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Published on January 15, 2025
Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs Endorses Senator Marsha Blackburn for Tennessee GovernorSource: Wikipedia/United States Senate Photographic Studio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In a move that may shape the future of Tennessee's political landscape, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs has endorsed Sen. Marsha Blackburn for governor. Jacobs expressed his support through a message on his X account, "Senator Blackburn has done an outstanding job as a state senator, U.S. congresswoman, and U.S. Senator. She would do an equally outstanding job as Governor and would have my full support if that’s what she decides," as reported by WVLT.

Despite earlier speculation that Jacobs might himself pursue the governor's office, his public endorsement hints at different political maneuvers. Jacobs, who has served as Mayor of Knox County since 2018, may be positioning for a Senate seat should Blackburn vacate her position to assume the governorship. According to Knox News, Jacobs has a created political action committee, which many believe could serve as a foundation for supporting Blackburn's potential gubernatorial bid.

Blackburn, if she confirms her candidacy and wins, would make history as the first woman elected governor of Tennessee. Her career includes significant legislative roles ranging from the Tennessee Senate to her recent reelection to the U.S. Senate, where she secured 89.5% of the Republican primary vote and 63.8% of the vote in the general election, as WBIR outlines.

Blackburn and Jacobs share a political trajectory that has often aligned with former President Donald Trump's policies and values. Jacobs' endorsement, therefore, does not come as a surprise to many observers within a the Tennessee political arena. Despite no official statement from Blackburn regarding her decision to run for governor, the endorsement signals a consolidation of Republican power behind her potential candidacy. Susan Richardson Williams, a former Tennessee Republican Party chair, revealed to Knox News that several campaign fundraisers are being planned for Blackburn, strengthening the signal that she may indeed throw her hat into the gubernatorial ring.