Tennessee Republicans Rally Behind Marsha Blackburn after State Rep. Gloria Johnson Announces Senate Bid

Republican state lawmakers and members of the Tennessee congressional delegation are rallying behind U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) after State Representative Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) officially announced her bid for Senate on Tuesday.

Johnson is one of the “Tennessee Three” lawmakers who commandeered the House floor to demand gun control in the wake of the Covenant School earlier this year.

In a statement Tuesday morning, Blackburn’s campaign spokesman Abigail Sigler said Johnson is “as woke as they come,” adding, “she would be a puppet for Joe Biden, the Squad, and Chuck Schumer in the Senate.”

“While Senator Blackburn is working hard to fight back against Biden’s woke agenda, State Rep. Johnson is pushing that divisive, destructive agenda here in Tennessee,” Sigler added.

Blackburn also released a video message following Johnson’s announcement on Tuesday, asking constituents to donate to her re-election campaign.

U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-06) was one of the first Tennessee lawmakers to announce his support for Blackburn in wake of Johnson’s bid, writing on X, previously known as Twitter, “Tennesseans deserve @VoteMarsha in the Senate, not a radical Left-wing socialist. I’m #TeamMarsha.”

Tennessee House Minority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) also announced his support for Blackburn, tweeting, “Tennesseans deserve Senator Blackburn’s unwavering conservative leadership in Washington, NOT a left-wing socialist.”

U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03) added that Blackburn’s track record of delivering for Tennesseans in the U.S. Senate is “clear,” adding, “We must make sure she is elected again in 2024.”

Blackburn’s Senate colleague Bill Hagerty (R-TN) also tweeted his support, writing, “It is vital that we stand with @VoteMarsha now to keep Tennessee red and take back the Senate from Chuck Schumer and his radical Democrats in 2024.”

Tennessee House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) called Johnson a “radical socialist who would work to destroy our Tennessee values in the United States Senate,” adding, “She supports late-term abortion, child mutilation, and gun confiscation. We must ensure she does not win #TNSen.”

“I am #TeamMarsha!” Faison added.

State Representative Mark Cochran (R-Englewood) called Johnson a “liberal nut who is out of touch with the vast majority of our state.”

“We need a United States Senator who puts Tennesseans first, not her own radical woke agenda. I am standing behind Sen. Blackburn in 2024 and urge you to join me to keep Tennessee Conservative,” Cochran added.

U.S. Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01) said she is “proud” to stand with Blackburn, calling her a “steadfast conservative champion for our Tennessee values in the United States Senate.”

Tennessee House of Representatives Majority Whip Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville) also backed Blackburn, saying, “A radical Democrat is running to replace @VoteMarsha in the Senate. We can’t let her win and turn Tennessee blue!”

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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Marsha Blackburn” by Marsha Blackburn.