Tennessee Senate race heats up as Burchett eyes seat, Hegseth out of running

The race to replace Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn is intensifying after her gubernatorial win, with Republican Rep. Tim Burchett expressing interest, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is not currently under consideration for the seat, according to an anonymous source familiar with the matter. Burchett, who won reelection Tuesday, told the Associated Press he wants the Senate seat when Blackburn becomes governor in January. The source said Blackburn is focused on her transition and dismissed Hegseth speculation as baseless, though President Trump said he thinks Hegseth would be popular in the role. Hegseth faces potential impeachment next week amid Republican midterm losses, with Democrats controlling at least 54 Senate seats next year. He moved to Tennessee in 2022 and dismissed impeachment threats as "politics of personal destruction" in a social media video Thursday.