History of Marsha Blackburn in Timeline
Marsha Blackburn is an American politician and businesswoman currently serving as a senior United States Senator for Tennessee, elected in 2018. As a member of the Republican Party, she previously served as a Tennessee State Senator from 1999 to 2003. From 2003 to 2019, Blackburn represented Tennessee's 7th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. She has been noted as being among the most conservative members of the House during her tenure.
June 6, 1952: Marsha Blackburn Born
On June 6, 1952, Mary Marsha Blackburn, née Wedgeworth, was born. She is an American politician and businesswoman who serves as the senior United States senator from Tennessee.
1964: Argued Title VII does not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation
In August 2019, Marsha Blackburn co-signed an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court arguing that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not prohibit employment discrimination based upon sexual orientation or gender identity.
1973: Worked as Sales Manager for Times Mirror Company
In 1973, before graduating from college, Marsha Blackburn worked as a sales manager for the Times Mirror Company.
1974: Graduated from Mississippi State University
In 1974, Blackburn graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science in home economics, having attended on a 4-H scholarship. During her time there, she was elected both as secretary and president of the Associated Women Students.
1974: Marriage to Chuck Blackburn
In 1974, Marsha married Chuck Blackburn. They live in Brentwood, and have two children.
1975: Worked at Castner Knott Division
From 1975 to 1978, Marsha Blackburn worked in the Castner Knott Division of Mercantile Stores, Inc.
1978: Became Owner of Marketing Strategies
In 1978, Marsha Blackburn became the owner of Marketing Strategies, a promotion-event management firm.
1989: Chair of Williamson County Republican Party
From 1989 to 1991, Blackburn was chair of the Williamson County Republican Party.
1991: Chair of Williamson County Republican Party
From 1989 to 1991, Blackburn was chair of the Williamson County Republican Party.
1992: Ran for Congress and Delegate to Republican National Convention
In 1992, Blackburn ran for Congress in Tennessee's 6th congressional district, losing to incumbent Bart Gordon, and was a delegate to the 1992 Republican National Convention.
1995: Appointed Executive Director of Tennessee Film, Entertainment, and Music Commission
In 1995, Blackburn was appointed executive director of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment, and Music Commission by Tennessee governor Don Sundquist, holding that post through 1997.
1997: End of Term as Executive Director
In 1995, Blackburn was appointed executive director of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment, and Music Commission by Tennessee governor Don Sundquist, holding that post through 1997.
1999: Member of the Tennessee Senate
From 1999 to 2003, Blackburn was a member of the Tennessee Senate and rose to be minority whip.
2000: Redistricting After Census
After the 2000 census, redistricting moved Blackburn's home from the 6th district to the 7th district, creating a gerrymandered district.
2000: Effort to Prevent State Income Tax
In 2000, Blackburn took part in the effort to prevent the passage of a state income tax bill.
2002: Ran in Republican Primary
In 2002, Blackburn ran in the Republican primary for the congressional seat in the 7th district, winning with the endorsement of the Club for Growth.
2003: Member of the Tennessee Senate
From 1999 to 2003, Blackburn was a member of the Tennessee Senate and rose to be minority whip.
2003: Assistant Whip in Congress
From 2003 to 2005, Blackburn was an assistant whip in Congress.
2003: Served in U.S. House of Representatives
From 2003 to 2019, Blackburn served in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she was rated among the most conservative members.
2004: Voted for Constitutional Amendment to Ban Same-Sex Marriage
In 2004, Marsha Blackburn voted for a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.
2005: Deputy Whip in Congress
From 2003 to 2005, Blackburn was an assistant whip in Congress, and from 2005, she served as a deputy whip.
2006: Voted for Constitutional Amendment to Ban Same-Sex Marriage
In 2006, Marsha Blackburn voted for a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.
November 2007: Unsuccessful Run for Republican Conference Chair
In November 2007, Blackburn unsuccessfully ran for Republican conference chair.
2008: Senior Advisor on Mitt Romney's Campaign
In 2008, Blackburn served as a senior advisor on Mitt Romney's presidential campaign before endorsing Fred Thompson for president.
2009: Sponsored Birth Certificate Legislation
In 2009, Blackburn sponsored legislation requiring presidential candidates to show their birth certificates in response to "birther" conspiracy theories about Barack Obama.
2009: Voted Against Fair Pay Acts
In 2009, Marsha Blackburn voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act.
2010: Vote Against Repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy
In 2010, Marsha Blackburn voted against repealing the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.
October 2013: Criticism of Healthcare.gov Website
In October 2013, during congressional hearings on the ACA, Marsha Blackburn stated that the website healthcare.gov violated HIPAA and health information privacy rights.
2013: Vote on Violence Against Women Act
In 2013, Marsha Blackburn voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act in the House, but voted against the Senate's version of the act, which expanded VAWA to apply to people regardless of sexual orientation. She expressed concerns about diluting funding for women's shelters.
July 2014: Conference Call on DEA Legislation
In July 2014, Joe Rannazzisi claimed he told congressional staffers including Marsha Blackburn's staffers that the bill to revise legal standards for the DEA to suspend opioid shipments would cause more difficulties for the DEA if it pursued corporations that were illegally distributing such drugs.
2014: Rejected Climate Change Consensus
In 2014, during a debate with science communicator Bill Nye, Blackburn rejected the scientific consensus on climate change, claiming there is "no consensus" about its causes.
August 2015: Removal of Joe Rannazzisi from DEA position
In August 2015, Joe Rannazzisi said he was removed from his DEA position.
2015: Led Panel Investigating Planned Parenthood
In 2015, Blackburn led a panel that investigated the Planned Parenthood undercover video controversy, in which anti-abortion activists published a video purporting to show that Planned Parenthood illicitly sold fetal tissue. In 2015, Blackburn claimed that 94% of Planned Parenthood's business revolves around abortion services, which FactCheck.org found to be misleading.
2015: Response to Obergefell v. Hodges Decision
In 2015, regarding the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, Marsha Blackburn stated, "Despite this decision, no one can overrule the truth about what marriage actually is—a sacred institution between a man and a woman."
March 2016: Chaired Select Investigative Panel
In March 2016, Blackburn chaired the Republican-led Select Investigative Panel, a committee convened to "explore the ethical implications of using fetal tissue in biomedical research". Democrats on the panel characterized the probe as a politically motivated witch hunt.
October 2016: FCC Adopts Obama-administration Online Privacy Rule
In October 2016, the FCC adopted an Obama-administration online privacy rule that Marsha Blackburn would later introduce measures to dismantle.
November 2016: Joined Trump's Transition Team
In November 2016, Blackburn joined Trump's presidential transition team as vice chair and nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize.
2016: Continued to Run Marketing Strategies
As of 2016, Blackburn continued to run her business, Marketing Strategies, a promotion-event management firm.
2016: Co-sponsored DEA legislation
In 2016, Marsha Blackburn co-sponsored legislation 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.
March 2017: House Passage of Measure to Dismantle Online Privacy Rule
In March 2017, Marsha Blackburn's measure to dismantle an Obama-administration online privacy rule passed the House in a party-line vote, after a similar measure passed the Senate the same week. The rule required broadband providers to obtain consumers' permission before sharing their online data.
October 2017: Announced Candidacy for Senate
In October 2017, Blackburn announced her candidacy for the Senate seat, emphasizing her conservative stance and criticizing Senate Republicans.
2017: Legislation on DEA Enforcement Criticized
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.
2017: Support for Trump's Travel Ban
In 2017, Marsha Blackburn supported Trump's executive order imposing a temporary travel and immigration ban barring citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S.
2017: Controversial Senate Ad
In 2017, when Blackburn announced that she was running for Senate, she ran a controversial advertisement saying that she "fought Planned Parenthood and we stopped the sale of baby body parts".
2017: Arguments for Repeal of the Affordable Care Act
In 2017, while arguing for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), Marsha Blackburn falsely said that two of its popular provisions (protections for people with preexisting conditions and allowing adult children to be on their parents' health plans until they're 26) "were two Republican provisions which made it into the bill."
June 2018: Op-Ed on Tech Companies
In June 2018, Marsha Blackburn published an op-ed arguing for greater oversight and restrictions on tech companies, sparking a backlash among Google employees.
November 6, 2018: Elected to the U.S. Senate
On November 6, 2018, Marsha Blackburn became the first woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate from Tennessee, defeating Democratic former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen.
November 7, 2018: Response to Thousand Oaks Shooting
On November 7, 2018, following the Thousand Oaks shooting, Marsha Blackburn responded to a question about the shooting in a Fox News interview by emphasizing the importance of protecting the Second Amendment and addressing mental health issues.
2018: Senate Run Announcement
In 2018, in her declaration that she would run for the Senate, Marsha Blackburn said that the failure to repeal the ACA was "a disgrace".
January 3, 2019: Sworn in as U.S. Senator
On January 3, 2019, Blackburn was sworn in as a U.S. senator, becoming the first woman to represent Tennessee in the U.S. Senate.
August 2019: Co-signed Amicus Brief on Title VII
In August 2019, Marsha Blackburn co-signed an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court arguing that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not prohibit employment discrimination based upon sexual orientation or gender identity.
November 2019: #MoscowMarcia Trending on Twitter
In November 2019, the hashtag #MoscowMarcia began trending on Twitter after Marsha Blackburn tweeted allegations against Alexander Vindman, accusing him of being unpatriotic. Her tweet was characterized by The Week as a "conspiratorial smear."
2019: Served in U.S. House of Representatives
From 2003 to 2019, Blackburn served in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she was rated among the most conservative members.
2019: Most Conservative Senator
GovTrack estimated Blackburn to be the most ideologically conservative member of the Senate in the 2019 legislative year.
September 1, 2020: Publication of The Mind of a Conservative Woman
On September 1, 2020, Marsha Blackburn's book, The Mind of a Conservative Woman: Seeking the Best for Family and Country, was published by Worthy Books.
October 26, 2020: Vote to Confirm Amy Coney Barrett
On October 26, 2020, Marsha Blackburn voted to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States. Blackburn wore a mask that read "Grin and Barrett" to the Senate vote.
December 2020: Controversial Tweet About China
In December 2020, Blackburn posted a controversial tweet about China, leading to a heated exchange with a Chinese official and protests from the Tennessee Chinese American Alliance.
2020: Claim of Tech Companies stifling free speech
During a 2020 Commerce Committee hearing in which she claimed that tech companies stifle free speech, Marsha Blackburn asked Google chief Sundar Pichai about the employment status of an employee who had criticized her.
2020: Supported Trump's False Claims of Victory
In 2020, after Biden won the presidential election, Marsha Blackburn supported Trump's false claims of victory and raised funds to support the Trump campaign's effort to overturn the election results in court.
January 2, 2021: Opposed Certification of Election Results
On January 2, 2021, Marsha Blackburn and 10 other Republican senators announced that they would vote to oppose certification of the results of the election on January 6, citing false allegations of widespread election fraud, irregularities, and unconstitutional changes to voting laws and voting restrictions.
January 2021: Became Senior Senator
In January 2021, Blackburn became the senior senator from Tennessee upon the retirement of Senator Lamar Alexander.
March 2021: Visit to Southern Border and Criticism of Biden
In March 2021, Marsha Blackburn visited the southern border of the United States with several other Republican senators; she accused President Biden of encouraging a surge of illegal immigration.
May 2021: Abstention from January 6 Commission Vote
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, Blackburn became the senior U.S. senator from Tennessee.
2021: Criticism of Biden's Universal Pre-K Proposal
In 2021, when President Biden proposed universal pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds and subsidized child care for low- and middle-income families, Marsha Blackburn likened the proposal to the communist policies of the Soviet Union and falsely claimed that the Biden administration proposed to put children in pre-K even if their parents did not want to send them there.
March 2022: Called Griswold v. Connecticut Constitutionally Unsound
In March 2022, Blackburn called Griswold v. Connecticut, which protects the right to contraception, "constitutionally unsound."
March 22, 2022: Questioning of Ketanji Brown Jackson
On March 22, 2022, during the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, Marsha Blackburn asked Jackson to define the word "woman," though Jackson declined because she was "not a biologist."
April 7, 2022: Vote Against Ketanji Brown Jackson's Confirmation
On April 7, 2022, Marsha Blackburn voted against Ketanji Brown Jackson's confirmation to the Supreme Court.
August 2022: Congressional Delegation to Taiwan
In August 2022, Blackburn led a congressional delegation to Taiwan, where she met with President Tsai Ing-wen and voiced support for Taiwan's independence and closer U.S.-Taiwan relations.
2022: Voted Against Ketanji Brown Jackson
Early in her Senate career, Blackburn voted against the confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court in 2022.
2022: Voted Against Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
In 2022, Marsha Blackburn voted against gun control measures, including the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
March 2023: Criticism from Governor Newsom
In March 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized Marsha Blackburn for accepting over $1 million in campaign donations from the National Rifle Association of America and for voting against gun control measures.
October 2023: Voiced Support for Israel
In October 2023, Blackburn voiced support for Israel during the Gaza war, emphasizing the U.S.'s moral obligation to defend Israel.
2023: Dean of Tennessee's Congressional Delegation
In 2023, Marsha Blackburn became the dean of Tennessee's congressional delegation upon the retirement of Congressman Jim Cooper.
2023: Voted Against Fiscal Responsibility Act
In 2023, Marsha Blackburn was among the 31 Senate Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which raised the U.S. debt ceiling.
August 1, 2024: Won Party Nominations
On August 1, 2024, Blackburn and Democratic state representative Gloria Johnson won their respective party nominations for the Tennessee Senate seat. This was the first all-woman general election for a Tennessee Senate seat.
2024: REPORT Act Enacted
In 2024, Blackburn introduced and supported the REPORT Act (Revising Existing Procedures On Reporting via Technology Act), which became federal law and expanded reporting obligations for online service providers about suspected child sexual abuse and other crimes.
2024: Chairperson for Republican National Committee Platform
In 2024, Blackburn served as chairperson for the Republican National Committee's official party platform.
2024: Targeted by Spamouflage
In 2024, Blackburn was targeted by the Chinese government's Spamouflage influence operation.
2024: Re-election to Senate
In 2024, Marsha Blackburn won reelection to a second Senate term against Democratic nominee Gloria Johnson.
2024: Consideration as Running Mate
In 2024, there was speculation that Blackburn could be Donald Trump's running mate in his presidential campaign, but Trump instead chose JD Vance.
August 2025: Announced Candidacy for Governor
In August 2025, Blackburn announced her candidacy for governor of Tennessee in 2026.
2026: Gubernatorial Election Year
In August 2025, Blackburn announced her candidacy for governor of Tennessee in 2026.
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