Williamson's own gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn sat in a small twin-jet engine plane on a 43-minute flight from Shelby County to Wilson County on primary election day. The trip was one leg among the final days and hours of her historic campaign for governor.
Reporters and photojournalists from the Williamson Scene, the Nashville Banner, Tennessee Journal and a Daily Wire writer — traveled with Blackburn across the state by plane and SUV on Aug. 5 and 6 in a rare look inside the candidate's work to win over voters.
The insight into the campaign for Tennessee’s potential first female governor came in the wake of unfavorable news stories around Blackburn’s unwillingness to participate in debates and a Senate Ethics Committee investigation into her office and 2024 Senate campaign. The Williamson Scene also attempted to gain the same level of access into the final days of her Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. John Rose's, campaign but was only granted an invitation to his election night celebration.
Blackburn argues that Tennesseans — at least Republicans she’s interacted with — are not interested in listening to political speeches or debates, and instead want one-on-one conversations with her, something that she has done with Republican voters who attend party events, some of which are ticketed and more accessible to those conservatives entrenched in the political and often upper-class world.
Members of the press largely traveled separately from Blackburn in another airplane and fleet of SUVs, but were given access to the state’s senior senator in stints on her plane as well as several more casual interactions — including an Aug. 5 early supper at Blountville’s Jailhouse BBQ with former Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey.
There, over fried pickle spears and onion ring appetizers, she spoke about her time as a Mississippi State University student selling books door-to-door for the Nashville-based Southwestern Company, which initially didn’t hire women for sales jobs. Blackburn established and led a women’s division, an experience that she called a “defining moment,” and met her husband, Chuck, at the company.
Naturally, the trip was curated with the theatrics of the contemporary campaign trail — handshakes, hugs and endless phones framing group photos among the friendly Republican audiences sporting red and white “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha” stickers — with no mention of other candidates such as Rose. She handily defeated the congressman on Aug. 6.
Most only see her heavily curated public image as a pro-American, pro-Trump, conservative fighter who repeats political talking points. However, the Williamson Scene’s time with Tennessee’s senior senator revealed a woman who is comfortable talking policy, as well as engaging in normal conversations about life.
When boarding her small eight-seater plane, which had been baking on the hot runway, she reached into a cooler and began passing out drinks to those on board like a mother prepping her children for a long road trip.
Blackburn spoke fondly of her family who still reside in Middle Tennessee, especially her grandchildren who call her “Marshy,” telling reporters that she wants to ensure that Tennessee is a state where the next generation can find jobs and create a life where they were raised.
Blackburn and her campaign strategists projected confidence for weeks before the primary election, citing favorable polling and obvious widespread support from numerous federal, state and local officials from across Tennessee, as well as groups like Americans for Prosperity Tennessee and the Tennessee Professional Fire Fighters Association.
The Laurel, Miss., native helped to found the Williamson County Young Republicans and served as the Williamson County Party Chair from 1989-1991, playing a critical role in the Republican Party’s growth and eventual state dominance in a state previously run by a Democratic Party establishment.
She served in the Tennessee state senate (1999-2003), U.S. House of Representatives (2003-2019), and then the U.S. Senate since 2019, becoming an icon of Republican politics in Tennessee, especially in Williamson County.
Blackburn, 74, said that she began to be encouraged to run for governor by Tennessee citizens and elected officials following President Donald Trump’s 2016 election, saying Trump’s “goal was sending power and authority back to the states.”
“They want to make certain that we do the right reset, and that Tennessee is on a conservative track for the next couple of decades,” Blackburn said.
Blackburn’s pitch to voters includes lines such as “the communists are coming,” rhetoric that is sure to ramp up as the campaign shifts its focus to the general election and Democratic nominee Jerri Green.
“I am always willing to have a conversation with people that want to make the lives of Tennesseans better,” Blackburn responded when asked how she would lead and represent all Tennesseans, including Democrats.
“There are many people who come from every political corner that I have worked with on different issues. My public service has been recognized as being bipartisan, and I just think there are always going to be people that are never satisfied, and it doesn't deter me from doing my job, and it doesn't cause me to lose my focus.”
While she has had some bipartisan legislation, largely Democrats do not see Blackburn as an ally. Some of her, as she puts it, dissatisfied critics could clearly be seen at one Aug. 5 stop, where four middle-aged to senior protesters held signs outside of the Johnson County Welcome Center, some reading, “Marsha is a rubber stamp for Trump,” “We weren’t invited to your meeting. Do you represent us too?” and “Republicans — Protect kids, not pedophiles!”
That criticism refers to the president’s ongoing challenge handling the Epstein files, in which Trump is named and accused of crimes. The scandal is certain to continue as new bipartisan legislation in Congress aims to force transparency by allowing victims and state attorneys general to sue the federal government for information related to Epstein and any co-conspirators.
In contrast, she has worked for years to pass her signature bill, the Kids Online Safety Act, with U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), a bill that passed the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on Aug. 5.
When Blackburn’s Republican primary electoral win became clear about 40 minutes after polls closed, she and her campaign staff celebrated behind the scenes in a hotel ballroom filled with TVs and desks, designated as the war room. She and strategist Ward Baker thanked staff, volunteers and key supporters for their work on the campaign that was launched one year to the day of her historic victory.
“We’ve got elected officials that are here that really stepped in and served as surrogates for us, and I am so grateful for that,” Blackburn said, calling the victory “truly a total team effort.”
About half an hour later, Blackburn gathered with her family in a large back hallway before taking the stage with them and numerous elected officials who stood behind her during her victory speech, a large Tennessee state flag draped behind them.
"The real work really begins right now,” Blackburn told the crowd of cheering supporters. “We have to unite. We have to defeat the Democrats in November. We've got to send a message loud and clear: We are a solid red conservative state, and all of these socialist communist policies end at the Tennessee state line. … Together we're going to make our state stronger. Together we are going to be the freest state in the United States, and together we will make certain that our Tennessee remains the envy of the nation.”
Hamilton Matthew Masters is an FW Publishing photojournalist for the Nashville Post, Nashville Scene, and Williamson Scene.
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