NASHVILLE — Sen. Marsha Blackburn won the Republican nomination for governor of Tennessee on Thursday, defeating Rep. John Rose 43.8 percent to 32.6 percent with roughly two-thirds of ballots counted, in a primary that unfolded without an endorsement from President Trump.
The result puts Blackburn, 74, on track to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Bill Lee and makes her the heavy favorite in November against Jerri Green, a member of the Memphis City Council who won the Democratic nomination, in a state where Democrats have not won statewide since 2006. It also hands Trump a rare uncomfortable outcome in a Republican primary he chose to sit out.
What they spent
Rose, a former state agriculture commissioner who represents Tennessee's 6th District, pumped nearly $13 million of his own money into the race, including $4.5 million in the final weeks, CBS News reported. Blackburn raised $10.8 million. Rose outperformed Blackburn around his Middle Tennessee House district, according to Associated Press tallies, but could not close the gap statewide.
Blackburn, the first woman to represent Tennessee in the Senate, is considered one of that chamber's most conservative members, known for her stances on abortion and transgender rights and her criticism of Chinese influence. If elected in November she would also be the first woman to serve as the state's governor.
Trump on the sidelines
Trump's absence was the more unusual feature of the race. The Nashville Banner reported that the president told members of Tennessee's congressional delegation on an Air Force One flight to Memphis that he would not endorse Blackburn because of his relationship with Rose, citing two members of Congress who were present. NBC News noted that Trump has previously double-endorsed candidates; in South Carolina this year he added an endorsement of state Attorney General Alan Wilson to his existing backing of Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette ahead of a single runoff.
Both Republicans still leaned on Trump. The Tennessee Freedom Fund, a pro-Blackburn outside group, aired advertisements featuring Trump calling Blackburn "an incredible person" and telling her "Fantastic job you did. We're proud of you." Rose and state Rep. Monty Fritts, the third candidate, argued Blackburn was insufficiently loyal to Trump, pointing to her vote to certify the 2020 election. Rose touted his own House support for Trump's SAVE America Act, which has not reached the Senate floor.
At a Washington rally in January, Trump said of Blackburn, "Unfortunately, she's running for governor," and added, "I'd love her not to."
What is missing
Both sources on Thursday's result — NBC News and CBS News — publish from a left-leaning editorial posture. Neither carried direct comment from the Rose campaign, and a conservative outlet's read of how Blackburn survived the loyalty attacks was not available by press time.
Blackburn joins an unusually large group of sitting senators seeking governorships this cycle. GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville won his party's nomination in Alabama earlier this year; Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet lost his in Colorado. Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar is on the ballot for governor in Minnesota next week, a contest that follows Tuesday's Michigan primary, in which Rep. John James won the Republican gubernatorial nomination and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson took the Democratic one.