WWE Hall Of Famer Kane Emerges As Favourite To Replace Marsha Blackburn In Tennessee Senate

Kane receives a major political update following Marsha Blackburn's election victory.© NDTV Library

Glenn Jacobs, the WWE Hall of Famer known as Kane, is now reported to be the favorite for the appointment to Tennessee's Senate seat, according to a new report. The former Knox County mayor has reportedly picked up support among Republicans who know how the selection works. His name climbed the list after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth got ruled out of contention. Senator Marsha Blackburn, who won state's gubernatorial election, is expected to leave her Senate seat in January 2027. Nothing is official yet, but Jacobs is being discussed as a serious contender.

Jacobs' Longstanding Political Ties With Blackburn Have Put Him in a Strong Position for the Appointment

Jacobs' role in Blackburn's campaign went past a simple endorsement. He served as her campaign treasurer and traveled across Tennessee to back her gubernatorial bid. He also works with Ward Baker, a political consultant who advises Blackburn.

Two Republican operatives named his relationship with Blackburn and her advisers as an advantage, and one of them talked about how he connects with different groups of voters, saying:

“He can talk to both the kind of ‘establishment' type people but then also the regular voters too. He kind of has that appeal.”

Then there's his popularity outside politics. Kim Perry, president of Tennessee-based Perry Strategies, pointed to it directly. She said, “Here in Shelby County and the Memphis metro area, where we live, we love our wrestling here, so people know him.”

Jacobs had already talked about the Senate before the election. Speaking to Fox News in October, he said, “I would consider it very seriously.” And he confirmed he would take the opportunity if Blackburn offered it to him.

Blackburn's Senate Replacement Has Not Been Announced Despite Kane Emerging as a Reported Favorite

Jacobs isn't the only Republican who wants the seat. Congressman Tim Burchett, who also served as Knox County mayor, has been actively going after the appointment, and he told The Washington Sun, “I'd be honored to be considered. I would love, love that opportunity.”

Deputy Governor Stuart McWhorter and Congressman Chuck Fleischmann are also among the names being discussed.

Blackburn gets to appoint her own replacement once she leaves the Senate to become governor. She hasn't said publicly who she'll pick, though. Asked about it on November 4, she told the Tennessee Lookout, “We'll have conversations about the Senate at a later date. ... Not a conversation for today.”

Whoever gets the job serves until Tennessee's 2028 special Senate election, which is a vote held off the normal schedule to fill a vacant seat. So Jacobs' reported frontrunner status doesn't confirm anything, and the final decision stays with Blackburn.