Republican Marsha Blackburn has defeated Democrat Phil Bredesen in their closely watched race to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Bob Corker.
Blackburn, an eight-term congressman from Brentwood, closely tied herself during the campaign to President Donald Trump, who appeared three times in the state on her behalf, including on Sunday in Chattanooga. She warned often that Bredesen would support national Democratic priorities out of touch with Tennessee voters, though the former governor and Nashville mayor sought to paint himself as a moderate throughout the race. In the final weeks of the race, Blackburn's campaign echoed Trump's fear mongering and often unfounded anti-immigrant rhetoric directed at the so-called caravan of migrants traveling from north from Central America.
Hundreds of supporters gathered at Blackburn’s watch party at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, where rhinestone-elephant pins graced pantsuit lapels and “Make America Great Again” topped heads.
One supporter, Peggie Smith, said she has known Blackburn for more than 40 years. Smith, who taught school in Williamson County for 33 years before moving into real estate, said she was confident in a Blackburn win.
“I know her from her roots,” said Smith. “She is hardworking. She is not pretentious. She is good friends with anybody of all classes, all walks of life. She knows what it is to work hard for what you’ve got.”
Another supporter, Robert Payne, said he came out in support of Blackburn because she supports President Trump.
“I’m from Gallatin, and it’s very important to me that we have a hometown candidate running for such an important office because she understands Tennessee and Nashville in particular,” Payne said. “She knows what the people of Tennessee want, and it’s conservative politics, no doubt about that. And knowing that she is for the same kind of policies as President Trump is very important to me. We need some common sense with legislation in this country, and she is the person to do that.”
Though Blackburn garnered the endorsements of most prominent Tennessee Republicans, Corker’s was uncommonly tepid, as he promised not to campaign against Bredesen, whom he called a friend. Last week, Corker and Gov. Bill Haslam declined to say explicitly who they were voting for.
Bredesen’s moderate campaign — he announced that he would have voted for President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, after multiple women accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault, for example — stands in contrast to some other prominent Democratic campaigns this cycle. Candidates including Beto O’Rourke in Texas, Stacey Abrams in Georgia and Andrew Gillum in Florida offered more unashamedly liberal campaigns in traditionally Republican states.
The race was the most expensive Senate race in Tennessee history, with more than $68 million spent by the candidates and outside groups.
