Career Timeline of Marsha Blackburn: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Marsha Blackburn made an impact.

Marsha Blackburn is an American politician and businesswoman currently serving as the senior United States Senator from Tennessee, elected in 2018. As a member of the Republican Party, she previously served as a state senator from 1999 to 2003. From 2003 to 2019, Blackburn represented Tennessee's 7th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. During her time in the House, she was consistently rated as one of its most conservative members.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1973: Sales Manager at Times Mirror Company

In 1973, before graduating from college, Marsha Blackburn worked as a sales manager for the Times Mirror Company.

1975: Worked at Castner Knott Division

From 1975 to 1978, Marsha Blackburn worked in the Castner Knott Division of Mercantile Stores, Inc.

1978: Owner of Marketing Strategies

In 1978, Marsha Blackburn became the owner of Marketing Strategies, a promotion-event management firm, which she continued to run as of 2016.

1989: Chair of the Williamson County Republican Party

In 1989, Marsha Blackburn became the chair of the Williamson County Republican Party, a position she held until 1991.

1991: End of term as Chair of the Williamson County Republican Party

In 1991, Marsha Blackburn finished her term as the chair of the Williamson County Republican Party.

1992: Ran for Congress

In 1992, Marsha Blackburn ran for Congress in Tennessee's 6th congressional district but lost to incumbent Bart Gordon. She was also a delegate to the 1992 Republican National Convention.

1995: Appointed Executive Director of Tennessee Film Commission

In 1995, Marsha Blackburn was appointed executive director of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment, and Music Commission by Tennessee governor Don Sundquist, holding the post through 1997.

1997: End of term as Executive Director of Tennessee Film Commission

In 1997, Marsha Blackburn finished her term as the executive director of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment, and Music Commission.

1999: Became a Member of the Tennessee Senate

In 1999, Marsha Blackburn became a member of the Tennessee Senate.

1999: Became a State Senator

In 1999, Marsha Blackburn became a state senator in Tennessee, a position she held until 2003.

2000: Effort to Prevent State Income Tax Bill

In 2000, Marsha Blackburn participated in the effort to prevent the passage of a state income tax bill.

2002: Ran in Republican primary for Congressional Seat

In 2002, Marsha Blackburn ran in the Republican primary for the congressional seat in the 7th district and won by nearly 20 percentage points.

2003: Assistant Whip in Congress

From 2003 to 2005, Marsha Blackburn served as an assistant whip in Congress.

2003: Served in U.S. House of Representatives

From 2003 to 2019, Marsha Blackburn served in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she was rated among the House's most conservative members by the National Journal.

2003: End of Term as Member of the Tennessee Senate

In 2003, Marsha Blackburn's time as a member of the Tennessee Senate concluded.

2005: Deputy Whip

From 2005 onwards, Marsha Blackburn served as a deputy whip in Congress.

November 2007: Unsuccessful Run for Republican Conference Chair

In November 2007, Marsha Blackburn unsuccessfully ran for Republican conference chair.

2008: Senior Advisor and Endorsement

In 2008, Marsha Blackburn was a senior advisor on Mitt Romney's presidential campaign before resigning and endorsing Fred Thompson for president.

October 2016: FCC adopted online privacy rule.

In October 2016, the FCC adopted an Obama-administration online privacy rule.

November 2016: Joined Trump's Presidential Transition Team

In November 2016, Marsha Blackburn joined Donald Trump's presidential transition team as vice chair.

2016: Running Marketing Strategies

As of 2016, Marsha Blackburn continued to run the business Marketing Strategies.

October 2017: Announced Candidacy for Senate

In October 2017, Marsha Blackburn announced her candidacy for the Senate seat being vacated by Bob Corker, describing herself as a "hardcore, card-carrying Tennessee conservative."

2017: Legislation revising DEA legal standard

According to The New York Times in 2017, Blackburn's best-known legislation was her co-sponsorship of a bill that revised the legal standard the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had used to establish that "a significant and present risk of death or serious bodily harm that is more likely than not to occur", rather than the previous tougher standard of "imminent danger", before suspending the manufacturer's opioid drug shipments.

June 2018: Blackburn argues for greater oversight and restrictions on tech companies.

In June 2018, Marsha Blackburn published an op-ed arguing for greater oversight and restrictions on tech companies, sparking a vocal backlash among Google employees.

November 6, 2018: Elected to U.S. Senate

On November 6, 2018, Marsha Blackburn became the first woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate from Tennessee, defeating Phil Bredesen.

2018: Elected to the Senate

In 2018, Marsha Blackburn was first elected to the United States Senate, representing Tennessee.

2018: Blackburn calls failure to repeal ACA a disgrace.

In 2018, Marsha Blackburn, during her declaration that she would run for the Senate, stated that the failure to repeal the Affordable Care Act was "a disgrace".

January 3, 2019: Sworn in as U.S. Senator

On January 3, 2019, Marsha Blackburn was sworn in as a U.S. senator, becoming the first woman to represent Tennessee in the U.S. Senate.

2019: End of Term in U.S. House of Representatives

In 2019, Marsha Blackburn finished her term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

2019: Left House of Representatives

In 2019, Marsha Blackburn left the United States House of Representatives.

September 1, 2020: Release of "The Mind of a Conservative Woman: Seeking the Best for Family and Country" by Marsha Blackburn

On September 1, 2020, "The Mind of a Conservative Woman: Seeking the Best for Family and Country" by Marsha Blackburn was published by Worthy Books.

The Mind of a Conservative Woman: Seeking the Best for Family and Country

Check it on Amazon

October 26, 2020: Blackburn votes to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

On October 26, 2020, Marsha Blackburn voted to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States, wearing a mask that read "Grin and Barrett" to the Senate vote.

January 2, 2021: Blackburn to oppose certification of the 2020 election results

On January 2, 2021, Marsha Blackburn and 10 other Republican senators announced their intent to vote against certifying the 2020 presidential election results on January 6, alleging widespread election fraud and unconstitutional changes to voting laws.

January 2021: Became Senior Senator

In January 2021, Marsha Blackburn became the senior senator for Tennessee upon the retirement of Lamar Alexander.

May 2021: Blackburn Abstains from Voting on January 6 Commission

In May 2021, Marsha Blackburn abstained from voting on the creation of the January 6 commission.

2021: Became Senior U.S. Senator from Tennessee

In 2021, upon Lamar Alexander's retirement, Marsha Blackburn became the senior U.S. senator from Tennessee.

April 7, 2022: Blackburn votes against Jackson's confirmation to the Supreme Court.

On April 7, 2022, Marsha Blackburn voted against Ketanji Brown Jackson's confirmation to the Supreme Court.

2022: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

In 2022, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act passed.

2023: Became Dean of Tennessee's Congressional Delegation

In 2023, Marsha Blackburn became the dean of Tennessee's congressional delegation, following the retirement of Jim Cooper.

2023: Blackburn Votes Against Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

In 2023, Marsha Blackburn was among the 31 Senate Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which raised the U.S. debt ceiling.

August 1, 2024: Won Party Nominations

On August 1, 2024, Marsha Blackburn and Democratic state representative Gloria Johnson won their respective party nominations. This marked the first all-woman general election for a Tennessee Senate seat.

2024: Chairperson for Republican National Committee's Party Platform

In 2024, Marsha Blackburn served as chairperson for the Republican National Committee's official party platform.

2024: Re-elected to Senate

In 2024, Marsha Blackburn won reelection to a second Senate term against Gloria Johnson.

2024: Speculation of running mate for Donald Trump

In 2024, there was speculation that Marsha Blackburn could be Donald Trump's running mate in his 2024 presidential campaign, but Trump instead chose JD Vance.