Brentwood, TN – Smith County Commissioner Connor McDonald officially endorsed Marsha Blackburn for Governor today, praising her many accomplishments from the state to national level. He joins fellow Smith County Commissioners Junior Fields and Javin Cripps in endorsing Marsha Blackburn for Governor.
As a proud resident and county commissioner in Smith County, I have had the privilege of knowing both Marsha Blackburn and John Rose for many years. I am an eighth‑generation resident of Smith County, living on a farm that has been in my family since the Revolutionary War. My early involvement in local affairs introduced me to the kind of dedication, accessibility, and principled leadership our rural counties depend on. One of my first experiences in Tennessee politics came when, as a student at MTSU, I helped on one of Marsha Blackburn’s early congressional campaigns, where I saw firsthand her commitment to our communities.
Marsha Blackburn has long understood that rural Tennessee is the backbone of our state. Her record of public service shows that she stands up for Tennessee farmers, who face mounting pressures from burdensome regulations and foreign competitors. Senator Blackburn has championed legislation to remove outdated regulatory hurdles that drive up compliance costs for rural communities and businesses. She’s led the fight for legislation at the federal level to require that costly regulations have approval from Congress, and now she’s championing state level legislation to do the same, which is supported by organizations like Farm Bureau, Americans for Prosperity, and the Tennessee Chamber. She has also supported efforts to protect American agricultural land from potentially harmful foreign purchases. Our agricultural businesses in Smith County are pillars of not only our economy, but our way of life, and she has consistently treated them that way.
Senator Blackburn also recognizes that rural health care is vital. Her Rural Health Agenda—developed as co-chair of the Senate Rural Health Caucus—helps remote hospitals expand services, brings more health professionals to underserved areas, and secure fair payment for rural care providers. She worked to secure $207 million to strengthen rural healthcare in Tennessee as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation. We have all seen firsthand that communities like ours can struggle to keep local clinics running. Her work means families can access care closer to home instead of having to drive elsewhere for basic services.
Infrastructure investment is another area where Senator Blackburn’s leadership stands out. She has pushed to expand broadband access, enhance energy infrastructure, improve roads and bridges, and support clean water projects in communities across Tennessee. Thanks in part to sustained work on broadband policy and funding at both the state and federal level, and thanks to the efforts of local utilities and cooperatives, Smith County has been able to complete a major project to bring high‑speed fiber internet to essentially every home and business in the county. While debates in Washington often grab the headlines, what matters most in counties like ours is who is willing to advocate and stay engaged until the funding and approvals come through. On that front, Senator Blackburn has consistently advocated for local needs, even when larger pieces of legislation did not go the way she hoped.
A steadfast opponent of higher taxes, Marsha Blackburn was one of the leading voices in the grassroots movement to defeat Tennessee’s proposed state income tax—a legacy that continues to benefit families, businesses, and communities in every corner of the state. Her commitment to fiscal responsibility, parental rights, and defending the values Tennesseans hold dear has remained consistent throughout her time in public service. That commitment continues as she’s already been vocal in her support for a constitutional amendment to ban a statewide property tax.
Having had the unique opportunity to work with and watch both candidates in action over the years, I have seen Senator Blackburn’s steady work ethic, her willingness to listen, and her resolve to put Tennessee first. She brings a broad perspective, blending experience at every level of government, and consistently returning to Tennessee’s small towns to meet with farmers, veterans, teachers, and parents.
For these reasons, I am proud to offer my full endorsement of Marsha Blackburn for Governor. She is a proven leader and stalwart conservative, deeply attuned to the challenges and hopes of Smith County and rural Tennessee. With her at the helm, I am confident that our rural communities’ voices will be heard, our priorities will be taken seriously, and our way of life will be protected for the next generation.
Connor McDonald is a Nashville-based estate and tax attorney and community leader who serves as a County Commissioner in Smith County.
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