Rep. Marsha Blackburn
› Office: United States Senate
› Party: Republican
› Previous public office experience: Elected to the Tennessee Senate in 1998; elected to the U.S. House of Representatives representing the 7th District (Williamson County) in 2002.
› Overall, I believe the country is headed in what direction (right or wrong)? Right direction
› Why I believe the country is headed in that direction: President Trump puts America first and set us on the right path. Look at what he has accomplished in just a year and a half: appointing a conservative Supreme Court justice and nearly 40 other federal judges, repealing a record number of regulations, cutting our taxes, record low unemployment, decreasing illegal immigration, taking on ISIS, and standing up to the Chinese, the North Koreans and the Iranians.
› Why voters should choose me: When it comes to my political philosophy, I am guided by what I call “The Big Five:” faith, family, freedom, hope and opportunity. Tennesseans want their next senator to be a problem-solver with a history of getting things done. That’s how I serve the people I represent, and how I will continue to serve Tennesseans in the Senate.
› How I distinguish myself from my opponents: As your next senator, I will fight to maintain President Trump’s tax cuts, confirm Supreme Court justices and conservative judges who won’t legislate from the bench, cut wasteful spending, keep our promises to those who have defended our freedoms, and secure our borders.
› Biggest challenge facing the office I seek: People ask me all of the time why would I want to go the U.S. Senate. It is broken and dysfunctional. I’m running to remind the Senate that it serves you. It is time for the Senate to fulfill its promises to the people of Tennessee and pass the president’s agenda.
› How I will address that challenge: When our state needed someone to lead the fight against the state income tax, I stepped up. When I was first elected to Congress, I made good on my promise to restore your ability to deduct your state and local sales taxes from your federal income tax filing. When we needed someone to investigate Planned Parenthood and third-party, baby-part sellers, I led that investigation. I have earned a solid record of loyalty, commitment, and showing respect for differing opinions that allows robust, respectful political debate. I’ve been a change agent all my life. That is the type of energy that I am going to take to the U.S. Senate.
› Policy position of mine that may surprise people: A few years back, I led the fight to shutdown backpage.com, a major sex trafficking website with a history of exploiting thousands of children in the United States. I’m pleased the FBI took action against its founder. I’ll continue to work on legislation to block online traffickers and train our first responders.
› Public servant I most admire: The tenacity of Margaret Thatcher, the bipartisanship of John Wilder, the kindness of Winfield Dunn, the humor of Ron Ramsey, the patience of Howard Baker, and the boldness of the suffragists are all admirable qualities that contributed to their selfless public service.
› Campaign office: P.O. Box 3750
Brentwood, TN 37024
› Campaign phone: 615-376-2324
› Campaign email: info@marshablackburn.com
› Campaign website: marshablackburn.com
› Campaign Facebook: facebook.com/
marshablackburn
› Campaign Twitter: @VoteMarsha
› Campaign Instagram: team.marsha
PERSONAL
› Age: 66
› Occupation: Small business owner, sales and marketing
› Education: Bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University
› Family: My husband, Chuck, and I consider our two children and two grandchildren our greatest blessing.
› Residence city: Williamson County
› Church/civic involvement: Service to others is central. I am a founding member of Christ Presbyterian Church, where I taught Sunday school for many years and where my husband is a deacon. I have also volunteered with the Children’s Hospital, American Lung Association of Middle Tennessee, the Arthritis Foundation, and Second Harvest Food Bank, among others.
› Quote or saying I live by: In our house, we were taught to give back more than you take and to leave things in better shape than you found them. Those lessons have stayed with me all my life.
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