Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee announced her candidacy for governor on Wednesday, signaling a shift from federal to state leadership after more than six years in the U.S. Senate. In her announcement, Blackburn aligned herself closely with former President Donald Trump, saying, “As he sends power back to the states, he’s going to need strong conservative governors who can bring that revolution home. I’m running to serve as Tennessee’s next governor to ensure Tennessee is America’s conservative leader.”

The timing of Blackburn’s announcement comes as current Republican Gov. Bill Lee approaches the end of his second term. Due to term limits, Lee is not eligible for re-election. Blackburn’s campaign confirmed that the Republican primary for Tennessee’s next governor will take place on August 6, 2026, setting the stage for what could become a high-profile race in a deep-red state.

In the national spotlight recently, Blackburn drew attention for her vocal support of declassified intelligence documents related to the Russia investigation. She praised Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard for releasing documents that she claims reveal the lack of evidence behind allegations of Trump-Russia collusion, which she asserts was politically motivated by the Clinton campaign to deflect attention from its own controversies.

Calling for widespread accountability within federal institutions, Blackburn stated, “The bureaucracy and the swamp has got to be drained… There are prosecutions that should take place.” She emphasized the importance of addressing government overreach and urged protections to ensure such abuses don’t occur again.

Blackburn’s campaign is expected to center on themes of conservative leadership, anti-establishment reform, and resistance to federal control—an approach that aligns with her national rhetoric and is likely to appeal to Tennessee’s Republican base as the 2026 race begins to take shape.

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