Gloria Johnson wins Democratic senate primary in Tennessee

State Rep. Gloria Johnson emerged victorious in Tennessee’s closely watched Democratic Senate primary, setting the stage to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn in November’s election. Johnson secured an impressive 74% of the vote, outshining challengers Marquita Bradshaw, Civil Miller-Watkins, and Lola Brown as the Associated Press called the race Thursday night.

The race drew attention from Democrats nationwide, particularly after Johnson made headlines last year when she staged a protest on the floor of the Republican-controlled state House following a tragic shooting at a Tennessee elementary school. During the protest, Johnson was joined by state Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, forming the trio known as the “Tennessee Three.” Although Pearson and Jones were initially expelled for breaching House rules during the protest, they were later reinstated.

Bradshaw, an environmental activist who secured the party’s nomination in 2020 but was defeated by incumbent Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty, was considered Johnson’s main competitor in the primary.

Looking ahead, Johnson faces an uphill battle in the heavily Republican-leaning state of Tennessee. Blackburn secured her seat in 2018 with an 11-point victory, while Hagerty defeated Bradshaw by a significant 30-point margin in 2020. Furthermore, incumbent Republican Gov. Bill Lee won his reelection bid by over 30 points, and former President Donald Trump carried the state in both 2016 and 2020 by double-digit margins.

Blackburn is the clear frontrunner in the upcoming primary against former Tennessee legislative staffer Tres Wittum, her sole challenger from within the Republican party. With close to $9 million in cash on hand, Blackburn also holds a substantial fundraising advantage over all senate hopefuls in the state. In contrast, Johnson has raised about $5 million and retains over $2 million in funds.

Despite the challenges ahead, Johnson remains optimistic about her chances against Blackburn, believing that a focus on key issues such as abortion, gun control, and environmental policies could pave the way to victory for Democrats.