Marsha Blackburn prefers being called “congressman” rather than “congresswoman” in the House. In her speech after she won she said that now, “senator will do.” | AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite Congress GOP eyes Marsha Blackburn in bid to add woman to Senate Judiciary

Senate Republicans were panned for bringing in a female outside counsel to question Dr. Christine Blasey Ford about sexual assault allegations leveled at Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, since there were no GOP women on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

So now they are zeroing in on a name to change the panel’s gender imbalance: Marsha Blackburn.


The Tennessee Republican was just elected to the Senate and has become a favorite to join the committee, according to two people familiar with internal talks. Still, no final decision has been made, and the Senate is weeks away from determining committee slots.

Senate Republicans are eager to address their gender diversity issues.

Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa was just elected to the leadership team — the first woman to hold a slot since 2010 — and leaders want a female senator on the Judiciary Committee. In previous years, it’s been difficult to convince female senators to join the panel, according to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley.

In a brief interview on Thursday, Blackburn shrugged off questions about the panel.

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“I don’t know where you’re hearing that,” the House Republican said.

Blackburn prefers being called “congressman” rather than “congresswoman” in the House. In her speech after she won, she said that now, “senator will do.”