NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) – Republican Marsha Blackburn has won Tennessee’s race for governor, becoming the first woman elected to the state’s highest office and setting up a major political transition that will soon leave one of Tennessee’s U.S. Senate seats vacant.
According to unofficial statewide election returns, Blackburn received about 45.6 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Jerri Green, who received roughly 42.9 percent. Independent candidate David Hatley captured about 9.3 percent, helping make the race significantly closer than many statewide Tennessee elections in recent years.
Blackburn declared victory around 10 p.m. Tuesday night, before every county in Tennessee had completed reporting. At the time of her victory speech, she maintained a lead that election returns indicated was unlikely to be overcome as the remaining counties reported results. State election data showed Blackburn ahead statewide while several counties were still outstanding.
During her victory address in Nashville, Blackburn said Tennesseans had chosen a conservative direction for the state and highlighted priorities including public safety, education choices, housing affordability and tax issues.
Knox County Results
One of Green’s strongest performances came in Knox County, where unofficial results showed the Democrat carrying the county with 48.48 percent of the vote compared to Blackburn’s 42.42 percent. Hatley drew 7.2 percent of the vote in Knox County.
The Knox County outcome mirrored a broader trend in which Green performed well in several urban areas, while Blackburn relied on strong support across much of rural Tennessee to build her statewide victory.
What Happens to Blackburn’s Senate Seat?
Attention now shifts to Blackburn’s U.S. Senate seat.
Under Tennessee law, when a U.S. Senate vacancy occurs, the governor appoints a replacement who serves until a successor is elected in a future statewide election.
A major question has been who will make that appointment. During the campaign, Blackburn indicated she intended to remain in the Senate until she is sworn in as governor in January 2027. If that timeline holds, Blackburn would effectively be in position to appoint her own Senate successor after taking office as governor. If she were to resign before inauguration, the appointment authority would belong to outgoing Gov. Bill Lee.
Potential names frequently mentioned as possible Senate appointees include U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, and former CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger, though no formal selection has been announced.
With Blackburn headed to the governor’s office, the Senate appointment is expected to become one of the most closely watched political decisions in Tennessee in the coming weeks.
