Marsha Blackburn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marsha Blackburn
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Official portrait, 2019
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| United States Senator from Tennessee |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2019 Serving with Bill Hagerty
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| Preceded by | Bob Corker |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 7th district |
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| In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Ed Bryant |
| Succeeded by | Mark Green |
| Member of the Tennessee Senate from the 23rd district |
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| In office January 12, 1999 – January 3, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Keith Jordan |
| Succeeded by | Jim Bryson |
| Executive Director of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment, and Music Commission | |
| In office February 1995 – June 1997 |
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| Governor | Don Sundquist |
| Preceded by | Dancy Jones |
| Succeeded by | Anne Pope |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Mary Marsha Wedgeworth
June 6, 1952 Laurel, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Chuck Blackburn
(m. 1975) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residences | Brentwood, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Education | Mississippi State University (BS) |
Mary Marsha Blackburn (born June 6, 1952) is an American politician. She is currently a U.S. Senator for Tennessee. She was first elected to the Senate in 2018.
Blackburn is a member of the Republican Party. Before becoming a senator, she was a state senator in Tennessee from 1999 to 2003. She also served in the United States House of Representatives from 2003 to 2019.
She is a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump. In 2018, Marsha Blackburn became the first woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate from Tennessee. She won against former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen. In 2021, she became the senior (most experienced) senator from Tennessee.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Marsha Wedgeworth was born in Laurel, Mississippi. Her parents were Mary Jo and Hilman Wedgeworth. Her father worked in sales and management.
She went to Mississippi State University. She received a scholarship from 4-H. In 1974, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics. While in college, she was part of the Chi Omega sorority. She also served as secretary and president of the Associated Women Students.
Early Career and Political Start
Before finishing college, Blackburn worked as a sales manager for the Times Mirror Company in 1973. From 1975 to 1978, she worked for Castner Knott Division of Mercantile Stores, Inc. In 1978, she started her own business called Marketing Strategies. This company focuses on promotion and event management. She still owns this business today.
Blackburn was a founding member of the Williamson County Young Republicans. She led the Williamson County Republican Party from 1989 to 1991. In 1992, she ran for Congress but did not win.
From 1995 to 1997, she was the executive director of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment, and Music Commission. This job was given to her by Tennessee Governor Don Sundquist.
Blackburn was a member of the Tennessee Senate from 1998 to 2003. She worked to stop a state income tax bill from passing in 2000.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
After the 2000 census, the voting districts changed. Blackburn's home was moved into the 7th district. In 2002, she ran for this congressional seat. She won the Republican primary election.
In the main election, Blackburn won against Tim Barron with 70% of the votes. She was the fourth woman elected to Congress from Tennessee. She was also the first woman elected to Congress from Tennessee who did not take over her husband's seat. She was reelected seven times.
Her Time in the House
Blackburn served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2003 to 2019. During this time, she was known as one of the most conservative members of the House.
In 2007, Blackburn tried to become the Republican conference chair but was not successful. She was a senior advisor for Mitt Romney's 2008 presidential campaign. Later, she supported Fred Thompson for president. She also served as an assistant whip and deputy whip in Congress.
Committees She Served On
- Committee on the Budget
- Committee on Education and the Workforce
- Committee on Energy and Commerce
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade (vice-chair)
- Subcommittee on Communications and the Internet (chair)
- Subcommittee on Health Care
- Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations (vice-chair)
- Committee on Judiciary
- Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Serving in the U.S. Senate
2018 Election for Senate
60–70%
50–60%
40–50%
70–80%
60–70%
50–60%
In October 2017, Blackburn announced she would run for the Senate seat. This seat was being left open by Senator Bob Corker. She said she was a "hardcore, card-carrying Tennessee conservative." She also said she was "politically incorrect" and that liberals called her a "wingnut." She won the Republican primary election on August 2.
Blackburn supported President Donald Trump's ideas, including building a wall on the U.S.–Mexico border. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence supported her campaign.
Blackburn won the election with 54.7% of the votes. This was a larger win than many expected. She won almost all counties in Tennessee.
2024 Election for Senate
Blackburn ran for reelection in the 2024 United States Senate election in Tennessee. She won against Democratic candidate Gloria Johnson.
Her Time in the Senate
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Marsha Blackburn became a U.S. Senator on January 3, 2019. She is the first woman to represent Tennessee in the U.S. Senate. When Senator Lamar Alexander retired in 2021, Blackburn became the senior U.S. senator from Tennessee.
Committees She Serves On
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- Subcommittee on Communications, Media and Broadband
- Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Data Protection (Ranking Member)
- Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change and Manufacturing
- Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade, and Export Promotion
- Committee on Finance
- Subcommittee on Health Care
- Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy
- Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight
- Committee on the Judiciary
- Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights
- Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law (Ranking)
- Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety
- Subcommittee on Intellectual Property
- Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Political Views
Blackburn is a Tea Party Republican. She is known for her very conservative views. She has called herself "a hard-core, card-carrying Tennessee conservative."
Birth Certificates
In 2009, Blackburn supported a bill that would require presidential candidates to show their birth certificates.
Education
In 2017, Blackburn talked with Ivanka Trump about making child care more affordable. In 2021, she criticized a plan for universal pre-kindergarten.
Health Care
Blackburn was against the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. She supported trying to cancel this law. She also said that the healthcare.gov website did not protect people's health information privacy.
Climate Change
Blackburn does not agree with the scientific agreement that climate change is happening and is urgent. In a 2014 debate, she said there was "no consensus" among scientists and that climate change was "unproven."
Technology and Communication
Blackburn is against net neutrality in the United States, calling it "socialistic." She also opposes cities creating their own internet networks. She supported laws that stop cities from doing this.
In 2017, she helped pass a measure to remove an online privacy rule. This rule required internet providers to ask for permission before sharing customers' online data. She later suggested a law that would include internet companies in this requirement.
LGBT Rights
Blackburn is against same-sex marriage. In 2004 and 2006, she voted for changes to the Constitution that would ban it. She also voted against a law to protect LGBT employees from discrimination.
Donald Trump
In 2016, Blackburn joined Donald Trump's team as he prepared to become president. She strongly supported his ideas and policies. She even nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize.
During Trump's first impeachment trial, Blackburn left the room for a TV interview. She also read a book during the trial. She tweeted about Lt. Col. Vindman, saying he was "vindictive" and the "whistleblower's handler."
After Joe Biden won the 2020 United States presidential election, Blackburn supported Trump's false claims that the election was stolen. She helped raise money to challenge the election results in court. On January 2, 2021, she and 10 other Republican senators said they would vote against confirming the election results. However, after a group of Trump supporters attacked the Capitol on January 6, she voted to confirm the results.
Immigration
Blackburn supported Trump's 2017 order that temporarily banned travel and immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. She often supports Trump's immigration policies, especially his plan to expand the border wall. In March 2021, she visited the southern border and said President Biden was encouraging illegal immigration.
Women's Rights
In 2009, Blackburn voted against laws that aimed to ensure equal pay for women, such as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act.
China
In August 2022, Blackburn visited Taiwan with other members of Congress. She met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. During her visit, Blackburn supported Taiwan, calling it an "independent nation." She also supported stronger relations between the U.S. and Taiwan. China views Taiwan as part of its own territory.
January 6 Capitol Attack
In 2021, Blackburn chose not to vote on creating a special committee to investigate the January 6 United States Capitol attack.
Personal Life
Marsha married Chuck Blackburn in 1974. They live in Brentwood, a town near Nashville. They have two children. She is a Presbyterian and attends Christ Presbyterian Church.
Blackburn is a member of "The C Street Family," a prayer group for members of Congress. She used to be on the Smithsonian Libraries Advisory Board.
She wrote a book called The Mind of a Conservative Woman: Seeking the Best for Family and Country. The book was published in 2020.
Images for kids
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Rep. Blackburn official photo in 2011
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Rep. Blackburn official photo in 2016
