On Thursday, Sen. Marsha Blackburn clinched the Republican Senate primary in Tennessee, likely ensuring her place in the heavily Republican state. Blackburn received nearly 93% of the vote against Tres Wittum, as reported by the Associated Press.
As the incumbent senator, Blackburn was widely regarded as the frontrunner, having previously won her initial Senate race in 2018 by 11 points against former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen.
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Her only opponent was Wittum, a former staff member of the Tennessee legislature, who placed last in a primary attempt for the state’s 5th Congressional District in 2022.
Blackburn will now advance to face Democratic state Senator Gloria Johnson.
Johnson gained prominence last year as one of three legislators who protested on the state House floor following a tragic shooting at an elementary school. She became known as a member of the “Tennessee Three,” joining fellow Representatives Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, both Democrats, in the demonstration.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) speaks on stage during the opening day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 15, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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The protests, which breached House rules, led to the expulsion of Pearson and Jones, both of whom were later reinstated and successfully elected in special elections to reclaim their positions.
Democratic state Representative Gloria Johnson from Knoxville speaks after a vote to expel Justin Jones from the governing body on April 6, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Blackburn is now favored to win in the November general election, as Tennessee has consistently favored Republican candidates in recent statewide contests.
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Her Republican colleague from Tennessee, Senator Bill Hagerty, won reelection in 2020 by nearly 30 points, while Republican Governor Bill Lee secured his 2022 reelection by a similar margin.
Additionally, former President Donald Trump won Tennessee decisively in both 2016 and 2020, with victories of 26 and 23 points, respectively.
