NASHVILLE, TN (WOKI / WVLT) – With U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn preparing to become Tennessee’s next governor, attention is quickly turning to who could replace her in the U.S. Senate.
President Donald Trump addressed speculation Wednesday after questions emerged about whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could be appointed to fill Blackburn’s seat once she leaves Washington for the governor’s office.
Trump said he had not heard of any proposal involving Hegseth but indicated the former television host and current defense secretary would likely be well received by voters.
“I actually think he’d be very popular if he did that, but I haven’t heard that at all,” Trump said when asked about the possibility.
Trump also made clear he is not considering replacing Hegseth as secretary of defense, despite the speculation surrounding the Senate vacancy.
The discussion comes one day after Blackburn won Tennessee’s gubernatorial election. Blackburn was reelected to the U.S. Senate in 2024 and is expected to resign the seat when she is sworn in as governor in January, creating a vacancy that will need to be filled under Tennessee law.
Blackburn declined to discuss potential successors during an appearance Wednesday.
“We’ll have conversations about the Senate at a later date,” Blackburn said. “It’s not a conversation for today.”
Instead, the governor-elect has focused her public comments on preparing for the transition from outgoing Gov. Bill Lee’s administration and outlining priorities for her first months in office.
The impending vacancy is expected to spark significant political interest in Tennessee, with Republicans holding a strong advantage statewide. Until Blackburn leaves office and plans for filling the seat are announced, questions about potential candidates are likely to remain a major topic in state politics.
