Marsha Blackburn victory speech

Republican nominee and U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn goes through her victory speech on Aug. 6, 2026.

Williamson County's own gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn sat in a small twin-jet engine plane on a 43-minute flight from Shelby County to Wilson County on primary election day. The trip was one leg among the final days and hours of her historic campaign for governor.

Reporters and photojournalists from the Nashville Post, the Nashville Banner, Tennessee Journal and a Daily Wire writer — traveled with Blackburn across the state by plane and SUV on Aug. 5 and 6 in a rare look inside the candidate's work to win over voters.