Tennessee has elected a woman to lead the state for the first time in its history. A longtime fixture of the state’s Republican politics delivered that milestone on election night.
Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn defeated Democrat Jerri Green to become Tennessee’s first female governor, with The Associated Press calling the race early Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. The incoming governor has served in the U.S. Senate since 2019.
How did Marsha Blackburn win?
Blackburn, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, defeated Green, a Memphis City Council member and lawyer. She will become the state’s 51st governor when she takes office in January. Green ran as a challenger in a state where Democrats have struggled to win statewide races for years.
Her victory was expected in a state Trump won with 64% of the vote in 2024. The Cook Political Report rated the race solidly Republican, and Blackburn led in polls heading into Election Day. Some reports described the race as tight, though polls had predicted a comfortable win.
Blackburn won the August Republican primary over U.S. Rep. John Rose and state Rep. Monty Fritts. Trump campaigned for her at a rally in Clarksville in October, telling supporters she would do a great job.
What did Marsha Blackburn campaign on?
Marsha Blackburn ran on securing the border, deporting people in the country illegally, keeping communities safe, growing the economy and cutting taxes. She also pledged to bar transgender athletes from women’s sports and to make sure Tennessee never becomes like California.
She backed Amendment 2, a measure on the ballot that would strengthen the state constitution’s ban on a statewide property tax. Voters from both parties have said rising property taxes are a concern. Tennessee already has no state income tax on wages, making it one of the states with the lowest taxes in the country.
Who is Marsha Blackburn?
Blackburn was born and raised in Laurel, Mississippi, and graduated from Mississippi State University in 1973 with a degree in home economics, attending on a scholarship.
She led the Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission before winning a seat in the state Senate in 1998. She represented Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District from 2003 to 2019. Her years in the music commission tied her closely to Nashville’s entertainment industry.
In 2018, she became Tennessee’s first female U.S. senator. She championed laws signed by Trump, including the REPORT Act, which strengthens requirements for tech companies to report child sexual abuse material, and the American Music Tourism Act, which promotes music tourism in places like Nashville. Supporters credit her with focusing on online child safety and the music business.
She has been married to her husband, Chuck, for nearly 50 years. They have two children and two grandchildren.
What happens to Marsha Blackburn’s Senate seat?
Blackburn’s move to the governor’s office will leave her Senate seat open. Under Tennessee law, the governor appoints a replacement to serve until a special election, which means Blackburn could have a say in choosing her own successor.
That decision will matter for Marsha Blackburn’s party in a Senate where Democrats won control on Election Day.
What does the win mean for Tennessee?
Blackburn will replace Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican who could not run again because of term limits. Tennessee was one of 36 states choosing governors this year.
Her win came on a night when Democrats made gains nationally, showing Republicans remain dominant in Tennessee. Democrats in the state hope Green’s campaign builds a foundation for future races.
For Marsha Blackburn, the victory adds another first to a career built on them. Her term begins in January, when she will take over a state that has been led by Republicans for 16 years.
