NASHVILLE, TN (WOKI / WVLT) – The transition to Tennessee’s first female governor is now underway following Gov.-elect Marsha Blackburn’s narrow victory in the gubernatorial election.
Outgoing Gov. Bill Lee and Blackburn met Wednesday in Nashville to begin coordinating the transfer of leadership ahead of Blackburn’s inauguration in January.
Lee called Blackburn’s election a historic moment for the state, noting she will become the first woman elected governor in Tennessee history.
“This is what we do in Tennessee,” Lee said of the transition process. “We work together, regardless of political party, to make certain that the government continues to serve her people effectively.”
Blackburn announced that Deputy Gov. Stuart McWhorter will chair her transition committee. McWhorter currently serves as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and will help guide preparations for the incoming administration.
The governor-elect said her team will initially focus on assembling key staff members, preparing the state’s budget and developing a legislative agenda for the upcoming General Assembly session.
Blackburn outlined several priorities she plans to pursue during her first months in office, including workforce development, job retraining, workforce housing, child care availability, public safety, education and health care.
Among her proposals is what she described as a “Tennessee-style DOGE,” a state-level review of government spending, contracts, programs and vacant positions aimed at improving efficiency in state government.
Blackburn also said her administration will explore property tax relief measures for seniors and first-time homebuyers while examining ways to reduce the cost of developing new housing.
Transportation funding, education initiatives and efforts to lower the overall cost of living for Tennesseans are also expected to be key topics as lawmakers return to Nashville next year.
Questions remain about who will fill Blackburn’s U.S. Senate seat once she resigns to become governor. However, Blackburn downplayed speculation during Wednesday’s news conference.
“We’ll have conversations about the Senate at a later date,” Blackburn said. “It’s not a conversation for today.”
For now, Blackburn said her focus remains on building her administration and preparing to take over leadership of state government following Bill Lee’s departure from office.
