Democratic State Representative Gloria Johnson Announces Bid for U.S. Senate
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee state Representative Gloria Johnson has announced that she will be running for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Johnson, a Democrat who gained national attention after surviving a Republican-led expulsion effort, is challenging Republican incumbent Senator Marsha Blackburn.
Johnson, 61, made her announcement at a campaign stop in Nashville, where she emphasized the need for representation that prioritizes hardworking Tennessee families over corporations and the wealthy. “Tennessee deserves better,” she declared.
The Democrat’s rise to fame began in April, following a tragic school shooting that claimed the lives of six individuals. In an act of solidarity, Johnson joined fellow Democratic representatives Justin Pearson and Justin Jones as they marched to the front of the state House floor, demanding gun control legislation in response to the tragedy.
This action violated House protocols, enraging Republican lawmakers who called for their expulsion. While Pearson and Jones were ultimately expelled, Johnson narrowly escaped the same fate by a one-vote margin. Republicans denied allegations that race played a role in Johnson’s exemption, citing her perceived less disruptive behavior compared to her counterparts.
In the upcoming Senate election, Johnson will face off against community activist Marquita Bradshaw in the Democratic primary. Bradshaw previously won the Democratic Senate nomination in 2020 but lost in the general election to Republican Bill Hagerty.
Blackburn, the first female senator ever elected in Tennessee, won the Senate seat in 2018 by defeating former Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen. An ardent conservative aligned closely with former President Donald Trump, she is currently endorsing Trump in the 2024 presidential race.
During her campaign launch, Blackburn emphasized her allegiance to Tennessee conservatism. In response to Johnson’s bid, Blackburn’s campaign spokesperson labeled the state representative a “radical socialist” who would be controlled by prominent Democratic figures.
At the campaign announcement, Johnson stood alongside a suffrage monument, highlighting her commitment to women’s rights. She criticized Tennessee Republicans for implementing policies such as the state’s restrictive abortion ban, which she argues diminishes women’s equality and forces victims of rape to carry pregnancies to term.
Blackburn, on the other hand, has publicly supported a 20-week abortion ban but has not clarified her stance on a proposed 15-week federal abortion ban. While she was previously caught on video criticizing a Supreme Court case that protected birth control rights, she later clarified that she does not support restricting access to contraception.
As Johnson begins her Senate campaign, she aims to challenge the entrenched dominance of the Republican Party in Tennessee. With her national recognition and an energized base, the race between Johnson and Blackburn is expected to draw significant attention in the upcoming election cycle.