Rep. Blackburn named to Trump presidential transition team following shakeup

NASHVILLE – A shakeup in President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team has put a Tennessee congresswoman in the catbird’s seat.

The Trump campaign announced Friday that U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, a conservative Republican who served as an occasional media surrogate for the billionaire and had a coveted national convention speech slot, will serve on Trump’s reshaped Presidential Transition Team Executive Committee.

Other leading tri-state Republicans, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., and U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., also are serving on the panel as vice chairmen.

“Together this outstanding group of advisors [sic], led by Vice President-elect Mike Pence, will build on the initial work done under the leadership of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to help prepare a transformative government ready to lead from day one,” Trump said in a statement.

The “mission of our team will be clear,” Trump stated. “Put together the most highly qualified group of successful leaders who will be able to implement our change agenda in Washington.”