{"id":2471747,"date":"2025-08-07T05:10:01","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T09:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blackburn-governor-run-kicks-off-jockeying-for-senate-seat-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-08-07T05:12:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T09:12:19","slug":"blackburn-governor-run-kicks-off-jockeying-for-senate-seat-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blackburn-governor-run-kicks-off-jockeying-for-senate-seat-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Blackburn governor run kicks off jockeying for Senate seat &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fblackburn-governor-run-kicks-off-jockeying-for-senate-seat-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2471747&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) has announced her campaign for governor of tennessee, setting in motion a political contest to fill her Senate seat should she win. Blackburn, who was reelected to the Senate in 2024, would serve until early 2027 when she&#8217;d be sworn in as governor and resign from the Senate. As governor, she would have the power to appoint a temporary successor who would serve until a special election in November 2028, with the seat then up for a full term in 2030. this makes the 2026 Tennessee governor&#8217;s race particularly significant, as the eventual winner could influence the state&#8217;s Senate representation for years.<\/p>\n<p>Several Republicans are emerging as potential candidates for Blackburn&#8217;s Senate seat. Rep. Diana Harshbarger, a pharmacist and ally of Blackburn, is considered a top contender with strong grassroots and donor support. Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, known as professional wrestler &#8220;Kane,&#8221; brings celebrity appeal and a libertarian approach but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/harris-downplays-sexism-in-white-house-race-against-trump-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Harris downplays sexism in White ... ... against Trump ... Washington Examiner\">faces challenges appealing<\/a> to the Republican base. Rep. Tim Burchett has expressed interest in the seat and is known for his unique persona and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nevertrumps-latest-attempt-to-dismiss-election-concerns-is-particularly-dishonest\/\" title=\"NeverTrump\u2019s Latest Attempt To Dismiss Election Concerns Is Particularly Dishonest\">active social media presence<\/a>,though some question his suitability for the Senate&#8217;s formal atmosphere.Other possible contenders include Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Rep. Andy Ogles, among others.<\/p>\n<p>Blackburn is favored to win the GOP primary and the gubernatorial race, giving her the rare opportunity to appoint her Senate successor, perhaps shaping Tennessee&#8217;s political landscape for years to come.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Blackburn&rsquo;s governor run kicks off jockeying for Tennessee Senate seat<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2198258\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>With Sen.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marsha-blackburn\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)&nbsp;\"> Marsha Blackburn <\/a>(R-TN)<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3492074\/marsha-blackburn-announces-run-for-tennessee-governor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"> launching her campaign<\/a> for governor of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tennessee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Tennessee\">Tennessee<\/a> on Wednesday, attention is shifting to what could come next for her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Senate\">Senate<\/a> seat, and who might be best positioned to fill it if she wins.<\/p>\n<p>Blackburn, who won reelection to the Senate last November, would continue serving until she&rsquo;s sworn in as governor in early 2027. At that point, she would resign her Senate seat and gain the authority to appoint a temporary successor.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3491815\/texas-fleeing-democrats-shelter-massachusetts-maura-healey\/\">&#8216;Texas Hold &#8216;Em&#8217;: Fleeing Democrats find shelter in Massachusetts with Maura Healey<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3491674\/cornyn-paxton-texas-seek-punishments-democrats-redistricting\/\">Cornyn and Paxton seek punishments for Texas Democrats skipping redistricting session<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3491553\/former-michelle-obama-aide-jackie-norris-senate-challenge-joni-ernst\/\">Former Michelle Obama aide Jackie Norris announces Senate challenge to Joni Ernst<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Under state law, that appointee would serve until the November 2028 general election, when voters would choose someone to complete the final two years of Blackburn&rsquo;s term. The seat would then be up again in 2030 for a full six-year term.<\/p>\n<p>That makes Tennessee&rsquo;s 2026 governor&rsquo;s race unusually consequential, with the winner potentially shaping the state&rsquo;s Senate delegation for years. While the appointment would cover less than half of a full term, it offers an incumbent advantage that could carry through two election cycles. If elected governor, Blackburn could effectively handpick her successor, a power rarely held by sitting senators.<\/p>\n<p>While Blackburn&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-campaign-starts-trump-accident-tracker-tallying-gaffes-its-been-0-days\/\" title=\"DeSantis ... launches &#039;Trump Accident Tracker&#039; counting blunders: &#039;0 days without mishaps&#039;\">campaign remains focused<\/a> on the governor&rsquo;s race, multiple Tennessee Republicans have already expressed interest, while others are being floated as possible successors.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN)<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) speaks outside the hush money criminal case of former president Donald Trump in New York on Thursday, May 16, 2024. (AP Photo\/Ted Shaffrey)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), who represents Tennessee&rsquo;s 1st Congressional District, is widely seen as one of the top <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pompeo-sparks-2024-buzz-with-upcoming-iowa-trip\/\" title=\"Pompeo Sparks 2024 Buzz With Upcoming Iowa Trip\">potential contenders<\/a>. A pharmacist by training and member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, she has closely aligned herself with Blackburn, carrying many of her companion bills in the House.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Tennessee congresswoman has built a reputation as a disciplined, policy-driven lawmaker with close ties to the state&rsquo;s conservative grassroots and a strong donor base. She can also self-fund as needed, for a financial edge in any future statewide race.<\/p>\n<p>Her brand as a workhorse, combined with her long-standing relationship with Blackburn, makes her a serious player for the seat, according to a Tennessee GOP source familiar with the race.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Glenn Jacobs (&ldquo;Kane&rdquo;)<\/h2>\n<p>Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, better known to wrestling fans as &ldquo;Kane,&rdquo; brings national name recognition and a libertarian streak that has made him a standout figure in Tennessee politics. First elected mayor in 2018, Jacobs has used his platform to champion small government and individual liberty, but his ideological distance from the MAGA base could pose a challenge if he sought a Senate appointment or campaigned in a Republican primary.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Congratulations to my man Brandon for finishing up his Masters in Public Administration! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1qDj9Wg2BV\">pic.twitter.com\/1qDj9Wg2BV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Kane (@KaneWWE) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KaneWWE\/status\/1919443015526936642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 5, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>Still, his status as a celebrity politician, combined with a sizable online following, makes him a wild card in the mix.&nbsp;Jacobs would represent a highly untraditional Senate pick. His <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KaneWWE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1919443015526936642%7Ctwgr%5Ef6bc9031862b2967d192d0b52996933cf6afebd8%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FKaneWWE%2Fstatus%2F1919443015526936642\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"X profile\">X profile<\/a> flags his decades in wrestling, describing himself in his tagline as the &ldquo;Big Red Machine&rdquo; and someone who tweets about &ldquo;Hellfire and Brimstone and tacos, pizza, and chicken wings.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN)<\/h2>\n<p>Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), who represents Tennessee&rsquo;s 2nd Congressional District and formerly served as Knox County mayor,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3492456\/tim-burchett-appointment-marsha-blackburn-senate-seat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"> has confirmed his interest<\/a> in a Senate appointment. In a phone interview with the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, Burchett said, &ldquo;If I were given that opportunity, I would take it.&rdquo; While he emphasized that his current focus remains on serving his congressional district, he acknowledged he&rsquo;d welcome the chance to succeed Blackburn in the Senate. <\/p>\n<p>Burchett is known on Capitol Hill for his offbeat, accessible persona and homespun style. Recently, he&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3483591\/capitol-tea-tim-burchett-skateboard-fetterman-wardrobe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">drawn attention<\/a> for building handmade bamboo skateboards in his Tennessee barn, including one he crafted as a gift for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The congressman has gained a following for his humorous social media videos and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >high-profile commentary<\/a> on issues like UFO disclosures.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3492456\/tim-burchett-appointment-marsha-blackburn-senate-seat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"TIM BURCHETT INTERESTED IN APPOINTMENT TO MARSHA BLACKBURN&rsquo;S SENATE SEAT\">TIM BURCHETT INTERESTED IN APPOINTMENT TO MARSHA BLACKBURN&rsquo;S SENATE SEAT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Though popular in East Tennessee and well-liked across party lines, some GOP insiders question whether Burchett&rsquo;s quirky persona and focus on niche subjects would translate well to the more buttoned-up environment of the United States Senate.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other Possibilities<\/h2>\n<p>Some Republican strategists also point to Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton or other state-level leaders as potential contenders, especially if Blackburn looks beyond the congressional delegation. Others note that the eventual appointee could be a caretaker, someone not expected to run in 2028 or 2030. However, most agree that the political opportunity is too significant for that to be likely.<\/p>\n<p>The other prominent House lawmaker to express interest so far is Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN), a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus.<\/p>\n<p>Blackburn is seen as the overwhelming favorite in the GOP primary for governor and is expected to easily win against Rep. John Rose (R-TN), who launched his run for governor earlier this year. If she wins, Blackburn would have a rare opportunity to select her own Senate successor, potentially elevating a trusted ally and influencing Tennessee&rsquo;s national representation for years to come.<\/p>\n<p><em>David Sivak contributed to this report.<\/em> <\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2198258\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2198258\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Blackburn&#8217;s governor bid sparks race for Tennessee Senate seat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3981,"featured_media":2471748,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AP25099732252814.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3631,34723,6651],"class_list":["post-2471747","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-blackburn","tag-senate-race","tag-tennessee"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AP25099732252814.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2471747","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3981"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2471747"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2471747\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2471751,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2471747\/revisions\/2471751"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2471748"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2471747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2471747"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2471747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}