FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2025
Contact: press@johnrose.com
Nashville, TN — John Rose defeated Senator Marsha Blackburn in the first straw poll of the contested Tennessee gubernatorial republican primary by a margin of 60.8% to 35.2% with write-in votes accounting for 4%. John’s grassroots driven campaign has seen a groundswell of support from local GOP activists across Tennessee. The poll was held at the sold-out Lawrence County Republican Reagan Dinner in Loretto and was overseen by the chairman of the Lawrence County Election Board of Commissioners using an electronic voting machine.
The win is a notable bellwether in the race. Lawrence 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. The rural county is less familiar with Rose, as it is located more than 100 miles from the nearest point in Rose’s House District. Voters in the poll chose Rose nonetheless, whose background as a Trump-supporting farmer and small business owner resonated with the crowd.
“I am honored to have won this straw poll and it shows what I have seen all across our state. Republicans are looking for a principled conservative with executive experience who can defend our Tennessee values,” said Republican gubernatorial candidate John Rose.
Since launching his campaign for Governor on March 20, John Rose has reported over $6.1 million through June 30, the largest campaign war chest for a Tennessee gubernatorial candidate at this point in the race. The campaign received support from every corner of the state, with donations from Tennesseans in all 95 counties. That broad base of early support is part of Rose’s strategy for victory in the August 2026 primary.
Rose announced his candidacy for Governor on March 20, 2025, at the site of the Tennessee State Fair in Wilson County. His conservative record in Congress, mutual support with President Trump, and deep roots in Tennessee agriculture have helped him gain strong support from voters across the state.To learn more about the campaign, visit johnrose.com.
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