Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.) announced Thursday she is running for the U.S. Senate in 2018 to replace Sen. Bob Corker (R., Tenn.), who announced Tuesday he will not seek a third term.
Blackburn targeted, in addition to the left, Senate Republicans in her announcement video, saying they need to start acting like a majority and fulfill their promises. By touting her strong conservative record and values, Blackburn presented herself as the answer to the dysfunctional Senate.
"The United States Senate: It’s totally dysfunctional and it’s enough to drive you nuts," Blackburn said. "And that’s why I’ve decided to do something about it."
She also threw her support behind repealing Obamacare and castigated Republicans for failing to do so.
"It’s a disgrace," she said. "Too many Senate Republicans act like Democrats—or worse."
Blackburn highlighted how she "fought" her fellow Republicans to stop Tennessee from enacting a state income tax. She also referred to her work on the House Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives, saying "we stopped the sale of baby body parts" by Planned Parenthood. The video further shows her strong support for gun rights, showing her firing the pistol she owns at a shooting range.
"One man with courage makes a majority," Blackburn said, quoting former president Andrew Jackson. She did not name Jackson, instead referring to him as "a great Tennessean who wasn’t so politically correct himself."
"Courage comes in both genders and I'm running for the U.S. Senate because I'll fight every day to make our Republican majority act like one," she added.
She made a point to support President Donald Trump’s border wall, saying she will "fight with him every step of the way." Blackburn also embraced being "politically incorrect" and targeted the left for its ideological opposition to her.
"I know the left calls me a wing nut or a knuckle-dragging conservative," she said. "And you know what, I say that’s all right. Bring it on."
If Blackburn were to win the 2018 race, she would be the first female U.S. Senator to represent the state of Tennessee.