# Rumor: Kane Reportedly Seen as Favorite for Tennessee Senate Seat

Label: RUMOR  
Promotion: WWE  
By WrestlingNews.com Rumors Desk  
Published Nov. 7, 2026, 4:59 AM ET  
Reliability: Single source, not confirmed  
Heat 2/5, chatter  
URL: https://wrestlingnews.com/story/rumor-kane-reportedly-favorite-for-tennessee-senate-seat/

> Unconfirmed: The Washington Sun reported on Nov. 6 that Glenn Jacobs, WWE Hall of Famer Kane, has emerged as the favorite for Sen. Marsha Blackburn's seat. Blackburn has not named anyone.

This is a rumor and it is not confirmed. The Washington Sun reports that Glenn Jacobs, the former Knox County mayor who wrestled as Kane in WWE, has emerged as the favorite to be appointed to the Tennessee Senate seat Marsha Blackburn will leave. Blackburn has not announced who she will pick.

## The quick version

- Not confirmed by Blackburn or Jacobs.
- Reliability: Single source, not confirmed. The Washington Sun is the origin. Ringside News relayed it.
- The Sun cites "multiple people familiar with the jockeying," and names two Republican operatives and a person who has spoken with Jacobs. They said he has an advantage.

## What is being reported

The Washington Sun says Jacobs is the favorite after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was ruled out. It says Jacobs and Rep. Tim Burchett spent months campaigning for Blackburn. A person close to Blackburn told the Sun the field also includes Deputy Gov. Stuart McWhorter and Rep. Chuck Fleischmann. Ringside News, which relayed the report, adds that some Republican insiders think Burchett's history of challenging party leadership could complicate his chances.

## What we know for certain

Blackburn won Tennessee's governor race on Nov. 3 and is to be sworn in on Jan. 16, per the Sun. She plans to keep her Senate seat until then and appoint her own replacement, per the Associated Press. An AP source said Hegseth is not under consideration.

Jacobs said on the Fox News Rundown podcast on Oct. 7: "Yeah, obviously it's a huge honor for me, so I would consider it very seriously." He was Blackburn's campaign treasurer at the time, per WZTV. Burchett told the AP on Nov. 5 that he wants to be considered.

## What would confirm or kill it

An announcement from Blackburn naming her pick. We have not contacted Blackburn's office or Jacobs. We will update this story if either responds or if she names someone.

**How we know.** Reported by: The Washington Sun (Al Weaver, Joe Gould and Kadia Goba), relayed by Ringside News. Background from the Associated Press and WZTV. Reliability: Single source, not confirmed.

## Sources

- The Washington Sun (Al Weaver, Joe Gould and Kadia Goba), "A Former Pro Wrestler Could Be Tennessee's Next Senator", Nov. 6, 2026. https://www.washingtonsun.com/congress/former-pro-wrestler-could-be-tennessee-next-senator (we read the opening of the page, which may be partly behind a subscription)
- Ringside News (Steve Carrier), "WWE Legend Kane Emerges as Frontrunner for U.S. Senate Seat", Nov. 6, 2026. https://ringsidenews.com/wwe-legend-kane-emerges-frontrunner-us-senate-seat
- Associated Press (Joey Cappelletti and Konstantin Toropin), "Hegseth is not under consideration as jockeying begins for Tennessee Senate seat, AP source says", Nov. 5, 2026, as run by The Winchester Star. https://www.winchesterstar.com/associated_press/washington/hegseth-is-not-under-consideration-as-jockeying-begins-for-tennessee-senate-seat-ap-source-says/article_1a182f27-c848-5cd9-9526-89db607c686e.html
- WZTV (Ashley Griffin), "WWE star, former Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs would seriously consider Senate seat", Nov. 6, 2026, as run by ABC News 4. https://abcnews4.com/news/nation-world/wwe-star-former-knox-county-mayor-glenn-jacobs-seriously-consider-tennessee-senate-seat-appointment-blackburn-governor
- WrestlingNews.com staff reporting: read the Sun's report and three other outlets' copies and found no statement from Blackburn. We have not contacted Blackburn or Jacobs.
- Reliability: Single source, not confirmed.

How we credit sources: [Editorial standards](https://wrestlingnews.com/editorial-standards/).