Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn Marsha BlackburnHillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Key Democrat opposes GOP Section 230 subpoena for Facebook, Twitter, Google Senate panel threatens subpoena for Google, Facebook and Twitter executives MORE (Tenn.) and Democratic former Gov. Phil Bredesen easily won their respective party primaries on Thursday to become the nominees vying for Tennessee's open Senate seat.

The two candidates will now battle in November's general election to replace Sen. Bob Corker Robert (Bob) Phillips CorkerHas Congress captured Russia policy? Tennessee primary battle turns nasty for Republicans Cheney clashes with Trump MORE (R), who announced his retirement last year.

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Blackburn, who has served in the House since 2003, won President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE's endorsement during her primary and defeated trucker Aaron Pettigrew. Bredesen meanwhile defeated two challengers, Gary Davis and John Wolfe, who faced an uphill battle against the former governor's name recognition.

Blackburn has a close relationship with the Trump administration after serving on the president's White House transition team last year, a connection which she played to her advantage in the GOP primary.

Trump tweeted in April that Blackburn "is a wonderful woman who has always been there when we have needed her. Great on the Military, Border Security and Crime. Loves and works hard for the people of Tennessee. She has my full endorsement and I will be there to campaign with her!"

Corker, who has been a frequent critic of the president, has stated that he won’t campaign against Bredesen and has offered only a lukewarm endorsement for Blackburn.

A poll of the race in April showed Bredesen with a small lead over Blackburn, despite Republican Corker's wide reelection victory in 2012 with 64 percent of the vote.

Trump won Tennessee easily in 2016 by 26 points.

Democrats are hoping to pick up a net gain of two seats in the Senate during November's midterms in their bid to retake control of the upper chamber.