Sen. Marsha Blackburn won the Republican primary for governor of Tennessee on Thursday. She secured the GOP nomination in a state where Republicans have dominated statewide elections for two decades.
The Associated Press projected Blackburn as the winner over Rep. John Rose and state Rep. Monty Fritts. Blackburn, who has represented Tennessee in the U.S. Senate since 2019, will now face Democratic nominee Jerri Green in the November general election.
With about two-thirds of ballots counted, Blackburn had 43.8 percent of the vote compared with 32.6 percent for Rose, according to results compiled by the AP. Rose performed particularly well around his Middle Tennessee congressional district.
“One year ago, we set out on this journey with one goal: to make Tennessee America’s conservative leader and show the nation what strong, bold, conservative leadership looks like,” Blackburn wrote on X after her victory.
“Tonight, I am humbled and honored that you’ve chosen me as your Republican nominee for Governor,” she added.
Rose congratulated Blackburn after the race was called and pledged to support her in November.
“I made a call to her just a few moments ago to congratulate her and to pledge that as a Republican, I’ll be supporting the Republican nominee in the general election coming up in November,” Rose told supporters at his election night watch party in Cookeville.
Rose had invested $13 million of his own money in the campaign, including $4.5 million in the final weeks. Blackburn raised a total of $10.8 million, according to CBS News.
All three Republican candidates sought to position themselves as the most conservative option. President Donald Trump did not endorse a candidate in the primary, although Blackburn prominently featured him in her campaign materials. Trump backed Blackburn during her successful 2018 Senate campaign.
Blackburn has campaigned on boosting the state economy, protecting the U.S. border, keeping men out of women’s sports and improving public safety.
On the Democratic side, Green defeated Carnita Atwater, Tim Cyr, Adam “Ditch” Kurtz and Kevin Lee McCants. Green is a Memphis city councilwoman and lawyer whose campaign has called for paid family leave, more affordable child care and increased funding for public schools.
Blackburn enters the general election as the favorite. Democrats have not won a statewide race in Tennessee since 2006, and the Cook Political Report ranks the governor’s race as “solid Republican.”
The winner in November will succeed Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who cannot seek another term because of Tennessee’s term limits.