State Representative Gloria Johnson has emerged victorious in Tennessee’s highly publicized Democratic Senate primary and will challenge incumbent Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn in the upcoming November election.
Johnson clinched the win by securing 74% of the vote against challengers Marquita Bradshaw, Civil Miller-Watkins, and Lola Brown, as reported by the Associated Press on Thursday night.
KAMALA HARRIS CONSIDERS GOVERNORS FROM KEY STATES AS POTENTIAL VP CANDIDATES
The race captured the attention of Democrats across the country, particularly after Johnson, who was regarded as the front-runner, garnered significant media coverage last year by organizing a protest on the floor of the Republican-led state House in response to a tragic shooting at a Tennessee elementary school.
Johnson’s protest was supported by two additional lawmakers, state Representatives Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, both Democrats, who collectively became known as the “Tennessee Three.” Pearson and Jones faced expulsion for breaching House regulations following the protest, although they were later reinstated.
Bradshaw, known for her environmental activism and the party’s nominee in 2020, was thought to be Johnson’s most formidable primary opponent, having lost to incumbent Republican Senator Bill Hagerty by a large margin in 2020.
Democratic state Representative Gloria Johnson of Knoxville speaks after a vote to expel Justin Jones of Nashville from the governing body on April 6, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.
DEMOCRAT GOVERNORS FACE BACKLASH FROM BIDEN’S PUTIN-ZELENSKYY GAFFE, REACTIONS TO U.S. GLOBAL LEADERSHIP
Johnson faces a challenging path in this predominantly Republican state. Blackburn secured her seat in 2018 with an 11-point margin, while Hagerty defeated Bradshaw by an impressive 30 points in 2020. Additionally, incumbent Republican Governor Bill Lee won reelection by over 30 points, and former President Donald Trump won the state by margins of 26 and 23 points in the 2016 and 2020 elections, respectively.
In her own primary, Blackburn is a strong favorite against former Tennessee legislative staffer Tres Wittum, who is her only challenger.
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) speaks on stage on the first day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 15, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Blackburn enjoys a substantial fundraising lead over all other Senate candidates in the state, with nearly $9 million in cash reserves. Johnson has raised around $5 million and has more than $2 million still available.
Yet, Johnson remains hopeful about her chances against Blackburn, asserting that Democrats can prevail by emphasizing critical issues such as abortion, gun control, and environmental concerns.
