In a hotly contested Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, Tennessee state Rep. Gloria Johnson emerged victorious and is slated to confront Republican incumbent Sen. Marsha Blackburn come November. Johnson is known as a member of the "Tennessee Three," a group that has gained national attention following a controversial gun control protest. Meanwhile, Politico notes that Blackburn, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, easily dismissed her challenger, Tres Wittum, in the GOP primary.
In the primary race, Gloria Johnson raised over $5 million quickly and will enter the general election with nearly $2 million. By comparison, Blackburn holds a significant funding advantage, having nearly $8.8 million in reserves, according to Politico. The financial disparities have not deterred Johnson, who believes that a mobilization of Democratic voters, who may have skipped previous cycles, could narrow the race. "In 2018 Marsha Blackburn won by 200,000 votes," Johnson told supporters, as per The Tennessean. "We know there are 300,000 Democratic voters who haven't voted in the last few cycles. We get those folks to the polls, we win this race."
Johnson, who notably survived an expulsion effort led by Republican lawmakers after a gun control protest, highlights her commitment to living wages, healthcare, and women's reproductive rights as cornerstones of her campaign. In the wake of the primary win, Johnson told her supporters, "We’re building a movement here in Tennessee," as reported by The Tennessean.
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