Marsha Blackburn becomes first woman elected to Tennessee governor’s office, per secretary of state – WSMV

Marsha Blackburn becomes first woman elected to Tennessee governor’s office, per secretary of state  WSMV

Marsha Blackburn has been elected the next governor of Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Voters have chosen Marsha Blackburn to be the next governor of Tennessee, making her the first woman elected to the state’s highest office. Blackburn, a Republican senator, will succeed Gov. Bill Lee, who has reached his term limit. The Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office declared Blackburn the winner of the Tennessee governor’s race after she received 45.52% of the vote Tuesday night, defeating Democratic nominee Jerri Green and numerous independent candidates. Green received 42.95% of the vote. She and Green made history in the primary election earlier this year, marking the first time in state history that both major parties elected a woman to be their nominee for governor.

Now, voters have officially elected the first female governor. Blackburn will be sworn in as the 51st governor of Tennessee in January. The exact date has yet to be released, but the swearing-in ceremony normally happens about two weeks into the month. Lee took the oath of office for his second term on Jan. 21, 2023. Blackburn, a Mississippi native, has previously served in the Tennessee Senate and was the first woman elected as a U.S. Senator from Tennessee, a role she currently holds. Her campaign promises included backing