Marsha Blackburn

Marsha Blackburn is a sitting U.S. Senator from Tennessee, co-chair of the Republican National Committee’s 2024 party platform, vice chair of Donald Trump’s presidential transition, and an unyielding defender and enabler of Donald Trump’s most extreme and dangerous policies. Blackburn’s political career has been defined by far-right conspiracy theories, anti-democratic, racist, xenophobic, homophobic, and anti-women stances. An ultra-conservative and election denier, Blackburn remains one of the former president’s closest, most loyal allies and her Senate agenda remains inextricably linked to the political agenda of Donald Trump. According to Punchbowl top-ranking Republicans have mentioned Blackburn as Commerce secretary.

Blackburn is one of the most ideologically conservative members of Congress. She has served as a U.S. Senator since 2019, and before that a U.S. Representative for 16 years. In 2016, Blackburn served as vice chair of Donald Trump’s presidential transition, and over the subsequent four years, was an ardent supporter of the Trump administration’s agenda. Notably, Blackburn was one of the most vocal opponents of Trump’s first impeachment, spreading conspiracy theories about ret. U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman who testified in the impeachment proceedings.

Blackburn was also a key supporter of Trump’s false claims of election fraud and raised funds to overturn election results in state courts. Though Blackburn did not vote to object to the certification of any state election results, this was not her original intent. Her initial plan, alongside ten other Republican senators, was to oppose certification and take “a united stand against the tainted electoral results from the recent Presidential election.” Following the certification, Blackburn was a staunch opponent of Trump’s second impeachment trial on his role in inciting the January 6 insurrection, calling the impeachment proceedings “an unconstitutional show trial to humiliate the former President and his supporters.”

Blackburn’s claims of election fraud and her January 6 denialism are just two examples of her deep disregard for democratic institutions and protections.

Blackburn holds a long, consistent track-record of spearheading and supporting ultra-conservative policy including anti-abortion policy and actions, and since 2016, enabling Trump’s agenda. An illustrative set of her far-right policy positions and actions include the following:

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Healthcare

— Sought to ban abortion after 20 weeks nationwide and to overturn Roe v. Wade

— Voted against the Affordable Care Act and sought to overturn it multiple times, against vaccine mandates,

— Voted to ban federal funding or health coverage that includes abortion

— Voted against protecting the right to IVF, to birth control, and to access to reproductive healthcare.

— Voted to defund Planned Parenthood and prevent Title X family planning funds from going to any entities that provide abortions

Equality and Equal Rights

— Voted against removing the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment

— Voted YES to ban gay marriage

— Voted YES to Constitutionally define marriage as one man and one woman

— Voted YES to protect anti-same-sex marriage opinions as free speech

— Voted against prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation

— Filed an amicus brief before the Supreme Court defending a taxpayer-funded agency’s right to discriminate against same-sex couples seeking to foster a child.

— Voted against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act

— Voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act,

Environment, Education, Immigration

— Rejects the scientific consensus on climate change and has consistently voted to remove environmental protections, defund environmental agencies and programs, and benefit the fossil fuel industry.

— Likened universal pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds to communist policies of the Soviet Union.

— Supports extreme immigration policies including the 2017 travel ban barring citizens from Muslim-majority countries and building a barrier between the U.S. and Mexico.

As co-chair and key architect of the Republican National Committee’s 2024 party platform, Blackburn set the vision for conservative ideology and policy for the next administration and beyond. The platform she authored is centered on Donald Trump and closely mirrors Project 2025, in multiple sections nearly word for word and with direct input from Project 2025’s authors. Illustrative proposals and promises include:

— Abolish the Department of Education and “cut federal funding for any school pushing critical race theory, radical gender ideology, and other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content on our children.”

— “Seal the border and stop migrant invasion”

— “Same day voting, voter identification, paper ballots, and proof of citizenship” [requirements for elections]

— “Carry out the largest deportation operation in American history”

— “End the weaponization of government against the American people”

— “Cancel the electric vehicle mandate and cut costly and burdensome regulations”

— “Keep men out of women’s sports”

Blackburn is currently running for Senate reelection and is on the ballot in the Tennessee general election in November 2024.

Individuals included in the “Supply Chain” risk scenario would have decision-making purview over a regulatory space that greatly influences supply chains in key industries (e.g. agriculture, healthcare, technology, consumer goods), or whose influence on domestic or foreign policy could greatly disrupt aspects of supply chains, including shipping and logistics, trade agreements, and labor availability.