Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s (R-Tenn.) nascent gubernatorial bid has kicked off a shadow race for her Senate seat in the event she wins, with Reps. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) and Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) each eyeing the seat.
Burchett confirmed to The Hill that he would be interested in the Senate seat if Blackburn was elected governor. CNN first reported Burchett’s interest in the seat.
Ogles, too, said he would be interested in the Senate seat.
“Definitely interested in it. I’ve expressed my interest,” Ogles told The Hill.
Ogles joked about going up against Burchett for the position: “We’ll probably do some sort of steer wrestling or something like that.”
The shadow race kicked off just hours after Blackburn officially announced her gubernatorial bid Wednesday.
Tennessee law dictates that in the event of a U.S. Senate vacancy, a successor would be elected in the next regular November election to fulfill the remainder of the term. But if the vacancy “will deprive the state of its full representation at any time congress may be in session,” the governor has the ability to appoint a successor until the special election is held.
That means Blackburn, who was reelected to a six-year term in 2024, could potentially appoint her own successor if she wins the 2026 gubernatorial election.
Burchett said she has not talked to Blackburn about his interest, but noted his long relationship with her.
“We sat beside each other in the state Senate. Literally, she was on my right hand, I was on her left. We’ve had a great friendship,” Burchett said.
But that timeline depends on when Blackburn would resign her Senate seat if she wins the Aug. 6, 2026, Republican gubernatorial primary, which would put her on track to win the seat. If she resigned before being sworn in as governor, current Republican Gov. Bill Lee (R) could have the power to appoint a temporary replacement.
Blackburn also does not yet have the nomination locked up. She will face Rep. John Rose (R-Tenn.), who announced his bid for governor in March, in the Republican primary.
Tennessee is a Republican stronghold that Trump won by nearly 40 points in 2024, and it is nearly certain that the next governor and senator in the state if Blackburn leaves the office will be Republicans.
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