U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 13, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
Outgoing Senate Majority Leader John Thune is reportedly putting pressure on Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) not to hand off the seat to a MAGA member of the House that the South Dakota Republican does not find palatable.
There has been a scramble over who will fill her seat since she was victorious last week in her bid to become Tennessee’s new governor at age 74.
With rumors floating that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been eyed for the job as he faces impeachment in the House, conservative Tennessee radio host Todd Starnes posted on X that Rep. Tim Burchett, a frequent cable news guest, is in the mix.
According to Starnes, a former Fox News contributor, “Sources tell me that John Thune is actively campaigning to stop Marsha Blackburn from naming Rep. Tim Burchett as her replacement in the U.S. Senate. Thune does not want Burchett anywhere near the Senate chamber. And that's what makes Burchett the perfect choice!”
In an interview with Starnes, Burchett claimed he has a “double-digit” approval number over any of his competitors for the seat and added he received word over the weekend that “Thune does not want me because I would not be, I would do what leadership want me to do type thing, and I said, you know what? You’re exactly right.”
Burchett added, “Thune is a good guy, but I don’t think his leadership is what we need right now.”
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