2021 Chattanooga mayoral election

* * *

| <- 2017 | March 2, 2021 (first round)
April 13, 2021 (runoff) | 2025 ->

|
|

|  |  |

|
|

Candidate  | Tim Kelly | Kim White
Party  | Nonpartisan | Nonpartisan
First round  | 8,562
30.14% | 8,289
29.18%
Runoff | 15,969
59.87% | 10,662
39.97%

* * *

|  |
Candidate  | Wade Hinton  | Monty R. Bruell
Party  | Nonpartisan | Nonpartisan
First round  | 6,108
21.50%  | 2,407
8.47%
Runoff | Eliminated | Eliminated

* * *

| Mayor before election

Andy Berke
Democratic

| Elected Mayor

Tim Kelly
Independent

|

The 2021 Chattanooga mayoral election was held on March 2, 2021, and on April 13, 2021 (as a runoff), to elect the next mayor of Chattanooga. Incumbent Democratic Mayor Andy Berke was term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election. All Chattanooga municipal elections are required to be non-partisan, but most candidates were affiliated with political parties. Since there was no candidate that received a majority of votes in the initial round of the election, a runoff election was held.[1] In the runoff election, Independent candidate Tim Kelly was elected with 59.9% of the vote, defeating Republican candidate Kim White.[2]

This two-round election took place alongside other 2021 Chattanooga Elections, including races for City Council. Kelly was sworn in on April 19, 2021.

Elections in Tennessee

Federal government

|  U.S. President

* 1796
* 1800
* 1804
* 1808
* 1812
* 1816
* 1820
* 1824
* 1828
* 1832
* 1836
* 1840
* 1844
* 1848
* 1852
* 1856
* 1860
* 1864
* 1868
* 1872
* 1876
* 1880
* 1884
* 1888
* 1892
* 1896
* 1900
* 1904
* 1908
* 1912
* 1916
* 1920
* 1924
* 1928
* 1932
* 1936
* 1940
* 1944
* 1948
* 1952
* 1956
* 1960
* 1964
* 1968
* 1972
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984
* 1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2024

Presidential primaries

Democratic
2004
2008
2016
2020
2024

Republican
2008
2020
2024
U.S. Senate

* 1796
* 1798
* 1803
* 1809
* 1823
* 1826
* 1829
* 1833
* 1835
* 1841
* 1844
* 1847
* 1851
* 1853
* 1858
* 1866
* 1867
* 1875
* 1877
* 1883
* 1887
* 1889
* 1893
* 1895
* 1899
* 1901
* 1905
* 1907
* 1911
* 1913
* 1916
* 1918
* 1922
* 1924
* 1928
* 1930
* 1934
* 1936
* 1940
* 1942
* 1946
* 1948
* 1952
* 1954
* 1958
* 1960
* 1964
* 1966
* 1970
* 1972
* 1976
* 1978
* 1982
* 1984
* 1988
* 1990
* 1994
* 1996
* 2000
* 2002
* 2006
* 2008
* 2012
* 2014
* 2018
* 2020
* 2024
* 2026

U.S. House

* 1796
* 1797
* 1799
* 1801
* 1803
* 1805
* 1807
* 1809
* 1811
* 1813
* 1815
* 1817
* 1819
* 1821
* 1823
* 1825
* 1827
* 1829
* 1831
* 1833
* 1835
* 1837
* 1839
* 1841
* 1842
* 1843
* 1845
* 1847
* 1849
* 1851
* 1853
* 1855
* 1857
* 1859
* 1861
* 1865
* 1867
* 1868
* 1870
* 1872
* 1874
* 1876
* 1878
* 1880
* 1882
* 1884
* 1886
* 1888
* 1890
* 1892
* 1894
* 1896
* 1898
* 1900
* 1902
* 1904
* 1906
* 1908
* 1910
* 1912
* 1914
* 1916
* 1918
* 1920
* 1922
* 1924
* 1926
* 1928
* 1930
* 1932
* 1934
* 1936
* 1938
* 1940
* 1942
* 1944
* 1946
* 1948
* 1950
* 1952
* 1954
* 1956
* 1958
* 1960
* 1962
* 1964
* 1966
* 1968
* 1970
* 1972
* 1974
* 1976
* 1978
* 1980
* 1982
* 1984
* 1986
* 1988
* 1990
* 1992
* 1994
* 1996
* 1998
* 2000
* 2002
* 2004
* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022
* 2024

Special elections

Senate
1797
1798
1799
1809
1811
1815
1817
1819
1821
1825
1829
1838
1839
1840
1843
1857
1877
1898
1905
1913
1930
1934
1938
1964
1994

House
At-large

1797
1801
1st

1910
1961
2nd

1815
1891
1939
1964
1988
3rd

1939
4th

1837
1874
1875
5th

1814
1975
1988
6th

1939
7th

1932
1939
8th

1845
1958
1969
9th

1940

State government

|  State elections

* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022
* 2024

Gubernatorial elections

* 1799
* 1801
* 1803
* 1805
* 1807
* 1853
* 1855
* 1859
* 1865
* 1867
* 1869
* 1870
* 1872
* 1874
* 1876
* 1878
* 1880
* 1882
* 1884
* 1886
* 1888
* 1890
* 1892
* 1894
* 1896
* 1898
* 1900
* 1902
* 1904
* 1906
* 1908
* 1910
* 1912
* 1914
* 1916
* 1918
* 1920
* 1922
* 1924
* 1926
* 1928
* 1930
* 1932
* 1934
* 1936
* 1938
* 1940
* 1942
* 1944
* 1946
* 1948
* 1950
* 1952
* 1954
* 1958
* 1962
* 1966
* 1970
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022

State Senate elections

* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022

House of Representatives elections

* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022

Ballot measures

2006
Amendment 1
2014
Amendment 1
2022
Amendment 1
2022
Amendment 3

Hamilton County

|  Hamilton County mayoral elections

2018
2022
Chattanooga mayoral elections

2017
2021
2025

Knox County

|  Knox County mayoral elections

2018
2022
Knoxville mayoral elections

1983
1987
1991
1995
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023

Shelby County

|  Shelby County mayoral elections

2014
2018
2022
Memphis mayoral elections

2015
2019
2023

Clarksville

|  Mayoral elections

2010
2014
2018
2022

Murfreesboro

|  Mayoral elections

2014
2018
2022

Nashville

|  Mayoral elections

2011
2015
2018 (sp)
2019
2023

Government

* v
* t
* e

## Candidates[edit]

### Advanced to the runoff[edit]

* Tim Kelly, businessman (Independent)[3]
* Kim White, CEO (Republican)[4]

### Eliminated in the first round[edit]

* Monty Bell
* Monty Bruell (Democratic) (endorsed Kelly)[5]
* Lon Cartwright
* Christopher Dahl (Independent)
* D'Angelo Davis, activist (Democratic)
* Russell Gilbert, Sr., councilman from the 5th district (Republican)
* Wade Hinton, attorney (Democratic) (endorsed Kelly)[6]
* Christopher Long (Independent)
* George Ryan Love, Candidate for Tennessee's 3rd congressional district in 2016 (Democratic)
* Andrew McLaren, actor (Independent)
* Erskine Oglesby, councilman from the 7th district (Republican)
* Robert Wilson
* Elenora Woods, activist (Democratic) (endorsed Kelly)[7]

## First round[edit]

### First round polling[edit]

Pollster | Poll sponsor | Sample

size [a]

| Margin of size  | Monty Bell  | Monty Bruell  | Lon Cartwright  | Christopher Dahl  | D'Angelo Davis  | Russell J. Gilbert Sr  | Wade Hinton  | Tim Kelly  | Christopher Long  | George Ryan Love  | Andrew McLaren  | Erskine Oglesby  | Kim White  | Robert Wilson  | Elenora Woods  | Other  | Undecided

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

The Chattanoogan | —  | 2896

(LV)

| ±  | 0%  | 3%  | 0%  | 1%  | 0%  | 3%  | 8%  | 50%  | 0%  | 0%  | 1%  | 4%  | 26%  | 0%  | 5%  | 1%  | 0%
Chattanooga Times Free Press | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —
The Chattanoogan | —  | 3057

(LV)

| ±4%  | 1%  | 3%  | 0%  | 1%  | 1%  | 2%  | 7%  | 52%  | 1%  | 0%  | 1%  | 2%  | 25%  | 1%  | 3%  | 1%  | 0%

### First round endorsements[edit]

Tim Kelly

Hamilton County Commissioners

* David Sharpe, district 6 (2018–present)[8]
* Chip Baker, district 2[9]

Individuals

* 70 Business Leaders[10]

Labor Unions

* International Association of Fire Fighters Local 820[11]

Kim White

Labor unions

* Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #22[12]
* International Brotherhood of Police Local 673[12]

### First round results[edit]

2021 Chattanooga mayoral election first round [13] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Tim Kelly | 8,562  | 30.14%  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Kim White | 8,289  | 29.18%  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Wade Hinton  | 6,108  | 21.50%  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Monty R. Bruell  | 2,407  | 8.47%  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Russell J. Gilbert Sr.  | 889  | 3.13%  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Elenora Woods  | 805  | 2.83%  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Chris Long  | 491  | 1.73%  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Erskine Oglesby Jr.  | 322  | 1.13%  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Monty Dewayne Bell  | 157  | 0.55%  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Robert C. Wilson  | 136  | 0.48%  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Andrew McLaren  | 61  | 0.21%  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | D'Angelo Davis  | 60  | 0.21%  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Christopher Dahl  | 53  | 0.19%  | N/A
| Write-In | Write-in  | 38  | 0.13%  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | George Ryan Love  | 18  | 0.06%  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Lon Cartwright  | 10  | 0.04%  | N/A
Total votes  | 28,406  | 100.00%

## Runoff[edit]

### Runoff polling[edit]

Pollster  | Poll Sponsor  | Date administered  | Sample size[a] | Margin of size  | Tim Kelly  | Kim White  | Undecided

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Spry Strategies | Chattanooga Times Free Press | March 29, 2021  | 330 (LV)  | ±13%  | 51%  | 36%  | 13%

### Runoff endorsements[edit]

Tim Kelly

Hamilton County Commissioners

* David Sharpe, district 6 (2018–present)[8]
* Chip Baker, district 2[9]

Individuals

* 70 Business Leaders[14]

Labor Unions

* International Association of Fire Fighters Local 820[11]

Kim White

Labor unions

* Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #22[12]
* International Brotherhood of Police Local 673[12]

### Runoff results[edit]

2021 Chattanooga mayoral election runoff[15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Nonpartisan | Tim Kelly | 15,969  | 59.87%  | N/A
| Nonpartisan | Kim White | 10,662  | 39.97%  | N/A
| Write-in | 44  | 0.16%  | N/A
Total votes  | 26,675  | 100.0%  |
| Independent gain from Democratic

## See also[edit]

* Elections in Tennessee
* 2022 Hamilton County mayoral election

## References[edit]

1. ^ "March 2nd 2021 Chattanooga mayoral results" (PDF). Hamilton County Election Commissioner. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
2. ^ "April 13th 2021 Chattanooga mayoral results" (PDF). Hamilton County Election Commissioner. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
3. ^ "Business owner Tim Kelly announces mayoral campaign to 'get Chattanooga back on the right track' | Chattanooga Times Free Press". www.timesfreepress.com. 2020-05-21. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
4. ^ WTVC (2020-09-10). "Kim White announces bid to be Chattanooga's first female mayor". WTVC. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
5. ^ Sharpe, Shannen (2021-03-03). "Former Chattanooga mayoral candidate Monty Bruell endorses Tim Kelly". WTVC. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
6. ^ "Wade Hinton endorsement expands list of black leaders supporting Tim Kelly for mayor". WTVCFOX. 2021-04-08. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
7. ^ WTVC (2021-03-16). "Former Chattanooga mayoral candidate Dr. Elenora Woods endorses Tim Kelly". WTVC. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
8. ^ a b "Commissioner David Sharpe: 'Tim Kelly Will Champion Education In Our City'". The Chattanoogan. February 11, 2021.
9. ^ a b "Hamilton County District 2 Commissioner Chip Baker Endorses Tim Kelly for Chattanooga Mayor" (PDF).
10. ^ "Over 70 Business Leaders Send Open Letter Supporting Tim Kelly for Mayor" (PDF). 2021-02-05.
11. ^ a b "Chattanooga Fire Fighters Association Endorses Tim Kelly For Mayor". The Chattanoogan. 2021-02-03.
12. ^ a b c d Taylor, Sarah (February 4, 2021). "Chattanooga police and fire unions make mayoral endorsements". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
13. ^ "March 2nd 2021 Chattanooga mayoral results" (PDF). Hamilton County Election Commissioner. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
14. ^ "Over 70 Business Leaders Send Open Letter Supporting Tim Kelly for Mayor" (PDF). 2021-02-05.
15. ^ "April 13th 2021 Chattanooga mayoral results" (PDF). Hamilton County Election Commissioner. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ^ a b Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template