Marsha Blackburn

With fewer than 10 days before early voting begins in the primary for Tennessee governor, the three Republican candidates have yet to share a debate stage — but there's a new push for them to do so.

“I would love to see a debate. I think that’s what Tennesseans want,” Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, told The Tennessean. “It’s hard to see the differences from the TV ads, and when one gets up to speak … and you don’t have the interaction.”

He is the highest-ranking lawmaker who is not term limited or retiring this year — and will work closely with the next governor. He has not made an endorsement.

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn holds a double-digit but declining lead, according to a poll recently released by one of her rivals, U.S. Rep. John Rose. Blackburn campaign staff did not comment on the poll, conducted by McLaughlin & Associates, but pointed to a questionnaire conducted in 11 of Tennessee’s 95 counties during the same time period that reported favorable approval ratings for Blackburn.

Rose has called for a debate among all GOP candidates, including State Rep. Monty Fritts.

"I think the people of Tennessee deserve to see debates across this state where we talk about the issues," he told WJHL-TV during a recent interview in East Tennessee.

Blackburn this week said Republican candidates have already shared the stage during forums.

“Republicans, we have had lots of forums across the state where all three of us have been onstage, and that’s a good thing because people have been able to see us onstage, and they’ve been able to hear from us,” Blackburn said during a TV interview with Action News 5’s Joe Birch in Memphis on July 7.

“We have been talking to Tennesseans every single day, and we have done plenty of these forums across the state,” she added later during the interview.

Blackburn, Rose and Fritts have attended and spoken at private events including the annual GOP Statesmen’s Dinner in Nashville last month but haven't debated in public.

Blackburn's campaign did not respond when asked for details about the forums she referenced in the interview with Birch.

Multiple candidate forums have been scheduled for the future, but Blackburn has not confirmed whether she will attend any. Other forums traditionally attended by leading governor candidates — including those historically held by Farm Bureau Insurance and the State Collaborative on Reforming Education — have not happened this cycle.

East Tennessee Young Republicans are hosting a gubernatorial candidate forum on July 10. Rose and Fritts have both confirmed they will attend. Blackburn has not said if she'll attend.

NewsChannel5 in Nashville recently announced a gubernatorial debate for July 20. Rose and Fritts have both confirmed they will attend, but not Blackburn.

Sexton has said each of the three candidates has “some legislative experience” and “they all bring something different.”

“It just depends on what the voter is looking for, and that’s why I think a debate would bring all that out in much more clarity,” Sexton said. “I think that would be a fun thing to watch.”

Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at [email protected].