Tennessee Senate Race: Haslam Out, Blackburn In

NASHVILLE, TN — The race to replace the retiring Bob Corker came into clearer focus Thursday as term-limited Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said he will not run for Senate and fellow Republican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn said she will.

Haslam, a largely popular governor nearing the end of his two terms as the state's executive, would have likely been perceived as the front-runner to take over the U.S. Senate left vacant by fellow Republican Bob Corker's announcement that he will not seek a third term, but that mantle is now squarely on Blackburn's shoulders.

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“While Crissy and I will always be grateful for all of the encouragement and support to run for the United States Senate, I am announcing today that I will not be a candidate for Senate in 2018," Haslam wrote. "The primary reason is that I want to remain completely focused on my job as governor. I know that being a candidate for the Senate during my last 15 months as governor would be a distraction from the task at hand."

Haslam, a former mayor of Knoxville, noted in his statement that at the end of his term he will have served in public office for 15 years and he feels that he can best serve as a private citizen, though that will likely not stanch speculation that he may seek the seat of Sen. Lamar Alexander, who has not decided if he is running for re-election in 2020.

Less than an hour after Haslam's announcement, Blackburn posted a video announcing her candidacy:

In the video, Blackburn said she is a "card-carrying conservative" and that she believes the Senate is "completely dysfunctional," with "too many Senate Republicans [who] act like Democrats or worse."

Blackburn is one of the most vocal and visible supporters of President Donald Trump. Her name was floated for Speaker of the House in 2015 and there was some speculation she might end up in Trump's cabinet after a prime-time speaking slot at the Republican National Convention and a key role in the president's transition team.

She was elected to the House in 2002 and is Tennessee's second-longest serving member of Congress. She would be the first woman elected to the Senate from Tennessee.

On the heels of Blackburn's announcement, Republican State Sen. Mark Green announced he would be seeking Blackburn's House seat.

Image via United States House of Representatives