Republican gubernatorial nominee Marsha Blackburn has said that if elected in November, she intends to remain in the U.S. Senate until her inauguration in January, enabling her to personally choose who fills her Senate seat.
Whenever there's a vacancy in one of Tennessee's U.S. Senate seats, the state constitution allows the governor to choose a person to fill the seat until the next statewide general election — which for Blackburn's seat will be in 2028. If Blackburn was elected governor and then resigned her seat before her inauguration, Gov. Bill Lee would make the pick.
Republicans are seeking to defend their razor-thin Senate majority during midterm elections this year. President Donald Trump will likely weigh in on who should replace Blackburn.
Blackburn has remained in office while campaigning for Tennessee governor and told the Nashville Banner earlier this month that she would remain in the Senate until her inauguration, giving herself the power to choose her replacement.
Who would Blackburn pick?
With Blackburn a favorite in the governor's race since before she announced her bid, speculation has swirled about who will take her place.
Three names are considered to be top contenders: U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett of Knoxville, former CoreCivic CEO and major Republican donor Damon Hininger, and Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs.
All three were considered potential primary rivals for Blackburn before she made her campaign official.
And all three have been vocal supporters of Blackburn, and familiar faces at campaign appearances and official events.
Hininger, a longtime Republican donor, chaired the Tennessee Republican Party's annual Statesmen's Dinner fundraiser in 2024 and gifted each attendee with whiskey glasses engraved with the state party’s logo as keepsakes of the event. This year, Hininger launched a political nonprofit called Believe in Tennessee to raise money "to help support both issues and people in this state that are ... aligned with the values that have made this state really, really great." Hininger and his wife have contributed $1.75 million to Republicans and GOP PACs since 2024.
“It’s on my heart, definitely. I’ve made no secret of it,” Hininger said this week about his plans for seeking higher office. “I don’t know what that looks like at the moment, but God’s put it on my heart, and I’m going to see if there’s a path for me to serve in some way.”
Hininger said he has not spoken with Blackburn about a potential U.S. Senate appointment.
“I’d love the opportunity to serve," Hininger said, adding that he wanted "to be very respectful" of Blackburn's focus on the campaign. "I’ll be in a place where if I get the call, I’ll be ready."
“I’m obviously interested,” Hininger said. "But I want to be very respectful. Let her have the space, and let her make the decision when it’s the appropriate time."
Jacobs has served as Blackburn's campaign treasurer since abruptly shelving his own overtures toward a bid for governor.
In the months leading up to the first gubernatorial candidate announcements, Jacobs crisscrossed the state — an unusual move for a county mayor — unveiled a new “Jacobs for Tennessee” logo on social media and earned the endorsement of former U.S. Rep. John Duncan. In late 2024, Jacobs formed a joint political action committee to raise money to support like-minded candidates across the state and pay staff members. His Big Red PAC raised nearly $100,000 and could have eventually been used toward a gubernatorial bid.
As rumors grew that Blackburn would run, Jacobs endorsed her eight months before her campaign announcement.
Burchett said last year that he would be "honored" to be appointed to the Senate if Blackburn wins. His GOP colleagues outgoing U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles and U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann also said last year they'd be interested in the seat. Other potential candidates could be Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, a longtime Blackburn supporter, or Tennessee Commissioner of Economic and Community Development Stuart McWhorter.
What could happen?
There are scenarios in which several contenders could get a promotion.
Blackburn could appoint Burchett to the Senate, triggering a special election for Burchett’s open seat. Jacobs would then have a path to run for Congress in a special election, which Blackburn could support.
If elected, Blackburn would also have powerful cabinet positions to fill, including deputy governor, finance commissioner, and commissioner of Economic and Community Development — a position both Bob Corker and Bill Hagerty held before running successful U.S. Senate bids.
A historic decision
Whomever she chooses, Blackburn's decision will make history. Tennessee voters have never elected a sitting U.S. senator to serve as governor, so if elected, Blackburn would become the first senator from Tennessee to choose a successor.
If Blackburn chooses a Republican, her pick would become the first Republican senator from Tennessee appointed by a governor since the 17th Amendment overhauled how U.S. Senators are chosen in 1913.
Since then, Tennessee governors have appointed only five U.S. senators — all Democrats. Three replaced predecessors who died in office. In the 1930s, Sen. Cordell Hull resigned to serve as U.S. secretary of state and was replaced by Nathan L. Bachman. Harlan Mathews was appointed to replace Sen. Al Gore, who resigned to serve as vice president.
Could Lee intervene?
If elected governor, Blackburn could resign her Senate seat immediately and allow Lee to choose her replacement. If she did that, Tennessee’s new senator would match the seniority of all incoming senators elected this year.
But Blackburn has said she intends to hold her Senate seat until her inauguration.
Tennessee’s constitution bars governors from holding any other office in state or federal government. So Blackburn would have to resign her Senate seat prior to being sworn in.
When she does, Lee could have a window to appoint someone.
Asked whether he would seek to make his own appointment, Lee said he wouldn't "give advice to the next governor."
"I think we will take governors one at a time," Lee said. "I'm excited about the prospects for great leaders in this state. Sen. Blackburn will be a great governor, but I will not comment on advice to her."
Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Blackburn says she'll choose her Senate successor. Who might she pick?
