Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has officially thrown her hat into the ring for Tennessee’s 2026 gubernatorial race, marking a significant moment in both state and national politics. Announcing her candidacy on August 6, 2025, Blackburn becomes the third sitting U.S. senator to launch a campaign for governor in the upcoming election cycle, joining Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), according to Ballotpedia. This development signals a rare convergence of federal and state ambitions, and it’s stirring up conversations about the shifting balance of political power in America.
Blackburn’s campaign is rooted in a message of restoring local control and championing a conservative, America First agenda. Speaking with Breitbart News Daily, she emphasized the importance of cooperation between local, state, and federal officials to address the needs of Tennesseans. “You know, I like to say that representing people is a team sport, and your local, state, and federal has to work together in order to meet the needs of your state, to make certain that you’re getting what you need and that you are covering the — really covering all the space for the needs of the people,” Blackburn explained.
Her bid comes at a time when President Donald Trump’s administration is actively pushing to devolve federal authority back to the states. Blackburn was quick to highlight this trend, citing the Trump administration’s rollback of the Department of Education, the relocation of half of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s workforce from Washington, D.C. to regional offices, and efforts to return healthcare and regulatory powers to state governments. “President Donald Trump is sending power and authority back to the states every single day, and we’ve rolled back, and the closing of the Department of Education, moving half of the employees of the USDA out of Washington, DC and into different states and regional offices,” she told Breitbart News Daily.
These structural changes, Blackburn argues, are designed to empower states like Tennessee to lead on issues ranging from energy production to infrastructure development. “Trump is also moving health care back to the states as well as easing regulation and saying to the states, ‘You take the lead in energy production, in infrastructure development,’” she said. This philosophy aligns closely with Blackburn’s campaign platform, which centers on faith, family, freedom, hope, and opportunity—values she says will guide her stewardship of the state.
One of the most consequential policy shifts currently underway involves a new federal bill requiring able-bodied adults to work at least 20 hours a week to qualify for Medicaid and SNAP benefits. Blackburn noted that the responsibility for implementing this policy will fall squarely on the shoulders of state governors—a point she framed as both a challenge and an opportunity. “When it comes to benefits, and those provisions we put in the big new bill that require people to work—able-bodied adults having to work 20 hours a week, to get Medicaid and SNAP benefits, that is going to be implemented by the governors of the state,” Blackburn explained. She described the timing as “a great time to come back to the state that I love, and to serve as governor, and to implement a conservative America first agenda, and make certain that Tennessee is America’s conservative leader.”
Blackburn’s entry into the race is not just a local story—it’s part of a broader national trend. According to Ballotpedia’s analysis, the 2026 election cycle has seen an unusually high number of sitting U.S. senators seeking governorships. The last time this happened was in 2010, when four senators ran for their state’s top executive office. Between 2010 and 2024, ten senators—seven Republicans, two Democrats, and one independent—pursued governorships, with mixed results: four won, four lost in the general election, and two were defeated in the primaries.
For Tennessee, Blackburn’s candidacy is historic. The state has never elected a sitting U.S. senator as governor, and only one has ever tried: Ross Bass, who ran in 1974 but failed to secure the nomination. Alabama, where Tuberville is running, finds itself in a similar position, having never elected a senator as governor. Colorado, on the other hand, has done so once, electing Edwin Johnson in 1954. Since 1914, 24 states have elected senators to their governorships, but 26—including Tennessee—have not, making Blackburn’s campaign a potential first for the Volunteer State.
Blackburn’s decision to run comes amid a renewed focus on the mechanics of American democracy and the role of state governments in shaping policy. Ballotpedia, which has tracked more than a century of data on senators running for governor, notes that these contests often reflect broader debates about federalism and the distribution of power. As Ballotpedia’s Policy Director Josh Altic put it, “We’re giving our readers tangible proof of the importance of elections. The saying that elections have consequences is true, which makes it even more important for us to give voters the tools and information they need to understand what policies their local officials are debating, voting on, and enacting into law.”
Blackburn’s campaign is already taking shape, with the senator describing her efforts to build a strong team and connect with voters across Tennessee’s 95 counties. She’s been crisscrossing the state, listening to constituents and outlining her vision for Tennessee’s future. “And being back in Tennessee, here’s the thing, President Donald Trump is sending power and authority back to the states every single day,” she said, reiterating her commitment to local leadership and conservative principles. She added that her campaign aims to ensure Tennessee is the “place for faith, family, freedom, hope, [and] opportunity.”
As the 2026 gubernatorial race heats up, Blackburn’s bid is likely to draw national attention—not only for its historic implications but also for the broader questions it raises about the evolving relationship between federal and state governments. With the Trump administration’s push for decentralization and the growing role of states in implementing major policy reforms, Tennessee’s governor’s race could serve as a bellwether for the direction of American governance in the years ahead.
For now, Blackburn’s supporters are rallying behind her promise of conservative leadership and renewed state autonomy, while political observers keep a close eye on a race that could reshape Tennessee’s political landscape and set a precedent for other states. With her campaign underway and the stakes high, all eyes are on Tennessee as it prepares for a potentially transformative election season.
