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Damon Hininger, the former CEO of Tennessee-based private prison operator CoreCivic, is interested in being Tennessee’s next U.S. senator when the seat opens up.

Hininger publicly acknowledged for the first time that he wants to replace U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn if she wins her bid for governor this year, according to the Nashville Business Journal.

Since 2024, when he chaired the state Republican annual dinner, Hininger has fueled speculation about an entry into politics, and his name was floated as a 2026 gubernatorial candidate.

He ultimately decided against running for governor and backed Blackburn. Hininger and his wife have both donated the maximum total amount of $21,200 to Blackburn’s gubernatorial campaign account, and he contributed an additional $50,000 to a PAC linked to the campaign. He’s among her top 10 donors, according to the Lookout’s campaign finance database.

Earlier this year, Hininiger created an organization called Believe in Tennessee with the stated goal of promoting him and Republicans in Tennessee. The organization is 501(c)(4), a U.S. Internal Revenue designation given to groups that promote “social welfare.” A 501(c)(4) can raise unlimited sums of money without disclosing donors, and that group can donate to a political action committee.

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The Lookout reached out to Hininger through........

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