CLARKSVILLE, Tennessee–State Senator Mark Green (R-Clarksville) endorsed Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-06) for governor at his Red, White, and Blues Barbecue event held at the Old Glory Distilling Company in Clarksville on Saturday night.
Green told the enthusiastic crowd of 300 supporters in attendance that, while he is friends with all four of the candidates for governor in the Republican primary election for governor that will be held in just over four weeks on August 2, he believes that Black is the best person for the job.
“Diane Black is a conservative fighter. She has a very conservative record,” Green began.
“She helped President Trump write the tax cuts, just six months ago. She helped get that done,” he added.
“We’ve got a great field of candidates for governor, and I consider every single one of them a friend,” the former Army doctor noted.
“But the issues that are pressing our state and our nation, we need a conservative fighter, and clearly the best candidate for that job is Diane Black,” Green continued.
“Cami and I have decided that we will be supporting and casting our vote for Diane Black for Governor,” Green concluded.
Black took the stage briefly after receiving Green’s endorsement.
“Mark’s entire life has been about serving others, from his constituency to our country. He has fought to protect our values, honor our veterans and secure our borders. I am honored to call him a friend, and I am proud to have his support,” she responded.
You can watch Green’s endorsement of Black here:
Green is running for the Republican nomination to succeed Rep. Marsha Black (R-TN-07) to represent the 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He has no substantive opponents in the August 2 primary, and is heavily favored to win the November general election.
Blackburn is the presumptive Republican nominee in the U.S. Senate race to succeed Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN). She will face presumptive Democratic nominee Phil Bredesen in the November election.
In addition to Rep. Black, Knoxville businessman Randy Boyd, Williamson County businessman Bill Lee, and Tennessee Speaker of the House of Representatives Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) are seeking the Republican nomination for governor. The winner of the August 2 primary will face the winner of the Democratic primary held on the same day. In that primary, former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean is heavily favored to defeat State Rep. Craig Fitzhugh (D-Ripley).
A Tennessee Star Poll released on Friday of likely Republican primary voters shows Boyd leading Black by 5 points, 32 percent to 27 percent. Bill Lee is a close third, with 20 percent, and Speaker Harwell is a distant fourth, with 7 percent. Thirteen percent are undecided with just a little more than four weeks until the primary election.
