Marsha Blackburn won't challenge Sen. Corker, will seek re-election

The Tennessean

Rep. Marsha Blackburn, right, speaks as Rep. Diane Black looks on during a tour of Fort Campbell in Clarksville, Tenn., on Tuesday, March 7, 2017.

U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn will seek to serve a ninth term in Congress.

"I am running for re-election to the House of Representatives," Blackburn, R-Brentwood, told the USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee on Tuesday. "That is my focus."

In recent months, political insiders had suggested Blackburn might mount a challenge against U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. The seat retained by the Chattanooga Republican is up for re-election in 2018.

Blackburn declined to say whether she had considered running for the seat held by Corker, who has not explicitly said he's running for re-election.

Over the weekend a column in the Johnson City Press quoted the senator saying while he is undecided about seeking a third term in the Senate or doing something completely different, he discounted the notion that he might run for governor.

► More:Sen. Bob Corker not yet ready to say whether he will run for third term

A spokeswoman for Corker reaffirmed his sentiments to the USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee on Monday.

Blackburn, who has increased her national profile in recent years and spoke at last year's Republican National Convention, has served in Congress since 2002.

► More: Marsha Blackburn slams Hillary Clinton, says U.S. needs leadership

While state Sen. Mark Green, R-Clarksville, who recently said he would not be running for governor, lives in Blackburn's district and expressed interest in serving the state from Washington, D.C., it is unclear whether he would challenge her.

The more likely scenario for Green would be to run for the seat held by U.S. Rep. Diane Black, R-Gallatin, in the event that she enters the governor's race. Black hasn't announced her intentions but is expected to launch her campaign this summer.

The Constitution does not require U.S. House candidates to live in the district they are seeking to represent. House members must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least seven years and live in the same state as the district they want to represent.

► More:Poll: Diane Black has most recognizable name in race for Tennessee governor

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Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.