Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) is running for reelection in 2026, ending speculation about a potential governor bid for the success of term-limited Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. I'll do it.
“I am pleased to announce my candidacy for reelection to the US Senate. Serving the men and women of Tennessee is an honor of my life, and our shared values, freedom, and our great nations and nations We are committed to fighting for the future,” Hagerty said in a press release Tuesday.
During President Trump's first term in office, Hagerty served as the US ambassador in Japan from 2017 to 2019.
Hagerty then ran for the Tennessee Senate seat, held by former GOP Senator Lamar Alexander. Trump supported him and ultimately won the highly competitive Republican primary. The businessman defeated Democrat Marquita Bradshaw in November 2020, winning around 62% of the vote.
“I was standing with President Trump at the time, and now I'm still committed to moving forward with a policy that puts hardworking Americans and Tennessees first,” Hagerty said.
Until recently, Hagerty had been considering running the state's governor spot, but could put him on a conflict course with other senators in the state, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), who is also a volunteer state. did.
His 2020 campaign, Steve Smith's Hagerty's finance chairman; I said The Knoxville News Sentinel said earlier this month, “We had dozens of people who reached out to us. It's reasonable to assume that a decision will be made in the next 100 days.”
A GOP senator confirmed to Hill in mid-January that he was closely watching the governor's run, saying Blackburn was the state's “worst secret.” At the time, she had already called for political operatives. This is another source of knowledge about this issue.
“My lifelong business experience has given me the direct exposure to the crippling excesses of an administrative state. “I secured southern borders, supported small businesses, and strengthened national security. And we fought Tennessee's voice to be heard in Washington.”
Hagerty had considered the role of Trump's second term cabinet, including the State Department, Commerce Department and the Treasury Department.
According to a press release, Tennessee Senators will launch a 2026 reelection campaign, raising almost $9 million. He will cross the states in the coming weeks to host funding and campaign events “showing his unparalleled support across the volunteer state and its three large divisions.” ”
