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Blackburn dodges questions about her run for governor as early voting nears in Tennessee primary
By Ben Hall at NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate)
· June 30, 2026
· 3 min read
Early voting in the Republican primary for governor is less than three weeks away.The front-runner, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, is keeping a low profile.She has refused to debate her Republican opponents and is not doing local media interviews.Last week,NewsChannel 5 Investigatescaught up with...
Key takeaway Last week,NewsChannel 5 Investigatescaught up with her after an event in Nashville and asked some basic questions before she got onto an elevator.
Why this matters in The Nashville
With early voting in the Republican primary for governor just around the corner, Senator Marsha Blackburn's reluctance to engage with local media and debate her opponents raises questions about her commitment to transparency and accountability to Tennessee voters. Her brief encounter with NewsChannel 5 Investigates in Nashville, where she dodged questions about her run for governor, is particularly notable given the city's status as a hub for state politics and governance. As the front-runner in the primary, Blackburn's decision to avoid debates and local interviews may be seen as an attempt to insulate herself from scrutiny, but it also deprives voters of the opportunity to assess her qualifications and policy positions. The fact that Congressman John Rose has made the Starbucks subsidy deal a campaign issue highlights the need for gubernatorial candidates to clearly articulate their stances on economic development and taxpayer funding, making Blackburn's evasiveness on this topic all the more notable.
About this story
Original reporting by NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) . The Nashville surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 30, 2026 ·
Source: NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Early voting in the Republican primary for governor is less than three weeks away.The front-runner, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, is keeping a low profile.She has refused to debate her Republican opponents and is not doing local media interviews.Last week,NewsChannel 5 Investigatescaught up with...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 30, 2026 by NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) and curated for The Nashville readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Ben Hall at NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate). To learn more about how The Nashville selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Nashville, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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