President Trump on Friday endorsed Nashville businessman Bill Lee (R) in the Tennessee governor’s race after Lee won the Republican nomination Thursday night.
“He ran a great campaign and now will finish off the job in November,” Trump tweeted of Lee. “Bill has my total and enthusiastic Endorsement!”
Lee, an outsider and first-time candidate, defeated former state economic development commissioner Randy Boyd (R) and Rep. Diane Black (R) in the primary. He will face Democrat and former Nashville mayor Karl Dean in November.
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Vice President Pence had endorsed Black in the primary, but Trump had remained out of the governor’s race. Politico reported that he considered weighing in and possibly endorsing Black, but decided against it.
Trump has previously praised Black, who was chairwoman of the House Budget Committee, for helping pass the GOP tax law.
Politico reported that Black had attempted to tie herself to Trump in campaign ads despite not receiving a formal endorsement.