Know the Primary
Trump is not endorsing in this primary. In spring 2026, he told Tennessee's congressional delegation he would stay out — because both Blackburn and Rose had been loyal to him. Neither loyalty nor defiance to Trump is on this ballot. Only the records are.
Voting on the record is the Trump-neutral position. He made sure of that himself.
Sources: Nashville Banner, June 8, 2026; NewsChannel 5
Where the Records Are the Same
VerifiedAn honest comparison table must start here. On the two highest-profile 2025 votes, Blackburn and Rose cast identical votes. A comparison page that hides this would be debunked in a day — and it would deserve to be.
2025 Reconciliation ("One Big Beautiful Bill") — Both voted YES
Blackburn voted yes in the Senate (July 1, 2025) and celebrated passage publicly. Rose voted yes in the House and called it "a declaration of war on the failed policies that destroyed American prosperity," publicly defending the Medicaid work requirements at town halls.
Sources: Senate roll call; WKRN — TN lawmakers' reactions, July 2025; WSMV town-hall coverage, Aug. 2025
Tariffs / China Trade — Both support
Blackburn supported tariff policy with no public break during the 2025 farm-loss year. Rose is equally pro-tariff: in November 2024 he led a letter urging Commerce to finalize "robust tariffs" on Indian ceramic tile imports; his 2026 campaign ads center on banning Chinese farmland ownership. Neither candidate went on record with the concern that Republican Senators Fischer, Grassley, and Moran voiced about farm losses.
Sources: johnrose.house.gov press releases; Nashville Banner, May 21, 2026
Where the Records Differ
Verified Contrasts| Issue | Blackburn | Rose |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 6 Certification | Announced intent to object (Jan. 2, 2021); reversed after Capitol was stormed; voted TO certify Arizona and Pennsylvania. Sources: Ballotpedia; WJHL. | Voted TO OBJECT to Arizona and Pennsylvania certification. Source: johnrose.house.gov. Note: This contrast cuts differently for different Republican voters — state it and let readers weigh it. |
| Senate-Seat Appointment Power | Unique to Blackburn. She holds a Senate seat running to 2031. If elected governor and timed correctly, she appoints her own Senate successor — someone no Tennessean voted for — who serves until November 2028. Source: Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-16-101(a); The Hill, Aug. 6, 2025. | Not applicable. House seats are filled by special election under Tenn. Code § 2-16-101(b) — voters choose the replacement. |
| Agriculture Background | Brands herself a farm and cattle champion; senator during the 2025 farm-loss year with no public statement on tariff relief for Tennessee crops. | 8th-generation farmer; House Agriculture Committee member; former Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture. Co-led Tennessee delegation letters (Oct.–Nov. 2024) seeking farm disaster relief — letters Blackburn also signed. Source: johnrose.house.gov. |
| Telecom donors & net neutrality votes | $130,000+ from AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast (career). Led net neutrality repeal effort; voted against S.J.Res.52 restoration (2024). See The Telecom Money for full documentation. | House member; no comparable Senate telecom-donor record. No documented equivalent to the S.J.Res.52 vote. |
Other Candidates on the Ballot
Voter InformationVerify the complete certified candidate list with the Tennessee Secretary of State before the August 6 primary. This page will be updated as candidate filings are confirmed.
Practical Voter Information
August 6, 2026Primary date: August 6, 2026 (Tennessee Republican and Democratic primaries held simultaneously).
Registration & polling place lookup: GoVoteTN.gov | Tennessee Secretary of State
Early voting: Check your county election commission for dates and locations.
This page is voter information, not campaign material. This site is not affiliated with any political party, candidate, or campaign. Before relying on any legal or election-law interpretation on this page, consult appropriate legal resources — this is not legal advice.