Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn will return to the U.S. Senate next year after a reelection victory over Democratic state Rep. Gloria Johnson. Blackburn, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, sharpened attacks on immigration, trans people and China in the final stretch of her campaign.
Blackburn, a former state representative and state senator, spent more than $12.5 million on her reelection campaign.
Lopsided U.S. Senate race leaves candidates campaigning in different realities
Johnson’s campaign focused on access to health care, protecting abortion rights and economic issues like raising the minimum wage and lowering living costs. She spent more than $7 million on the campaign. In October, Johnson told the Scene that she hoped her campaign could build long-term Democratic support in the state, particularly among disaffected voters. Johnson, a state representative in East Tennessee, ran Democrats’ best-funded statewide campaign since Phil Bredesen challenged Blackburn in 2018.
Blackburn’s return to Washington sets her up as a leading figure in the national GOP for the next six years. She will likely reprise a powerful position on the Senate Judiciary Committee and may join the fray to replace Kentucky’s U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell as party leader, as McConnell will step down from that position in January. Blackburn has built a national reputation as a China hawk and frequently appears on Fox News criticizing the outgoing Biden administration. She has also embraced Bitcoin, the blockchain currency. Her son, Chad Blackburn, is a popular Bitcoin evangelist.
Blackburn’s support tracked closely with Trump’s share of the Tennessee electorate. She has promoted close ties to the former president since first endorsing him in July 2016.Â
