Marsha Blackburn
Republican candidate for governor of Tennessee. Every point on this page links to its source. We don't grade candidates or tell you how to vote. As of 2026-10-08.
At a glance
| Party | Republican |
| Running for | Governor, Tennessee |
| Born | 1952 |
| Education | Mississippi State University; Northeast Jones High School |
| Occupation | politician, business executive |
Source: Wikidata
Record
| U.S. Senator, Tennessee | 2019–present | Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress |
| U.S. Representative, Tennessee's 7th district | 2003–2019 | Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress |
Full official biography, including earlier offices (Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress)
In Congress: 522 bills and resolutions sponsored, 4915 cosponsored, 8 became law on their own (a bill folded into a larger law isn't counted). Congress.gov
- Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act (Public Law 119-110, 2026-09-16)
- REPORT Act (Public Law 118-59, 2024-05-07)
- A bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 111 South Highland Avenue in Jackson, Tennessee, as the "James D. Todd United States Courthouse", and for other purposes. (Public Law 117-240, 2022-12-20)
- To designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 719 Church Street in Nashville, Tennessee, as the "Fred D. Thompson Federal Building and United States Courthouse". (Public Law 115-39, 2017-06-06)
- To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 116 North West Street in Somerville, Tennessee, as the "John S. Wilder Post Office Building". (Public Law 111-128, 2010-01-29)
- To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 7095 Highway 57 in Counce, Tennessee, as the "Pickwick Post Office Building". (Public Law 110-448, 2008-10-22)
- Wool Suit Fabric Labeling Fairness and International Standards Conforming Act (Public Law 109-428, 2006-12-20)
- Franklin National Battlefield Study Act (Public Law 109-120, 2005-12-01)
Confirmation votes
Every Supreme Court confirmation while in the Senate, and Cabinet confirmations in the last two Congresses. Senate records, newest first.
Supreme Court
- Voted Nay on Ketanji Brown Jackson, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (2022-04-07, Confirmed 53–47, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Amy Coney Barrett, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (2020-10-26, Confirmed 52–48, roll call)
Cabinet
- Voted Not Voting on Keith Sonderling, Secretary of Labor (2026-09-30, Confirmed 47–41, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Todd Blanche, Attorney General (2026-08-08, Confirmed 50–49, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Walter Clayton, Director of National Intelligence (2026-07-28, Confirmed 51–47, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of Homeland Security (2026-03-23, Confirmed 54–45, roll call)
- Voted Not Voting on Michael G. Waltz, Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations (2025-09-19, Confirmed 47–43, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Troy Meink, Secretary of the Air Force (2025-05-13, Confirmed 74–25, roll call)
- Voted Yea on John Phelan, Secretary of the Navy (2025-03-24, Confirmed 62–30, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Secretary of Labor (2025-03-10, Confirmed 67–32, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education (2025-03-03, Confirmed 51–45, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Daniel Driscoll, Secretary of the Army (2025-02-25, Confirmed 66–28, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the Small Business Administration (2025-02-19, Confirmed 52–46, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce (2025-02-18, Confirmed 51–45, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture (2025-02-13, Confirmed 72–28, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services (2025-02-13, Confirmed 52–48, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence (2025-02-12, Confirmed 52–48, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (2025-02-06, Confirmed 53–47, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Eric Turner, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (2025-02-05, Confirmed 55–44, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Pamela Bondi, Attorney General (2025-02-04, Confirmed 54–46, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Douglas Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs (2025-02-04, Confirmed 77–23, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Christopher Wright, Secretary of Energy (2025-02-03, Confirmed 59–38, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Douglas Burgum, Secretary of the Interior (2025-01-30, Confirmed 80–17, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Lee Zeldin, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (2025-01-29, Confirmed 56–42, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation (2025-01-28, Confirmed 77–22, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury (2025-01-27, Confirmed 68–29, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security (2025-01-25, Confirmed 59–34, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Peter Hegseth, Secretary of Defense (2025-01-24, Confirmed 50–50, roll call)
- Voted Yea on John Ratcliffe, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (2025-01-23, Confirmed 74–25, roll call)
- Voted Yea on Marco Rubio, Secretary of State (2025-01-20, Confirmed 99–0, roll call)
Where they stand
In their own words, from their campaign website, summarised in plain English. Under each issue, their Senate votes: Final passage votes in the Senate in the last two Congresses (2023 to now), matched to each issue by Congress.gov's own topic for the bill (and its subject tags, unless it is a catch-all bill with dozens), closest votes first: a lopsided vote says little about where anyone stands.
Economy and cost of living
Blackburn says that as Governor she would keep taxes and prices low, cut unnecessary spending and regulations, and attract companies and jobs to Tennessee. She also says she would support small businesses and work with business leaders on workforce development.
- Voted Yea on H.J.Res. 98; A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to "Standard for Determining Joint Employer Status". (2024-04-10, Passed 50–48, roll call)
- Voted Yea on S.J.Res. 18; A joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions". (2025-03-27, Passed 52–48, roll call)
- Voted Yea on S.J. Res. 28; A joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Defining Larger Participants of a Market for General-Use Digital Consumer Payment Applications". (2025-03-05, Passed 51–47, roll call)
Taxes and government spending
Blackburn says she led the fight against a state income tax in Tennessee and, as Governor, would keep taxes low, cut taxes and red tape, and slash wasteful spending. In the Senate she introduced legislation for 1%, 2% and 5% across-the-board cuts to non-defense, non-veterans and non-homeland security spending.
- Voted Yea on H.R. 1, as Amended; A bill to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14. (2025-07-01, Passed 50–50, roll call)
- Voted Not Voting on S. 2882; A bill making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes. (2025-09-19, Rejected 47–45, roll call)
- Voted Yea on H.R. 4, As Amended; A bill to rescind certain budget authority proposed to be rescinded in special messages transmitted to the Congress by the President on June 3, 2025, in accordance with section 1012(a) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. (2025-07-17, Passed 51–48, roll call)
Health care
Blackburn says she created a "Rural Health Agenda," a series of bills to expand access to care, support providers, and help local leaders treat health care as part of economic development. She also says she has worked to expand veterans' health care access through the community care program.
- Voted Yea on S.J.Res. 57; A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of the Treasury relating to "Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds". (2024-05-15, Rejected 46–49, roll call)
Social Security and Medicare
No stated position on their website.
- Voted Yea on H.R. 82; A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to repeal the Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. (2024-12-21, Passed 76–20, roll call)
Immigration and the border
Blackburn says she wants to stop illegal immigration. In the Senate she has pushed to fully fund the Border Patrol, restart construction of a physical barrier, and impose harsher criminal penalties for drug smuggling. She backs President Trump's immigration enforcement.
“until our borders are secure, every town will be a border town and every state will be a border state.”
- Voted Yea on S. J. Res 18; A joint resolution disapproving of the rule submitted by the Department of Homeland Security relating to "Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility". (2023-05-17, Passed 50–47, roll call)
- Voted Yea on S. 2, As Amended; An original bill to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 33. (2026-06-05, Passed 52–47, roll call)
- Voted Yea on S. 5, As Amended; A bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to take into custody aliens who have been charged in the United States with theft, and for other purposes. (2025-01-20, Passed 64–35, roll call)
Abortion
Blackburn lists "Defending the innocent right to life" among her priorities as a candidate for Governor.
Energy and climate
No stated position on their website.
- Voted Yea on S. J. Res. 11; A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Control of Air Pollution From New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Standards". (2023-04-26, Passed 50–49, roll call)
- Voted Not Voting on H.J.Res. 89; A joint resolution providing congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "California State Motor Vehicle and Engine and Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; The 'Omnibus' Low NOX Regulation; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision". (2025-05-22, Passed 49–46, roll call)
- Voted Yea on H.J. Res. 131; A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to "Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision". (2025-12-04, Passed 49–45, roll call)
Guns
Blackburn lists safeguarding Second Amendment rights among her priorities as a candidate for Governor.
- Voted Yea on H.J. Res. 44; A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives relating to "Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached 'Stabilizing Braces'". (2023-06-22, Rejected 49–50, roll call)
Crime and policing
No stated position on their website.
- Voted Yea on S. 331, as amended; A bill to amend the Controlled Substances Act with respect to the scheduling of fentanyl-related substances, and for other purposes. (2025-03-14, Passed 84–16, roll call)
Education
Blackburn says she supports school choice and would fully implement Tennessee's new school choice law. She wants to ban woke curriculum from schools, expand vocational training, strengthen the state's 529 college savings program, and require colleges to follow Trump's orders ending federal funding for DEI programs.
- Voted Yea on S.J.Res. 43; A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Improving Income Driven Repayment for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program". (2023-11-15, Rejected 49–50, roll call)
- Voted Yea on H.J.Res. 45; A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Waivers and Modifications of Federal Student Loans". (2023-06-01, Passed 52–46, roll call)
Foreign policy and defense
Blackburn says she wants Tennessee to ban China from owning any land in the state, and she supports trade deals that protect Tennessee workers. In the Senate she has pushed legislation to counter China's influence, visited Taiwan, and says America stands with Israel.
“Marsha believes that the state of Tennessee should enact a complete ban on China having the ability to own any type of land in our state.”
- Voted Nay on H.R. 7888; A bill to reform the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978. (2024-04-19, Passed 60–34, roll call)
- Voted Nay on S. 316; A bill to repeal the authorizations for use of military force against Iraq. (2023-03-29, Passed 66–30, roll call)
- Voted Yea on S. 2296, as amended; An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2026 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. (2025-10-09, Passed 77–20, roll call)
Elections and ethics in government
Blackburn lists protecting Tennessee elections among her priorities and says Congress must pass the SAVE America Act, because American elections are for American citizens.
“American elections are for American citizens. Congress must pass the SAVE America Act.”
- Voted Nay on S. J. Res. 82; A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to "Policy on Adhering to the Text of the Administrative Procedure Act". (2025-12-18, Rejected 50–50, roll call)
- Voted Yea on H. J. Res. 142; A joint resolution disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the D.C. Income and Franchise Tax Conformity and Revision Temporary Amendment Act of 2025. (2026-02-12, Passed 49–47, roll call)
- Voted Yea on H. J. Res. 42; A joint resolution disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022. (2023-05-16, Passed 56–43, roll call)
Ratings and endorsements
No ratings: the groups we track score votes in Congress and endorse federal candidates, and we have not collected ratings or endorsements for governor candidates.
Money
Candidates for governor report to the state, not the FEC, and this page doesn't cover state reports. Tennessee's campaign-finance reports ↗
Praise, criticism and controversies
These sections are not covered for governor candidates yet: every item in them is checked by a person before it is shown, and that review covers Senate candidates for now.
From Semblen
Semblen analyzed 20 ads from Marsha Blackburn's campaign; 12 used at least one manipulation technique, most often Glittering Generalities, Loaded Language, Appeal to Prejudice. See the ads, the money and every candidate in this race →
Sources
- https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/B001243
- https://marshablackburn.com
- https://marshablackburn.com/issue/backing-president-trumps-america-first-agenda
- https://marshablackburn.com/issue/confronting-communist-china
- https://marshablackburn.com/issue/cutting-taxes-to-bolster-our-economy
- https://marshablackburn.com/issue/cutting-wasteful-government-spending
- https://marshablackburn.com/issue/defending-the-innocent-right-to-life
- https://marshablackburn.com/issue/ensuring-tennessee-remains-a-safe-haven-for-conservatives
- https://marshablackburn.com/issue/fighting-for-tennessees-continued-economic-growth
- https://marshablackburn.com/issue/fighting-woke-anti-american-curriculum
- https://marshablackburn.com/issue/improving-higher-education-and-vocational-training
- https://marshablackburn.com/issue/protecting-our-kids
- https://marshablackburn.com/issue/stopping-out-of-control-liberal-spending
- https://marshablackburn.com/issue/strengthening-parental-rights
- https://marshablackburn.com/issues
- https://www.blackburn.senate.gov
- https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/about-marsha
- https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/issues
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