Two candidates for the Republican nomination for governor in Tennessee are approaching fundraising quite differently, even with a year until the primary.
Rep. John Rose, hailing from Cookville, has personally loaned his campaign $5 million and raised an additional $1.1 million through his state account. Notably, most contributions have come from fellow Tennesseans.
On the other hand, Senator Marsha Blackburn from Franklin has not yet submitted her financial records to the state election office, despite officially entering the race in early August. She does have considerable name recognition in the Tennessee Legislature and has been a prominent figure in the US House and Senate for nearly three decades.
Rose often discusses his family farm and has a background as a former Tennessee agricultural commissioner. He kicked off his campaign at the Tennessee Fairgrounds in Wilson County back in March, touching on issues that resonate with farmers.
“Campaign finance laws have always been complex, but never this intricate. It seems to reward innovative approaches,” noted Kent Syler from Tennessee State University.
Blackburn is leveraging support from two federal political action committees to solidify her standing, aligning with US and Tennessee victory funds that share consultants and resources. However, the funds raised for her Senate campaign, which total $4.4 million, cannot aid her state campaign due to campaign finance regulations.
It looks like Blackburn is aiming to maximize her federal account while navigating the legal landscape.
“Campaign finance laws have always been complicated, but now they seem almost labyrinthine,” Syler added. “This system tends to reward creativity given the complexity involved.”
Support from Gov. Bill Lee isn’t something to count on for either candidate.
Lee has ties to Blackburn, being a Williamson County native, and introduced her at his victory speech for the Senate in 2024. However, Rose is associating with Lee’s former campaign strategist, Chris Devanney, attempting to establish a connection with the governor as well. Consequently, Lee has refrained from endorsing any candidate in the primary.
Lee has reiterated his view that a capable candidate is essential for Tennessee’s future, expressing hopes that the next governor will successfully progress the state.
How they are allocating their funds
In the first half of 2025, Blackburn’s PAC dedicated to American households raised $369,031 and spent $553,868, maintaining a balance of $156,344 with an initial $341,000 at the year’s start.
She hired political consultant Ward Baker for $70,000, alongside other expenses for strategic firms.
The PAC also contributed $105,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, helping out several local campaigns, including $10,000 each to Senator Botson and Senator Brent Taylor, with additional funds to others and even some for game tickets.
During the same six months, her Tennessee Victory Fund PAC gathered $3.8 million, spending $3.6 million, ending with $371,547 left. Significant amounts went to consultative services and campaign operations.
Blackburn’s US Senate campaign also paid substantial funds to consultants during this period.
In contrast, Rose’s PAC, which focuses on providing solutions for the Republican agenda, saw much lower activity, only raising $10,000 compared to Blackburn’s efforts. His PAC made contributions across the country, including to other Republican candidates.
In his own campaign finance efforts, Rose’s Tennessee Campaign received $2,000 from Republican MP Sabi Kumar. Many of Rose’s supporters tend to be business owners or have agricultural ties.
He has spent approximately $237,650 thus far from his state account, with significant expenditures directed toward research initiatives.
