Marsha Blackburn becomes first woman elected to Tennessee governor’s office, per secretary of state

What This Story Is About

• Marsha Blackburn has been elected the next governor of Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office.

Why It Matters

• Blackburn will be the first woman to hold the governor’s office. Her victory follows a very tight race against Democratic opponent Jerri Green.

What Happens Next

• She will be sworn in this January. Blackburn will vacate her U.S. Senate seat to take the governor’s office. As governor, she will appoint an interim Senator to fill her vacancy until the next general election in 2028.

For Context

• Her campaign promises included backing Pres. Donald Trump’s immigration policy “100 percent,” maintaining low taxes, pushing for anti-transgender legislation and continuing school choice.

Catch Up

• See WSMV4’s comprehensive coverage of the 2026 election results here.
• Follow along as votes are tabulated here.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Voters have chosen Marsha Blackburn to be the next governor of Tennessee, making her the first woman elected to the state’s highest office.

Blackburn, a Republican senator, will succeed Gov. Bill Lee, who has reached his term limit. The Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office declared Blackburn the winner of the Tennessee governor’s race after she received 45.52% of the vote Tuesday night, defeating Democratic nominee Jerri Green and numerous independent candidates. Green received 42.95% of the vote.

Blackburn to be first female governor of Tennessee

The Republican senator’s win makes history in Tennessee.

She and Green made history in the primary election earlier this year, marking the first time in state history that both major parties elected a woman to be their nominee for governor.

Now, voters have officially elected the first female governor. Blackburn will be sworn in as the 51st governor of Tennessee in January.

The exact date has yet to be released, but the swearing-in ceremony normally happens about two weeks into the month. Lee took the oath of office for his second term on Jan. 21, 2023.

What were the highlights of Blackburn’s campaign?

Blackburn, a Mississippi native, has previously served in the Tennessee Senate and was the first woman elected as a U.S. Senator from Tennessee, a role she currently holds.

Her campaign promises included backing Pres. Donald Trump’s immigration policy “100 percent,” maintaining low taxes, pushing for anti-transgender legislation and continuing school choice.

The Trump-backed Republican’s win furthers the GOP’s stronghold on the Tennessee governor’s office — a seat they’ve held since 2011.

The senator’s campaign drew criticism from competitors and some voters over the election season after she repeatedly refused to participate in any debates with her opponents.

Independent David Hatley even tried to force the senator’s hand by pledging to donate $1 million to charity if she agreed to debate him and Green.

However, his call went unanswered. Blackburn’s campaign also did not respond to requests from WSMV4 for comment on the offer.

What happens to Blackburn’s seat in the U.S. Senate?

When a U.S. Senate seat is vacated in Tennessee, the governor is allowed to appoint an interim senator. Blackburn will be the next governor, meaning she will select her successor after her inauguration.

According to congress.gov, that person can remain in office until a special election is held during the next regularly scheduled general election.

The next general election will be in 2028.