Marsha Blackburn
Mary Marsha Blackburn (née Wedgeworth; born June 6, 1952) is an American politician and businesswoman serving as the senior United States senator from Tennessee. Blackburn was first elected to the Senate in 2018. A member of the Republican Party, Blackburn was a state senator from 1999 to 2003 and represented Tennessee's 7th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2003 to 2019, during which time the National Journal rated her among the House's most conservative members.
"Senator Blackburn" redirects here. For other uses, see Senator Blackburn (disambiguation).
Marsha Blackburn
On November 6, 2018, Blackburn became the first woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate from Tennessee, defeating Democratic former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen. Blackburn became the state's senior senator in January 2021 upon the retirement of Senator Lamar Alexander. A supporter of the Tea Party movement, Blackburn is a staunch backer of former president Donald Trump. Upon the retirement of Congressman Jim Cooper in 2023, she became the dean of Tennessee's congressional delegation.
Early career and political activity[edit]
In 1973, before graduating from college, Blackburn worked as a sales manager for the Times Mirror Company. From 1975 to 1978, she worked in the Castner Knott Division of Mercantile Stores, Inc. In 1978, she became the owner of Marketing Strategies, a promotion-event management firm. As of 2016, Blackburn continued to run this business.[5]
Blackburn was a founding member of the Williamson County Young Republicans.[6] She was chair of the Williamson County Republican Party from 1989 to 1991.[6][10][11] In 1992, she ran for Congress in Tennessee's 6th congressional district, losing to incumbent Bart Gordon, and was a delegate to the 1992 Republican National Convention.[6] In 1995, Blackburn was appointed executive director of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment, and Music Commission by Tennessee governor Don Sundquist, holding that post through 1997.[12][6][13]
Blackburn was a member of the Tennessee Senate from 1998 to 2003, and rose to be minority whip.[14][4] In 2000, she took part in the effort to prevent the passage of a state income tax bill.[6]
Personal life[edit]
Blackburn is married to Chuck Blackburn.[6] They live in Brentwood, a suburb of Nashville in Williamson County,[29] and have two children.[6] She is a Presbyterian and a member of Christ Presbyterian Church.[33]
Blackburn is a member of The C Street Family, a prayer group that includes members of Congress.[145] She is a former member of the Smithsonian Libraries Advisory Board.[29]
Blackburn is the author of The Mind of a Conservative Woman: Seeking the Best for Family and Country. The book was published on September 1, 2020, by Worthy Books.[146]