Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, is backing Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., as a potential successor to Sen. Marsha Blackburn in the U.S. Senate.

Lee made his position public on social media Saturday after The Calvin Coolidge Project shared polling showing Burchett leading a field of potential candidates for Blackburn’s seat. Lee quoted the post and wrote, “I’d love to see Burchett in the U.S. Senate. Who’s with me?”

The poll cited by Lee showed Burchett receiving 32% support among likely Tennessee Republican voters, followed by former Knoxville Mayor Glenn Jacobs at 10%, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann at 4%, former Tennessee Commissioner of Finance and Administration Stuart McWhorter at 3%, House Speaker Cameron Sexton at 3% and former CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger at 1%. Forty-seven percent were undecided. The poll was conducted by Spry Strategies from Aug. 23-25 among 900 likely Republican voters.

Burchett has expressed interest in the Senate seat if Blackburn becomes governor. He previously said that while his focus remained on representing Tennessee’s 2nd Congressional District, he would welcome the opportunity to serve in the Senate if it arose.

Blackburn, who has served in the Senate since 2019 after more than 16 years in the House, won the Republican primary for governor in August and will face Democrat Jerri Green in the November general election.

If Blackburn becomes governor, Tennessee law provides for the governor to appoint a replacement to the vacant Senate seat, with a subsequent special election. The question of who would receive that appointment has already generated speculation among Tennessee Republicans.

Lee’s backing adds a prominent Senate voice to the discussion surrounding Burchett as Tennessee Republicans look ahead to the potential vacancy.