Marsha Blackburn

Current office and 2026 campaign

Marsha Blackburn, a Republican member of the United States Senate from Tennessee, is running for Governor of Tennessee in the 2026 election ¹. She assumed office in the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2019, and her current term ends on January 3, 2031 ¹. Blackburn serves as the senior senator for Tennessee and is the first woman to represent the state in the United States Senate ⁷.

Blackburn announced her candidacy for the gubernatorial race on August 6, 2025, becoming the third U.S. senator to announce a bid for a 2026 governorship ². She is scheduled to appear on the ballot in the Republican primary on August 6, 2026 ¹. The general election for Governor of Tennessee is set for November 3, 2026, following the term limitation of incumbent Republican Governor Bill Lee ¹⁰.

Background and education

Marsha Blackburn was born on June 6, 1952, in Laurel, Mississippi ¹³. She graduated from Mississippi State University in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics ¹. During her time at the university, she received a 4-H Scholarship, served as president of the Associated Women Students, and was a member of Gamma Beta Phi ¹⁵.

Career

Marsha Blackburn graduated from Mississippi State University in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics ^1111315. During her time at the university, she served as president of the Associated Women Students and was a member of Gamma Beta Phi ¹⁵. She also worked as a student manager for the Southwestern Company, where she sold books door-to-door and helped organize an all-female sales division ¹⁵.

Blackburn’s early professional career included working as a sales manager for the Southwestern Company and serving as the director of retail fashion and special events for the Caster Knott Company, a division of Mercantile Stores, Inc., from 1975 to 1978 ¹¹¹⁴. She is the owner of Marketing Strategies, a promotion event management firm ¹¹¹.

In addition to her business ventures, Blackburn helped create the Williamson County Young Republicans and served as its first president ¹⁴.

Office history

Blackburn began her elected service in the Tennessee Senate, representing the 23rd district from January 12, 1999, to January 3, 2003 ⁹. She succeeded Keith Jordan and was followed by Jim Bryson in that role ⁹.

She was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District in 2002, assuming office on January 3, 2003 ⁹. She represented the district until January 3, 2019, succeeding Ed Bryant and being succeeded by Mark Green ⁹. Blackburn won re-election to this seat in 2012 ⁶ and 2016 ³.

In 2018, Blackburn ran for the U.S. Senate from Tennessee after incumbent Bob Corker did not seek re-election ⁵. She won the Republican primary on August 2, 2018 ⁴, defeating her opponent in the general election on November 6, 2018 ⁵. She assumed office on January 3, 2019, becoming the first woman to represent Tennessee in the U.S. Senate ¹. Her current Senate term ends on January 3, 2031 ¹. As a senator, she serves as the senior senator for Tennessee and is a member of the Deputy Whip Team ⁷. She holds assignments on the Finance Committee; the Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee; the Veterans’ Affairs Committee; and the Judiciary Committee ⁷. Additionally, she chairs the Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy and the Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law ⁷.

Blackburn announced her candidacy for Governor of Tennessee in 2026, making her the third U.S. senator to enter that race ². She is scheduled to appear on the ballot in the Republican primary on August 6, 2026 ¹.

Legislative record and accomplishments

Marsha Blackburn serves as the senior United States Senator from Tennessee and is a member of the Deputy Whip Team ⁷. Her committee assignments include the Finance Committee; the Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee; the Veterans’ Affairs Committee; and the Judiciary Committee ⁷. Within these committees, she serves as Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy and of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law ⁷.

Blackburn has established a legislative focus on issues including agriculture, border security, China policy, crime, education, energy, health care, human trafficking, and fighting "wokeness" ⁸. She is described as a prominent Republican voice known for advocating free markets, family values, national security, limited government, and traditional American values while seeking to curb federal overreach ¹².

Prior to her Senate tenure, Blackburn represented Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2003 to 2019 ⁹. She previously served in the Tennessee State Senate from the 23rd district from 1999 to 2003 ⁹. During her time in the House, she was noted as one of the first female representatives for the Southwestern Company and helped organize an all-female sales division ¹⁵.

Business interests and wealth source

Blackburn’s business career began in retail and sales before she entered politics. She worked as a sales manager for the Southwestern Company and later served as the director of retail fashion and special events for the Caster Knott Company ¹¹. While attending Mississippi State University, she also worked as a student manager for the Southwestern Company, selling books door-to-door ¹⁵.

She owns Marketing Strategies, a promotion event management firm ¹. Blackburn has stated that she sold her previous business interests prior to entering public office ¹⁴. Her early professional experience included helping to organize an all-female sales division at Southwestern Company and serving as one of the first female representatives for the company in the South ¹⁵.

Specific details regarding her current wealth, net worth, or ongoing ownership stakes are not provided in the available sources.

Family

Marsha Blackburn is married to Bill Blackburn ¹³. The couple has two children, a son and a daughter ¹⁴. Her family resides in Tennessee, where she has established her political career ¹¹.

Sources