Hegseth not being considered for Blackburn’s Tennessee Senate seat: Report

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is reportedly not considering War Secretary Pete Hegseth as her replacement in the upper chamber once she is sworn in as Tennessee’s governor.Blackburn defeated Democrat Jerri Green in Tennessee’s gubernatorial election on Tuesday, holding 45.49% of the vote compared to Green’s 42.98%, with 98.9% of the vote counted, according to the Associated Press. Blackburn announced that she would hold off on retiring from the Senate until she is sworn in to her gubernatorial seat in January, meaning she will be in charge of appointing her successor for the remainder of her unexpired term.Several candidates have already reportedly thrown their hat in the ring for consideration, including Hegseth, who moved to Sumner County, Tennessee, with his family in 2022 ahead of his relocation to Washington, D.C., for his job leading the Pentagon. As murmurs swirl of Democrats considering a possible impeachment of Hegseth as they retake the majority in the House in 2027, Hegseth could avoid the articles if Blackburn appoints him to the upper chamber. But according to multiple reports, including the Associated Press, Blackburn is not considering tapping Hegseth.A source close to Blackburn told Punchbowl News that Hegseth is “not being considered.”“This is nothing more than Washington, D.C., spin from a bunch of consultants with nothing better to do. The Blackburn team is focused on the transition, not entertaining baseless speculation. Dc won’t pick the next senator,” the source said.The Washington Examiner has reached out to Blackburn’s office and campaign for comment.Hegseth, who recently attended a University of Tennessee home football game against the University of Alabama, is not the only Tennessean considering a run. Reps. Tim Burchett (R-TN) and Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), former Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, and former private prison CEO Damon Hininger have each expressed interest.Burchett said in a statement to the Washington Examiner that he has “made no bones about the fact that I would be honored to represent Tennessee in the United States Senate.”HOUSE INTELLIGENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY HAWKS SUFFER MAJOR LOSSES IN MIDTERM ELECTIONSA recent UpONE Insights poll showed Hegseth with the highest favorability in the Volunteer State out of the possible Blackburn successors.Blackburn’s current Senate term is up in January 2031, meaning her replacement would be up for reelection in 2030.