07T06:41:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T01:41:39","slug":"marsha-blackburn-wins-tennessee-gop-gubernatorial-primary-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=30785","title":{"rendered":"Marsha Blackburn wins Tennessee GOP gubernatorial primary in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"beyondwords-wrapper\" data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"beyondwords-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., cruised to victory in a GOP primary on Thursday evening in a race to replace outgoing Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">With the nomination in tow, Blackburn is likely to become the next <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_68571\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/state-and-local\/governors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">governor<\/a> in the Volunteer State \u2014 a state that hasn\u2019t elected a Democrat to its top executive role since 2006.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Lee, who has served in the role since 2019, is term-limited and cannot seek re-election. He last won reelection in a 64.9% to 32.9% victory over Democratic challenger Jason Martin, a businessman and doctor.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_68572\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/dems-hope-defend-governors-mansion-gop-takeover-red-state\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>DEMS RALLY AROUND BEST HOPE TO DEFEND GOVERNOR&#8217;S MANSION FROM GOP TAKEOVER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/Marsha-Blackburn.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/Marsha-Blackburn.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/Marsha-Blackburn.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/Marsha-Blackburn.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/Marsha-Blackburn.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/Marsha-Blackburn.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/Marsha-Blackburn.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/Marsha-Blackburn.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/Marsha-Blackburn.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Republican gubernatorial candidate Sen. Marsha Blackburn\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee is running for governor in the 2026 race to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Bill Lee.<\/span> <span>(Joe Raedle\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Notably, Lee did not endorse anyone in the three-way <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_68573\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/elections\/state-and-local-primaries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Republican race<\/a> for the 2026 nomination but noted that he had a close relationship with Blackburn when she announced her candidacy.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;I\u2019ve been friends with Marsha for a long time, and she served as my congressman and representative in the General Assembly. I\u2019m proud we have really good people running for <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_68574\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/state-and-local\/governors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">governor <\/a>in this state,&#8221; Lee told local outlets.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Blackburn, for her own part, promised to continue focusing on issues that Republicans have made centerpieces to <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_68575\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/opinion\/house-republicans-did-what-voters-asked-we-have-receipts-its-up-senate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the GOP <\/a><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_68576\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/opinion\/house-republicans-did-what-voters-asked-we-have-receipts-its-up-senate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">platform <\/a>in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">She <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_68577\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/opinion\/biden-administration-forced-false-choice-americans-immigration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">highlighted <\/a><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_68578\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/opinion\/biden-administration-forced-false-choice-americans-immigration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">immigration <\/a>as one such issue.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;As governor, I\u2019ll deport illegals, stop the flow of drugs and drug money. We will crack down on Cartels, restrict cash transfers to drug havens and hit criminals and illegals where it hurts \u2014 in their wallets,&#8221; Blackburn said in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=oGj9bylyJ-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">a campaign video.<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Blackburn also promised to prevent China from buying up Tennessee land, punctuating her commitment with a viral ad where she crushed a fortune cookie.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;It doesn\u2019t take a fortune cookie to figure it out. Here in Tennessee we\u2019re going to stop communist China and protect Tennessee land,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=J_0yvB16y4M\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">she remarked.<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">President Donald Trump also did not issue an endorsement in the race, saying that he had ties to one of Blackburn\u2019s challengers: Rep. John Rose, R-Tenn.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_68581\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/trump-may-have-endorsed-darline-graham-gop-senate-hopefuls-arent-backing-down\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>TRUMP MAY HAVE ENDORSED DARLINE GRAHAM, BUT GOP SENATE HOPEFULS AREN\u2019T BACKING DOWN<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/343\/192\/marsha-blackburn-military-democrats-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/686\/384\/marsha-blackburn-military-democrats-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/672\/378\/marsha-blackburn-military-democrats-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1344\/756\/marsha-blackburn-military-democrats-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/931\/523\/marsha-blackburn-military-democrats-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1862\/1046\/marsha-blackburn-military-democrats-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/720\/405\/marsha-blackburn-military-democrats-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1440\/810\/marsha-blackburn-military-democrats-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1200\/675\/marsha-blackburn-military-democrats-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Sen. Marsha Blackburn walks through the U.S. Capitol after a Senate vote.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Sen. Marsha Blackburn walks out of the Senate Chambers during a vote at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., on October 27.<\/span> <span>(Anna Moneymaker\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Rose, an 8th-generation farmer and the millionaire founder of Transcender Corp., an IT certification company, has served in the Tennessee legislature since 2019. In his gubernatorial campaign, he pitched himself as a homegrown candidate focused on local solutions to local problems.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;I know that anything is achievable in Tennessee because I have lived it. Now, I\u2019m asking for you to give me the chance to bring opportunity to all Tennesseans,&#8221; Rose said in a <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_68582\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/elections\/campaigning\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">campaign video<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">On his website, Rose highlighted five key areas of focus, including education, infrastructure, healthcare, energy and economic and community development.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">A third candidate, State Rep. Monty Fritts, had run on a more aggressive, small-government platform.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;My number one priority is leaving more money in your pockets, in your purses and in your country bankrolls rather than sending it to Nashville,&#8221; Fritts said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=i9U8mh4HSh8&amp;list=PLAM0MjbZlKwiE9fhILoSL2GsJ_bFiZaa5&amp;index=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">campaign video.<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">On his website, Fritts touted positions like shrinking the size of Tennessee\u2019s budget, protecting citizen rights against encroaching government power and increasing parent input in education.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Fritts attracted controversy earlier this year when, as part of his campaign, he called for a <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_68584\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/opinion\/democratic-socialists-seize-moment-extreme-anti-american-views-badly-tarnish-party\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ban on mosques<\/a> and other &#8220;pagan religions.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_68585\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/mexican-cartel-bosses-charged-timeshare-fraud-scheme-targeting-elderly-americans-doj\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>5 MEXICAN CARTEL BOSSES CHARGED IN WEAPONS, DRUG TRAFFICKING, TIMESHARE FRAUD SCHEMES, DOJ SAYS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/343\/192\/tennessee-capitol.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/686\/384\/tennessee-capitol.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/672\/378\/tennessee-capitol.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1344\/756\/tennessee-capitol.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/931\/523\/tennessee-capitol.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1862\/1046\/tennessee-capitol.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/720\/405\/tennessee-capitol.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1440\/810\/tennessee-capitol.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1200\/675\/tennessee-capitol.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Tennessee State Capitol building in Nashville\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>State Capitol Building Nashville Tennessee USA. (Photo by: Andrew Woodley\/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)<\/span> <span>(Andrew Woodley\/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Islam is a little different story than perhaps other religions are, in that it\u2019s not necessarily a religion; it\u2019s a political movement,&#8221; Fritts said. &#8220;It\u2019s that movement that, if you don\u2019t submit, perhaps you are executed. I feel that Islam is incongruent with both our U.S. and Tennessee Constitution,&#8221; Fritts told local outlets.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Having cleared the primary, Blackburn will run in the state\u2019s <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_68587\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/elections\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">general election<\/a> on Nov. 3 against her Democratic opponent, Memphis City Councilwoman and Chief Public Defender Jerri Green.<\/p>\n<p> <!----> <!----> <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<p>Leo Briceno is a politics reporter for the congressional team at Fox News Digital. He was previously a reporter with World Magazine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., cruised to victory in a GOP primary on Thursday evening in a race to replace outgoing Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. With the nomination in tow, Blackburn is likely to become the next governor in the Volunteer State \u2014 a state that hasn\u2019t&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30786,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Marsha-Blackburn.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30785","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30785","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30785"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30785\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/30786"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30785"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30785"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30785"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}