‘Tennessee Three’ Dem runs for Marsha Blackburn’s Senate seat.
Tennessee State Rep. Gloria Johnson Announces Senate Bid to Challenge Sen. Marsha Blackburn
Tennessee state Rep. Gloria Johnson, a member of the “Tennessee Three” who faced expulsion from the state legislature earlier this year, has officially launched her campaign to unseat Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). Johnson’s announcement comes after forming an exploratory committee earlier this year.
“Gloria has dedicated her life to fighting for justice and standing tall for Tennesseans who have been left out, left behind, or left without a voice,” her campaign said in a press release. “She is challenging Marsha Blackburn because Tennessee deserves a Senator who will fight for working families, not special interest donors and D.C. politicians.”
Johnson gained national attention as one of the “Tennessee Three,” a group of state lawmakers who faced expulsion after participating in a gun violence protest. While Johnson narrowly avoided expulsion by just one vote, her colleagues Justin Jones and Justin Pearson were ousted. However, both Jones and Pearson were later reinstated after winning special elections for their seats.
Johnson, who was first elected to the Tennessee House in 2012, lost reelection in 2014 but was reelected in 2018 and 2020. In 2022, she moved to District 90 after the state’s redistricting shifted the congressional boundaries.
Blackburn’s campaign dismissed Johnson’s challenge, labeling the state representative “as woke as they come.” They also highlighted Blackburn’s strong performance in the 2018 midterm elections, where she defeated then-Gov. Phil Bredesen by nearly 11 points, becoming the first woman elected U.S. senator from Tennessee.
“[Johnson] would be a puppet for Joe Biden, the Squad, and Chuck Schumer in the Senate,” said Abigail Sigler, a spokeswoman for Blackburn’s campaign. “While Senator Blackburn is working hard to fight back against Biden’s woke agenda, State Rep. Johnson is pushing that divisive, destructive agenda here in Tennessee. Tennesseans deserve a United States Senator who is committed to fighting for our conservative values. Senator Blackburn will continue her record of getting things done and fighting for Tennessee families.”
Blackburn’s seat is expected to heavily favor Republicans, particularly after then-President Donald Trump won the state by over 23 points in 2020. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report has rated the race as “Solid Republican.”
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
