2018 Tennessee State Senate election

For related races, see 2018 United States state legislative elections.

Not to be confused with 2018 United States Senate election in Tennessee.

2018 Tennessee State Senate election

* * *

| <- 2016 | November 6, 2018 | 2020 ->

|
|

* * *

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

|
|

|  |
Leader  | Randy McNally | Lee Harris
(retired)
Party  | Republican | Democratic
Leader's seat  | 5th district | 29th district
Last election  | 28 seats  | 5 seats
Seats before  | 28 | 5
Seats won  | 28 | 5
Seat change  |  |
Popular vote  | 720,864 | 415,718
Percentage  | 63.21% | 36.45%

* * *

Results by gains and holds

Results by winning party vote share

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

* * *

| Speaker before election

Randy McNally
Republican

| Elected Speaker

Randy McNally
Republican

|

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The 2018 Tennessee State Senate elections was held on November 6, 2018, to elect 18 of the 33 seats for the Tennessee's State Senate. The elections coincided with the Governor, U.S. House, and State House elections. The primary elections were held on August 2, 2018.[1]

## Retirements[edit]

Three incumbents (2 Democrats and 1 Republican) did not run for re-election in 2018. Those incumbents are:

### Democrats[edit]

1. District 19: Thelma Harper retired.
2. District 29: Lee Harris retired to run for mayor of Shelby County.

### Republicans[edit]

1. District 13: Bill Ketron retired to run for mayor of Rutherford County.

## Incumbents defeated[edit]

### In the primary election[edit]

#### Democrats[edit]

1. District 33: Reginald Tate lost renomination to Katrina Robinson.

## Results summary[edit]

Summary of the November 6, 2018 Tennessee Senate election results  Party  | Candidates  | Votes  | Seats

|
|
|

No. | %  | Before  | Up  | Won  | After  | +/–
| Republican | 16  | 720,864  | 63.21  | 28  | 14  | 14 | 28  |
| Democratic | 15  | 415,718  | 36.45  | 5  | 4  | 4  | 5  |
| Independent | 2  | 3,485  | 0.31  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  |
| Write-in | 2  | 421  | 0.04  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  |
Total | 1,140,488  | 100  | 33  | 18  | 18  | 33  |
Source: [1]

| Popular vote

|  |
Republican |

| 63.21%
Democratic |

| 36.45%
Other |

| 0.35%

| Senate seats

|  |
Republican |

| 77.78%
Democratic |

| 22.22%

### Closest race[edit]

This race was decided by a margin of under 10%:

District  | Winner  | Margin

|
|

District 31  | Republican  | 1.78%

## Detailed results by State Senate District[edit]

District 1 • District 2 (special) • District 3 • District 5 • District 7 • District 9 • District 11 • District 13 • District 15 • District 17 • District 19 • District 21 • District 23 • District 25 • District 27 • District 29 • District 31 • District 33

Sources: [2][3][4]

### District 1[edit]

#### Republican primary[edit]

Republican primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Steve Southerland (incumbent)  | 22,806  | 100
Total votes  | 22,806  | 100

#### General election[edit]

Tennessee's 1st State Senate District General Election, 2018  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Steve Southerland (incumbent)  | 43,262  | 100
Total votes  | 43,262  | 100
| Republican hold

### District 2 (special)[edit]

Republican primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Art Swann (incumbent)  | 13,824  | 56.54
| Republican | Scott P. Williams  | 6,836  | 27.96
| Republican | Wesley P. Maples  | 3,792  | 15.51
Total votes  | 24,452  | 100

#### Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | J. Nathan Higdon (write-in)  | 314  | 100
Total votes  | 314  | 100

#### Special election[edit]

Tennessee's 2nd State Senate District Special Election, 2018  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Art Swann (incumbent)  | 55,595  | 99.28
| Write-in | J. Nathan Higdon  | 402  | 0.72
Total votes  | 55,997  | 100
| Republican hold

### District 3[edit]

#### Republican primary[edit]

Republican primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Rusty Crowe (incumbent)  | 22,481  | 100
Total votes  | 22,481  | 100

#### General election[edit]

Tennessee's 3rd State Senate District General Election, 2018  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Rusty Crowe (incumbent)  | 50,236  | 100
Total votes  | 50,236  | 100
| Republican hold

### District 5[edit]

#### Republican primary[edit]

Republican primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Randy McNally (incumbent)  | 23,525  | 100
Total votes  | 23,525  | 100

#### Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Stuart Starr  | 6,303  | 100
Total votes  | 6,303  | 100

#### General election[edit]

Tennessee's 5th State Senate District General Election, 2018  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Randy McNally (incumbent)  | 48,336  | 71.84
| Democratic | Stuart Starr  | 18,948  | 28.16
Total votes  | 83,019  | 100
| Republican hold

### District 7[edit]

#### Republican primary[edit]

Republican primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Richard Briggs (incumbent)  | 19,166  | 100
Total votes  | 19,166  | 100

#### Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Jamie Ballinger  | 9,319  | 100
Total votes  | 9,319  | 100

#### General election[edit]

Tennessee's 7th State Senate District General Election, 2018  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Richard Briggs (incumbent)  | 38,558  | 55.57
| Democratic | Jamie Ballinger  | 30,826  | 44.43
Total votes  | 69,384  | 100

### District 9[edit]

#### Republican primary[edit]

Republican primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Mike Bell (incumbent)  | 24,548  | 100
Total votes  | 24,548  | 100

#### Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Carl Lansden  | 4,775  | 100
Total votes  | 4,775  | 100

#### General election[edit]

Tennessee's 9th State Senate District General Election, 2018  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Mike Bell (incumbent)  | 45,006  | 77.74
| Democratic | Carl Lansden  | 12,887  | 22.26
Total votes  | 57,893  | 100
| Republican hold

### District 11[edit]

#### Republican primary[edit]

Republican primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Bo Watson (incumbent)  | 20,257  | 100
Total votes  | 20,257  | 100

#### Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Randall "Randy" Price  | 8,152  | 100
Total votes  | 8,152  | 100

#### General election[edit]

Tennessee's 11th State Senate District General Election, 2018  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Bo Watson (incumbent)  | 51,082  | 65.14
| Democratic | Randall "Randy" Price  | 27,332  | 34.86
Total votes  | 78,141  | 100
| Republican hold

### District 13[edit]

#### Republican primary[edit]

Republican primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Dawn White | 10,639  | 58.22
| Republican | Ernest G. Burgess  | 7,635  | 41.78
Total votes  | 18,274  | 100

#### Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Kelly Northcutt  | 8,217  | 100
Total votes  | 8,217  | 100

#### General election[edit]

Tennessee's 13th State Senate District General Election, 2018  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Dawn White | 36,594  | 57.07
| Democratic | Kelly Northcutt  | 25,974  | 40.50
| Independent | Ginger Smith  | 1,559  | 2.43
Total votes  | 64,127  | 100
| Republican hold

### District 15[edit]

#### Republican primary[edit]

Republican primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Paul Bailey (incumbent)  | 25,808  | 100
Total votes  | 25,808  | 100

#### Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Angela Hedgecough  | 7,636  | 100
Total votes  | 7,636  | 100

#### General election[edit]

Tennessee's 15th State Senate District General Election, 2018  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Paul Bailey (incumbent)  | 48,919  | 73.64
| Democratic | Angela Hedgecough  | 17,512  | 26.36
Total votes  | 66,431  | 100
| Republican hold

### District 17[edit]

#### Republican primary[edit]

Republican primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Mark Pody (incumbent)  | 31,437  | 100
Total votes  | 31,437  | 100

#### Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Mary Alice Carfi  | 10,460  | 100
Total votes  | 10,460  | 100

#### General election[edit]

Tennessee's 17th State Senate District General Election, 2018  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Mark Pody (incumbent)  | 53,364  | 70.39
| Democratic | Mary Alice Carfi  | 22,452  | 29.61
Total votes  | 75,816  | 100
| Republican hold

### District 19[edit]

#### Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Brenda Gilmore | 13,885  | 64.70
| Democratic | Howard Jones  | 5,262  | 24.52
| Democratic | Sandra Moore  | 1,181  | 5.50
| Democratic | George Thomas  | 1,132  | 5.28
Total votes  | 21,460  | 100

#### General election[edit]

Tennessee's 19th State Senate District General Election, 2018  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Brenda Gilmore | 49,586  | 85.79
| Independent | Christina "Chris" Callaway  | 6,271  | 10.85
| Independent | Rueben "Dock" Dockery  | 1,926  | 3.33
| Write-in | Howard Jones  | 19  | 0.03
Total votes  | 57,802  | 100
| Democratic hold

### District 21[edit]

#### Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Jeff Yarbro (incumbent)  | 19,402  | 100
Total votes  | 19,402  | 100

#### General election[edit]

Tennessee's 21st State Senate District General Election, 2018  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Jeff Yarbro (incumbent)  | 55,905  | 100
Total votes  | 55,905  | 100
| Democratic hold

### District 23[edit]

#### Republican primary[edit]

Republican primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Jack Johnson (incumbent)  | 26,893  | 100
Total votes  | 26,893  | 100

#### Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Kristen Grimm  | 9,673  | 100
Total votes  | 9,673  | 100

#### General election[edit]

Tennessee's 23rd State Senate District General Election, 2018  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Jack Johnson (incumbent)  | 68,118  | 66.90
| Democratic | Kristen Grimm  | 33,710  | 33.11
Total votes  | 101,828  | 100
| Republican hold

### District 25[edit]

#### Republican primary[edit]

Republican primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Kerry Roberts (incumbent)  | 23,909  | 100
Total votes  | 23,909  | 100

#### Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Wade Munday  | 9,078  | 100
Total votes  | 9,078  | 100

#### General election[edit]

Tennessee's 25th State Senate District General Election, 2018  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Kerry Roberts (incumbent)  | 47,188  | 71.52
| Democratic | Wade Munday  | 18,795  | 28.49
Total votes  | 65,983  | 100
| Republican hold

### District 27[edit]

#### Republican primary[edit]

Republican primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Ed Jackson (incumbent)  | 14,404  | 70.76
| Republican | Brandon Dodds  | 5,951  | 29.24
Total votes  | 20,355  | 100

#### Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Savannah Williamson  | 3,692  | 42.99
| Democratic | Jackie Williams  | 3,637  | 42.35
| Democratic | John H. York Jr.  | 1,259  | 14.66
Total votes  | 8,588  | 100

#### General election[edit]

Tennessee's 27th State Senate District General Election, 2018  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Ed Jackson (incumbent)  | 35,837  | 65.14
| Democratic | Savannah Williamson  | 19,177  | 34.86
| Write-in | John H. York Jr.  | 0  | 0.00
Total votes  | 55,014  | 100
| Republican hold

### District 29[edit]

#### Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Raumesh Akbari | 14,861  | 58.42
| Democratic | Justin Ford  | 10,577  | 41.58
Total votes  | 25,438  | 100

#### Republican primary[edit]

Republican primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Tom Stephens  | 3,873  | 100
Total votes  | 3,873  | 100

#### General election[edit]

Tennessee's 29th State Senate District General Election, 2018  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Raumesh Akbari | 43,851  | 83.48
| Republican | Tom Stephens  | 8,679  | 16.52
Total votes  | 52,530  | 100
| Democratic hold

### District 31[edit]

#### Republican primary[edit]

Republican primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Brian Kelsey (incumbent)  | 22,767  | 100
Total votes  | 22,767  | 100

#### Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Gabby Salinas  | 7,737  | 47.98
| Democratic | David Weatherspoon  | 6,890  | 42.73
| Democratic | M. Rodanial Ray Ransom  | 1,499  | 9.30
Total votes  | 16,126  | 100

#### General election[edit]

Tennessee's 31st State Senate District General Election, 2018  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Brian Kelsey (incumbent)  | 40,504  | 50.89
| Democratic | Gabby Salinas  | 39,086  | 49.11
Total votes  | 79,590  | 100
| Republican hold

### District 33[edit]

#### Democratic primary[edit]

Democratic primary  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Katrina Robinson | 14,164  | 68.66
| Democratic | Reginald Tate (incumbent)  | 6,464  | 31.34
Total votes  | 20,628  | 100

#### General election[edit]

Tennessee's 33rd State Senate District General Election, 2018  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Katrina Robinson | 42,992  | 100
Total votes  | 42,992  | 100
| Democratic hold

## See also[edit]

* 2018 Tennessee elections
* 2018 Tennessee House of Representatives election

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Tennessee Primaries: What to Watch For". New York Times. August 2, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
2. ^ "August 2, 2018 Republican Primary" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
3. ^ "August 2, 2018 Democratic Primary" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
4. ^ "November 6, 2018 State General" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved October 7, 2023.

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