2012 Tennessee Senate election

For related races, see 2012 United States state legislative elections.

Not to be confused with 2012 United States Senate election in Tennessee.

2012 Tennessee Senate election

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| <- 2010 | November 6, 2012 | 2014 ->

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16 of the 33 seats in the Tennessee State Senate
17 seats needed for a majority
|  | Majority party  | Minority party

|
|

|  |
Leader  | Ron Ramsey | Jim Kyle
Party  | Republican | Democratic
Leader's seat  | 4th district | 28th district
Seats before  | 20 | 13
Seats won  | 26 | 7
Seat change  |  6  |  6
Popular vote  | 704,393 | 302,714
Percentage  | 69.94% | 30.06%

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Results by gains and holds

Results by winning party vote share

Results:
Republican gain
Republican hold Democratic hold
No Election
Vote Share:
50–60% 60–70% 70–80% >90%
>90%

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| Speaker before election

Ron Ramsey
Republican

| Elected Speaker

Ron Ramsey
Republican

|

The 2012 Tennessee State Senate election was held on November 6, 2012, to elect 16 of the 33 seats for the Tennessee's State Senate. The elections coincided with the Presidential, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and State House elections. The primary elections were held on August 2, 2012.[1]

Republicans gained 6 seats, getting a supermajority in the Senate chamber.[2][3]

## Retirements

[edit]

Five incumbents (4 Democrats and 1 Republican) did not run for re-election in 2012. Those incumbents are:

### Democrats

[edit]

1. District 10: Andy Berke retired to run for mayor of Chattanooga in 2013.
2. District 16: Eric Stewart retired to run for Tennessee's 4th congressional district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
3. District 20: Joe M. Haynes retired.
4. District 24: Roy Herron retired.

### Republicans

[edit]

1. District 18: Kerry Roberts retired.

## Incumbents defeated

[edit]

### In the primary election

[edit]

#### Democrats

[edit]

1. District 30: Beverly Marrero lost renomination to Jim Kyle.

### In the general election

[edit]

#### Democrats

[edit]

1. District 22: Tim Barnes lost to Mark Green

## Results summary

[edit]

Party  | Candidates  | Votes  | Seats

|
|
|

No. | %  | Before  | Up  | Won  | After  | +/–
| Republican | 15  | 704,393  | 69.94%  | 20  | 9  | 15  | 26  |  6
| Democratic | 10  | 302,714  | 30.06%  | 13  | 7  | 1  | 7  |  6
Total | 1,007,107  | 100.00%  | 33  | 16  | 16  | 33  |
Source: [1]

| Popular vote

|  |
Republican |

| 69.94%
Democratic |

| 30.06%

| Senate seats

|  |
Republican |

| 78.79%
Democratic |

| 21.21%

### Closest races

[edit]

Three races were decided by a margin of under 10%:

District  | Winner  | Margin

|
|

District 22 | Republican (gain)  | 6.16%
District 20 | Republican (gain)  | 8.16%
District 10 | Republican (gain)  | 8.64%

## Predictions

[edit]

Source  | Ranking  | As of

|
|

Governing[4] | Safe R  | October 24, 2012

## Detailed results by State Senate District

[edit]

District 2 • District 4 • District 6 • District 8 • District 10 • District 12 • District 14 • District 16 • District 18 • District 20 • District 22 • District 24 • District 26 • District 28 • District 30 • District 32

### District 2

[edit]

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 2[5] Primary election

Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %
| Republican | Doug Overbey (incumbent)  | 11,334  | 61.0
| Republican | Scott Hughes  | 7,260  | 39.0
Total votes | 18,594  | 100
General election
| Republican | Doug Overbey (incumbent)  | 60,517  | 100
Total votes | 60,517  | 100
| Republican hold

### District 4

[edit]

#### Republican primary

[edit]

Republican primary results  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Ron Ramsey (incumbent)  | 12,183  | 100.00%
Total votes | 12,183  | 100.00%

#### General election

[edit]

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 4[6] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Ron Ramsey (incumbent)  | 55,913  | 100.00%
Total votes | 55,913  | 100.00%
| Republican hold

### District 6

[edit]

#### Republican primary

[edit]

Republican primary results  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Becky Duncan Massey (incumbent)  | 7,260  | 100.00%
Total votes | 7,260  | 100.00%

#### Democratic primary

[edit]

Democratic primary results  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Evelyn Gill  | 1,479  | 100.00%
Total votes | 1,479  | 100.00%

#### General election

[edit]

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 6[7] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Becky Duncan Massey (incumbent)  | 49,744  | 68.7
| Democratic | Evelyn Gill  | 22,691  | 31.3
Total votes | 72,435  | 100
| Republican hold

### District 8

[edit]

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 8[8] Primary election

Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %
| Republican | Frank Niceley | 7,021  | 44.6
| Republican | Cynthia Bundren Jackson  | 5,432  | 34.5
| Republican | Jeffrey Brantley  | 1,817  | 11.5
| Republican | Hobart Rice  | 1,483  | 9.4
Total votes | 15,753  | 100
General election
| Republican | Frank Niceley | 43,687  | 100
Total votes | 43,687  | 100
| Republican hold

### District 10

[edit]

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 10[9] Primary election

Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %
| Democratic | Andrae McGary  | 4,302  | 61.6
| Democratic | David Testerman  | 1,705  | 24.4
| Democratic | Quenston Coleman  | 979  | 14.0
Total votes | 6,986  | 100
| Republican | Todd Gardenhire | 8,022  | 50.1
| Republican | Greg Vital  | 7,982  | 49.9
Total votes | 16,004  | 100
General election
| Republican | Todd Gardenhire | 36,557  | 54.32%
| Democratic | Andrae McGary  | 30,745  | 45.68%
Total votes | 67,302  | 100.00%
| Republican gain from Democratic

### District 12

[edit]

#### Republican primary

[edit]

Republican primary results  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Ken Yager (incumbent)  | 18,037  | 100.00%
Total votes | 18,037  | 100.00%

#### General election

[edit]

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 12[10] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Ken Yager (incumbent)  | 51,076  | 100.00%
Total votes | 51,076  | 100.00%
| Republican hold

### District 14

[edit]

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 14[11] Primary election

Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %
| Republican | Jim Tracy (incumbent)  | 11,174  | 86.7
| Republican | Matt Randolph  | 1,707  | 13.3
Total votes | 12,881  | 100
General election
| Republican | Jim Tracy (incumbent)  | 50,235  | 100
Total votes | 50,235  | 100
| Republican hold

### District 16

[edit]

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 16[12] Primary election

Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %
| Democratic | Jim Lewis  | 2,937  | 27.60
| Democratic | Steve Roller  | 2,902  | 27.27
| Democratic | Justin Walling  | 2,878  | 27.04
| Democratic | Kevin Lawrence  | 1,256  | 11.80
| Democratic | Jeff Bottoms  | 670  | 6.30
Total votes | 10,643  | 100.00
| Republican | Janice Bowling | 8,162  | 60.1
| Republican | Ron Stolzfus  | 2,280  | 16.8
| Republican | Eric Chance  | 2,277  | 16.8
| Republican | Rod McClellan  | 866  | 6.4
Total votes | 13,585  | 100
General election
| Republican | Janice Bowling | 40,139  | 62.9
| Democratic | Jim Lewis  | 23,636  | 37.1
Total votes | 63,775  | 100
| Republican gain from Democratic

### District 18

[edit]

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 18[13] Primary election

Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %
| Republican | Ferrell Haile | 8,627  | 48.2
| Republican | Jeff Coker  | 7,527  | 42.1
| Republican | J. H. Tony Allers  | 1,370  | 7.7
| Republican | Brock Ewell  | 367  | 2.1
Total votes | 17,891  | 100
General election
| Republican | Ferrell Haile | 49,472  | 69.2
| Democratic | Maria Brewer  | 21,970  | 30.8
Total votes | 71,442  | 100
| Republican hold

### District 20

[edit]

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 20[14] Primary election

Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %
| Democratic | Phillip North  | 5,148  | 74.3
| Democratic | James Baxter  | 1,784  | 25.7
Total votes | 6,932  | 100
| Republican | Steven Dickerson | 5,378  | 48.5
| Republican | David Hall  | 3,325  | 30.0
| Republican | Rob Mortenson  | 2,379  | 21.5
Total votes | 11,082  | 100
General election
| Republican | Steven Dickerson | 46,254  | 54.08%
| Democratic | Phillip North  | 39,280  | 45.92%
Total votes | 85,534  | 100.00%
| Republican gain from Democratic

### District 22

[edit]

#### Democratic primary

[edit]

Democratic primary results  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Tim Barnes (incumbent)  | 3,869  | 100.00%
Total votes | 3,869  | 100.00%

#### Republican primary

[edit]

Republican primary results  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Mark Green | 4,849  | 100.00%
Total votes | 4,849  | 100.00%

### General election

[edit]

Results by county

County  | Green  | %  | Barnes  | %  | Total

|
|
|
|
|

Houston | 1,317  | 45.23%  | 1,595 | 54.77% | 2,912
Montgomery | 28,197 | 53.66% | 24,348  | 46.34%  | 52,545
Stewart | 2,449 | 51.42% | 2,314  | 48.58%  | 4,763
County results
Green: 50–60%
Barnes: 50–60% 2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 22[15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Mark Green | 31,963  | 53.08%
| Democratic | Tim Barnes (incumbent)  | 28,257  | 46.92%
Total votes | 60,220  | 100.00%
| Republican gain from Democratic

### District 24

[edit]

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 24[16] Primary election

Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %
| Republican | John Stevens | 5,419  | 60.9
| Republican | Danny Jowers  | 3,476  | 39.1
Total votes | 8,895  | 100
General election
| Republican | John Stevens | 38,667  | 56.5
| Democratic | Brad Thompson  | 29,807  | 43.5
Total votes | 68,474  | 100
| Republican gain from Democratic

### District 26

[edit]

#### Republican primary

[edit]

Republican primary results  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Dolores Gresham (incumbent)  | 12,179  | 100.00%
Total votes | 12,179  | 100.00%

#### Democratic primary

[edit]

Democratic primary results  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Meryl Rice  | 5,073  | 100.00%
Total votes | 5,073  | 100.00%

#### General election

[edit]

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 26[17] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Dolores Gresham (incumbent)  | 42,990  | 60.4
| Democratic | Meryl Rice  | 28,131  | 39.6
Total votes | 71,121  | 100
| Republican hold

### District 28

[edit]

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 28[18] Primary election

Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %
| Republican | Joey Hensley | 12,589  | 76.6
| Republican | Dean Dickey  | 3,847  | 23.4
Total votes | 16,436  | 100
General election
| Republican | Joey Hensley | 37,361  | 55.2
| Democratic | Tyler Cobb  | 30,375  | 44.8
Total votes | 67,736  | 100
| Republican gain from new constituency

### District 30

[edit]

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 30[19] Primary election

Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %
| Democratic | Jim Kyle (incumbent)  | 7,368  | 55.4
| Democratic | Beverly Marrero (incumbent)  | 5,931  | 44.6
Total votes | 13,299  | 100
General election
| Democratic | Jim Kyle (incumbent)  | 47,822  | 100
Total votes | 47,822  | 100
| Democratic hold

### District 32

[edit]

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 32[20] Primary election

Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %
| Republican | Mark Norris (incumbent)  | 26,592  | 88.9
| Republican | Woody Degan  | 3,319  | 11.1
Total votes | 29,911  | 100
General election
| Republican | Mark Norris (incumbent)  | 69,818  | 100
Total votes | 69,818  | 100
| Republican hold

## See also

[edit]

* 2012 Tennessee elections
* 2012 Tennessee House of Representatives election

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Tennessee State Senate elections, 2012". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
2. ^ "Republicans Gain Supermajority In Tennessee House & Senate". WREG.com. November 7, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
3. ^ Potter, Daniel (November 7, 2012). "Historic Legislative Majority for Republicans". WPLN News. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
4. ^ Daigneau, Elizabeth; Jacobson, Louis (October 23, 2012). "The Latest Chamber-by-Chamber Analysis of the 2012 State Legislative Elections". Governing. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
5. ^ "Tennessee State Senate District 2". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
6. ^ "Tennessee State Senate District 4". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
7. ^ "Tennessee State Senate District 6". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
8. ^ "Tennessee State Senate District 8". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
9. ^ "Tennessee State Senate District 10". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
10. ^ "Tennessee State Senate District 12". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
11. ^ "Tennessee State Senate District 14". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
12. ^ "Tennessee State Senate District 16". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
13. ^ "Tennessee State Senate District 18". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
14. ^ "Tennessee State Senate District 20". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
15. ^ "Tennessee State Senate District 22". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
16. ^ "Tennessee State Senate District 24". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
17. ^ "Tennessee State Senate District 26". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
18. ^ "Tennessee State Senate District 28". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
19. ^ "Tennessee State Senate District 30". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
20. ^ "Tennessee State Senate District 32". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 9, 2024.

*[No.]: Number