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What do polls say about Marsha Blackburn vs. Gloria Johnson in Tennessee?

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What do polls say about Marsha Blackburn vs. Gloria Johnson in Tennessee?

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Knoxville state Rep. Gloria Johnson knew it would be difficult for her to face Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn in deep-red Tennessee. For example, in 2020, 61% voted for Donald Trump versus 37% for Joe Biden.

Blackburn is top in recent polls and their popularity has increased since the spring.

An October poll by the nonprofit think tank Beacon Center of Tennessee puts Blackburn ahead of Johnson by 23 points (54%-31%). Independent candidate Pamela Moses received 5% support.

Their lead increased from a 20-point lead reported by ActiVote in September, a 16-point lead in the Beacon poll in April and an 11-point lead in the Vanderbilt University spring poll.

The Beacon Center surveyed 1,200 likely voters in Tennessee from September 27 to October 8.

Who are the Tennessee Senate candidates?

Blackburn is the first woman to represent Tennessee in the U.S. Senate. She was elected in 2018 after defeating Nashville Democrat Phil Bredesen, a former governor, with 55% of the vote. She previously served in the US House of Representatives for 16 years.

Johnson, a former educator, was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2012. She lost in 2014 and 2016 and won again in 2018 and 2020. When the Republican-led Tennessee Senate merged Knoxville's two Democratic-leaning House districts, they cut off Johnson leaving District 13. Johnson moved and won the newly created District 90 in 2022.

She is the first East Tennessean to run for statewide office since Randy Boyd ran for governor in 2018.

Voters comment on Blackburn and Johnson's political views

The Beacon poll asked voters how they would describe Blackburn and Johnson's political views, regardless of who they plan to vote for.

Blackburn:

  • 27% said Blackburn was too conservative
  • 19% said Blackburn was not conservative enough
  • 32% said Blackburn wasn't too far away in either direction
  • 22% said they weren't sure

Johnson:

  • 31% said Johnson was too progressive
  • 8% said Johnson was not progressive enough
  • 28% said Johnson wasn't too far off either way
  • 33% said they weren't sure

Voters agree with Blackburn

The poll asked voters whether or not they approved of the way Blackburn was doing its job.

  • 53% completely or somewhat agree
  • 35% strongly or rather reject this
  • 12% have no opinion

Allie Feinberg covers politics for Knox News. Email her at: [email protected] and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg

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