Tennessee Rep. Burchett suggests Senate leader Thune trying to block him from filling Blackburn seat

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., is reportedly eyeing Sen. Marsha Blackburn's, R-Tenn., seat in the upper chamber and is excited that Senate Majority Leader John Thune reportedly opposes him for the post.

Blackburn will appoint her replacement when she assumes the governorship of her home state. Speculation has abounded that she could appoint Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, but Burchett has emerged as a potential contender.

"I think I've got a good shot at it, I think it's totally up to her," Burchett said on Fox News.

In a separate interview with radio host Todd Starnes, Burchett said he had been told that Thune was working to keep him from receiving the appointment. 

"I had an off-the-record conversation with a fairly prominent member of the media that said Thune had sent the word out that he does not want me because I would not be - I would not do - what leadership told me to do type thing," Burchett said. "And I said, you know what, you're exactly right."

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.