Report Claims Hegseth Has Asked GOP Candidate for Governor to Appoint Him to Senate Seat
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has reportedly expressed interest in a U.S. Senate appointment after the November midterm elections.
If current GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee wins her gubernatorial race, she would choose a successor to serve out the remainder of her term, and Hegseth is vying for that position, according to Puck News.
Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson told the U.K. Independent, however, that these reports are “speculations” and are “nothing more than beltway gossip by anonymous sources.”
Wilson added, “Under President Trump’s leadership, Secretary Hegseth’s singular priority is leading the War Department and delivering on the President’s America First agenda.”
Hegseth’s chief spokesman, Sean Parnell, echoed those sentiments, saying, “We are solely focused on peace through strength and ensuring our warfighters have everything they need to be successful. We are proud to serve our warriors.”
The former Fox News host has become a top target for Congressional Democrats who have already begun laying the groundwork to impeach him if they retake the House of Representatives.
The probe would use congressional subpoena power to focus on his involvement in the Iran war, Pentagon contracts, strikes against Latin American drug boats, and his firing of top military officials.
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“Hegseth and crew better buckle up and lawyer up because we are coming at them full on,” Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan of New York said. “It’s incredibly aggressive oversight because this is by far the most corrupt and least transparent Pentagon, I think, we’ve ever had.”
“It’s hearings, it’s briefings, it’s informal meetings, it’s requests for information, it’s everything,” Democratic Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado declared. “We will use all of the tools we can to make sure we’re getting the information we need to hold folks accountable.”
“The priority has got to be investigating things that impact the safety and security of our troops and their families,” he added. “Pete Hegseth, because of his incompetence and his corruption and his lack of attention to the job, continues to put our service members in harm’s way, take away resources for their health and safety… We need to hold them accountable for that.”
Democratic Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, who would become chairman of the House Armed Services Committee if his party prevails in November, said the investigation could be expanded to include other top Pentagon brass.
Democrats would need to reach a simple majority in the House to launch a full-scale investigation and impeach Hegseth, but convicting him with 67 votes in the Senate would be an uphill climb, regardless of next week’s electoral outcome.
NBC News reported in 2025 that Hegseth had discussed running for office in Tennessee.
The outlet noted that Pentagon policy would require him to first resign his post before doing so.
Parnell issued a similar denial to NBC last year, saying, “Fake news NBC is so desperate for attention, they are shopping around a made-up story… again. Only two options exist: either the ‘sources’ are imaginary or these reporters are getting punked.”
“Secretary Hegseth’s focus remains solely on serving under President Trump and advancing the America First mission at the Department of Defense,” he concluded.
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