Tennessee GOP Governor Hopeful Marsha Blackburn Yet to Open State Campaign Account, Leans on Federal PACs

NASHVILLE, Aug. 28, 2025 - U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), who formally announced her bid for governor earlier this month, has not filed paperwork to establish a campaign account with the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance, spokespeople confirmed today. Instead, Blackburn is relying on two federal political action committees-Making a Responsible Stand for Households in America (MARSHA PAC) and the Tennessee Victory Fund-to undergird her gubernatorial efforts, despite legal constraints preventing those funds from directly financing her state campaign.

Federal filings show that Blackburn’s U.S. Senate campaign account held $4.4 million at the start of August, yet no state-level account has been reported as of today. Her MARSHA PAC raised $369,031 and expended $553,868 in the first half of 2025, leaving $156,344 on hand. Over the same period, the Tennessee Victory Fund pulled in $3 million and $3.6 million in receipts, concluding with $371,547 in cash after significant transfers to consulting firms and other political committees.

By contrast, her Republican primary rival, U.S. Representative John Rose, has already opened and infused his state campaign account with $5 million of personal funds, supplemented by $1.1 million raised locally. Political scientists note the strategic benefits of early state registration. “Campaign finance regulations are more convoluted than ever, encouraging candidates to get creative,” said Kent Syler of Middle Tennessee State University. “Blackburn is maximizing her federal accounts while staying within the letter of the law”.

Neither Blackburn nor Rose has secured an official endorsement from Gov. Bill Lee, who remains neutral despite a longstanding personal connection with the senator. With the Republican primary one year away, the fundraising tactics they employ now could foreshadow the intensity of this pivotal statewide contest.