WASHINGTON —
Background
Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn is looking to hold onto her seat against veteran Tennessee House of Representatives member and Democratic challenger Gloria Johnson.
She emerged as the Democratic party's nominee after a statewide controversy that dubbed her a member of the "Tennessee Three" — a group of Democratic state lawmakers who faced expulsion votes after demonstrations advocating for gun restrictions erupted in the Tennessee House.
Johnson was the only one of the three who survived her expulsion vote. Her platform has highlighted her career as an East Tennessee special education teacher and focused on both protections for reproductive rights, education funding and affordable health care.
She appeared on WBIR's "Inside Tennessee" to talk about her race, but Blackburn's camp didn't respond to invitations.
Blackburn's campaign highlighted her work in public office, dating back to 1998 when she became a Tennessee State Senator. Her campaign has focused on immigration issues as well as "big tech," after she helped spearhead the federal Kids Online Safety Act.
The legislation creates rules that require social media companies to take steps designed to protect children from online content that could lead to mental health issues.
