Polls Close in Tennessee as Marsha Blackburn Competes in Gubernatorial Primary

Polls have closed in Tennessee as Senator Marsha Blackburn seeks to transition from Washington D.C. to Nashville by competing in the Republican gubernatorial primary. Blackburn, a former congresswoman and two-term senator, is considered the front-runner in the race to succeed term-limited Governor Bill Lee. The primary is significant as Democrats have not won a gubernatorial election in Tennessee in two decades. Blackburn faces competition from four-term Representative John Rose and state Representative Monty Fritts, both of whom are supporters of President Donald Trump. Although Trump has not endorsed Blackburn, he has expressed that she would be a good governor. Five Democrats, including Memphis City Councilwoman Jerri Green, are also competing for their party's nomination. Additionally, Tennessee's other U.S. senator, Bill Hagerty, is unopposed in the GOP primary for a second term. In U.S. House races, Memphis voters will use a new congressional district map that has created an additional Republican-leaning seat.