Marsha Blackburn mounts a run for governor

Staunch MAGA Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn announced a campaign for Tennessee governor Wednesday.

“In his first six months, President Trump has made historic strides in Making America Great Again, but as he sends power back to the states, he’s going to need strong conservative governors who can bring that revolution home,” Blackburn said in a statement.

Blackburn announced her bid to replace Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who is term-limited, with an ad that relies on several images of Donald Trump.

“Trump is back,” Blackburn said in the video. “America is blessed. And Tennessee, better than ever.”

She is widely considered to be a formidable candidate for the Aug. 6 primary, which also includes Republican Rep. John Rose. A January survey from Trump's pollster Tony Fabrizio found Blackburn had an 82 percent approval among the state's primary voters.

If elected, Blackburn would not only appoint her successor in the Senate — she’s not up for reelection until 2030 — but become the first female governor in state history.