Pete Hegseth, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be secretary of defense, gestures as he leaves a Senate Committee on Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 14, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) is signaling he won’t step aside if another high-profile Republican gets a coveted Senate appointment — potentially setting up an epic MAGA showdown with Pete Hegseth.
The Tennessee Republican and staunch Trump ally said he intends to campaign for the seat even if Sen. Marsha Blackburn wins the governor’s race and chooses someone else to replace her, the conservative Washington Examiner reported, citing Punchbowl News.
“We’ve got a very good, positive network throughout the state of grassroots people,” Burchett told Punchbowl News.
Blackburn plans to remain in the Senate until she is sworn in as governor and then appoint her successor. She has not publicly named her preferred replacement.
Hegseth is among the names floated for the potential opening, although he has not publicly announced a bid. The Trump Pentagon chief moved to Tennessee in 2022 before his move to Washington, D.C., and faces the prospect of messy impeachment efforts if Democrats capture the House.
But the possible MAGA matchup extends beyond Burchett and Hegseth.
According to the Washington Examiner, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), another close Trump ally, has openly expressed interest in the appointment. Unlike Burchett, he says he would remain in the House if Blackburn selects someone else.
“I will be honored to have that,” Fleischmann told the Tennessee Lookout. “I think I bring a unique skill set to the job. But if not, I’ll stay in the House as a senior appropriator.”
Former professional wrestler Glenn Jacobs and former private-prison executive Damon Hininger have also expressed interest in the seat.
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