Republicans swept Tennessee’s major races Tuesday, capping a contentious midterm campaign season with a victory.
Marsha Blackburn (R) will become the state’s first female senator after being declared the winner over Phil Bredesen (D), the former two-term governor of Tennessee. Blackburn campaigned on her support of President Trump, immigration restriction and tax cuts. It was the most expensive Senate race in history.
“Thank you for believing in me, and for hearing our message, and for giving me your vote, and for allowing me to be the first woman ever elected to the Senate from Tennessee,” Blackburn said. “Just imagine this, it is a conservative woman to boot!”
In his concession speech, Bredesen encouraged young voters to “stay engaged and never, ever, ever give up.”
Bill Lee was voted Tennessee’s next governor, handily defeating Democratic nominee and former Nashville mayor Karl Dean.
The Franklin business owner focused on rural issues, such as expanding broadband access to rural communities.
“Tennessee can not only be a place that leads in this region, but Tennessee can be a place that leads in America,” Lee said in his victory speech.
“I believe all Tennesseans have more that unites us than divides us.”
Dean served as Nashville’s mayor from 2007 to 2015 and was facing an uphill battle as a Democratic candidate in a traditionally red state.
“I’m too old to cry and it hurts too much to laugh,” Dean said in his concession speech.
“Tennesseans have made a great choice for our next governor,” current governor Bill Haslam said in a statement. “Bill Lee is a man with strong character and love for our state and will make the right decisions to keep Tennessee moving forward.
“I am excited to see what this state will accomplish under his leadership.”
Photo by Russell Vannozzi