FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2025
Contact: press@johnrose.com

Nashville, TN — Republican gubernatorial candidate John Rose has once again demonstrated his growing grassroots momentum, winning the Lewis County Republican Party’s gubernatorial straw poll in convincing fashion. Rose took first place by a 31-point margin when the final results were announced by Tennessee Republican State Executive Committee member, Chris Morris:  John Rose with 55%, State Representative Monty Fritts with 24% and in third place, United States Senator Marsha Blackburn with 21%.  

Rose’s victory in Lewis County comes on the heels of his August win in neighboring Lawrence County, where he defeated Blackburn by a margin of 60% to 35%, with approximately 5% of votes cast as write-ins.

“As a farmer and former Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture, I’m proud of my rural roots and love connecting with everyday Tennesseans, one-on-one,” Rose said. “The people of Tennessee know that our state needs a governor who shares their values and understands the importance of agriculture, small business, and conservative leadership.”

The Lewis County result underscores Rose’s strong connection with rural voters, a decisive force in Tennessee Republican politics. In 2018, the rural vote propelled 7th generation Tennessean and farmer Bill Lee to a 12-point upset victory in the Republican gubernatorial primary over two well-funded, big-city candidates. Rural communities connect with John Rose because of his authentic experience as a farmer and generational Tennessean.

Lewis County is yet another bellwether for Republican primary sentiment. The county has been represented by Marsha Blackburn for more than 14 years, first as a U.S. House member and now as a U.S. Senator. Rose’s ability to win handily in both Lawrence and Lewis Counties reflects the broad appeal of his candidacy outside his congressional district and highlights the strength of his grassroots-driven campaign.

The straw poll was conducted by officers of the Lewis County Republican Party for registered guests of the sold-out 2025 Lewis County Reagan/Trump Dinner in Hohenwald, TN. The final tally was Rose 85 votes, Fritts 36 votes, and Blackburn 32 votes.

Since announcing his campaign for Governor on March 20, 2025, at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Rose has built the largest campaign war chest in the race—reporting over $6.1 million raised through June 30 with donations from all 95 counties in Tennessee. His conservative record in Congress, strong support from President Trump, and deep agricultural roots are fueling his statewide rise ahead of the August 2026 primary.

To learn more about John Rose’s campaign for Governor, visit johnrose.com