Sen. Marsha Blackburn, the Republican nominee for governor of Tennessee, wants to expedite executions and “bring back the electric chair,” if elected. But while Blackburn’s “tough-on-crime” messaging likely indicates more punitive policies under her potential administration, the governor’s office does not have the sole authority to make the changes she has outlined.
In August, Blackburn told the Banner that she wants to ensure swift executions for those on death row who are done with the appeals process to bring justice to victims’ families.
“When somebody gets the death sentence and then they go through the appeals process, and they have used all of their appeals, the victims’ families want to see that execution carried out so they can get closure,” Blackburn said. “And it is incredibly frustrating to these victims and the victims’ families if they don’t get that closure.”
Asked about her pitch to “bring back” the electric chair, despite concerns about its cruelty compared to lethal injection — which is also flawed and was used in the failed execution of Tony Carruthers in Tennessee earlier this year — Blackburn said she wasn’t sure how, but the state needed to figure out how to avoid botched executions.
“I just think, let’s find a way — and it’ll be up to the legislature — but let’s find a way to carry out these executions, so you do not have these failed executions,” Blackburn said.