Influential conservatives in Washington are coalescing behind Rep. Marsha Blackburn, as Republicans jockey to succeed Sen. Bob Corker in deep red Tennessee.
The Club for Growth spoke favorably of a possible Blackburn Senate candidacy on Friday. David Bossie, the close confidant of President Trump who runs Citizens United, indicated the same day that he would like to see Blackburn become the consensus conservative candidate in the August 2018 Republican primary.
"We are very encouraged that Congresswoman Blackburn is inching toward getting into the race," Bossie told the Washington Examiner. "Others are going to have to take a very close look at the race with her in it. I would think there will not be much oxygen for others to get in."
Indirectly, additional momentum for Blackburn could come from brothers Charles and David Koch, wealthy industrialists who control a network of conservative advocacy groups.
The Kochs have no plans to endorse the congresswoman and usually stay out of Republican primaries. But they oppose one of her potential rivals for the Senate nomination, Republican former Rep. Stephen Fincher, and are prepared to deploy their political muscle to defeat him.
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01.20.2025