Elections in
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
are held to fill various local, state, and federal seats.
Special elections
A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, a bye-election in Ireland, a bypoll in India, or a Zimni election (Urdu: ضمنی انتخاب, supplementary election) in Pakistan, is an election used to f ...
may be held to fill vacancies at other points in time. Statewide
legislative referrals and
referendums
A referendum (plural: referendums or less commonly referenda) is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative. This may result in the adoption of a ...
may also be on the ballot in some elections. Tennessee is one of thirteen states that holds its
presidential primaries
The presidential primary elections and caucuses held in the various states, the District of Columbia, and territories of the United States form part of the nominating process of candidates for United States presidential elections. The United S ...
on
Super Tuesday
Super Tuesday is the United States presidential primary election day in February or March when the greatest number of U.S. states hold primary elections and caucuses. Approximately one-third of all delegates to the presidential nominating co ...
.
Tennessee does not require voters to declare a party affiliation when registering. The state is one of eight states that require voters to present a form of
photo identification
Photo identification or photo ID is an identity document that includes a photograph of the holder, usually only their face. The most commonly accepted forms of photo ID are those issued by government authorities, such as driver's licenses, ide ...
. In a 2020 study, Tennessee was ranked as the 5th hardest state for citizens to vote in.
Political History
Between the end of the Civil War and the mid-20th century, Tennessee was part of the Democratic
Solid South
The Solid South or Southern bloc was the electoral voting bloc of the states of the Southern United States for issues that were regarded as particularly important to the interests of Democrats in those states. The Southern bloc existed especial ...
, but had the largest Republican minority of any former Confederate state. During this time, East Tennessee was heavily Republican and the western two thirds mostly voted Democratic, with the latter dominating the state.
This division was related to the state's pattern of Unionist and Confederate loyalism during the Civil War.
Tennessee's politics are currently dominated by the
Republican Party.
Republicans currently hold both of the state's
U.S. Senate seats, a majority of
Congressional seats, and the
state legislature.
Democratic strength is largely concentrated in
Nashville,
Memphis
Memphis most commonly refers to:
* Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt
* Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city
Memphis may also refer to:
Places United States
* Memphis, Alabama
* Memphis, Florida
* Memphis, Indiana
* Memp ...
, and parts of
Knoxville
Knoxville is a city in and the county seat of Knox County in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 United States census, Knoxville's population was 190,740, making it the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division and the state' ...
,
Chattanooga, and
Clarksville. Several
suburban areas of Nashville and Memphis also contain significant Democratic minorities.
Presidential
List of presidential elections in Tennessee from 2000-present.
*
2000 United States presidential election in Tennessee
*
2004 United States presidential election in Tennessee
The 2004 United States presidential election in Tennessee took place on November 2, 2004, and was part of the 2004 United States presidential election. Voters chose 11 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for presid ...
*
2008 United States presidential election in Tennessee
The 2008 United States presidential election in Tennessee took place on November 4, 2008, and was part of the 2008 United States presidential election. Voters chose 11 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for preside ...
*
2012 United States presidential election in Tennessee
The 2012 United States presidential election in Tennessee took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the 2012 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Tennessee voters chose 11 elec ...
*
2016 United States presidential election in Tennessee
The 2016 United States presidential election in Tennessee was held on November 8, 2016, as part of the 2016 General Election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Tennessee voters chose electors to represent them in ...
*
2020 United States presidential election in Tennessee
*
2024 United States presidential election in Tennessee
Presidential primaries
Republican primary
*
2000 Tennessee Republican presidential primary
*
2004 Tennessee Republican presidential primary
The 2004 Tennessee Republican presidential primary was held on February 10, 2004, along with primaries in Arkansas and Oregon. Voters chose the state's 52 pledged delegates to the 2004 Republican National Convention.
Incumbent president Georg ...
*
2008 Tennessee Republican presidential primary
*
2012 Tennessee Republican presidential primary
*
2016 Tennessee Republican presidential primary
*
2020 Tennessee Republican presidential primary
The 2020 Tennessee Republican presidential primary took place on March 3, 2020, as one of fourteen contests scheduled for Super Tuesday in the Republican Party presidential primaries for the 2020 United States presidential election, 2020 presi ...
*
2024 Tennessee Republican presidential primary
Democratic primary
*
2000 Tennessee Democratic presidential primary
*
2004 Tennessee Democratic presidential primary
The 2004 Tennessee Democratic presidential primary was held on February 10 in the U.S. state of Tennessee (U.S. state), Tennessee as one of the 2004 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Democratic Party's statewide nomination contests ahe ...
*
2008 Tennessee Democratic presidential primary
*
2012 Tennessee Democratic presidential primary
*
2016 Tennessee Democratic presidential primary
*
2020 Tennessee Democratic presidential primary
The 2020 Tennessee Democratic presidential primary took place on March 3, 2020, as one of 15 contests scheduled on Super Tuesday in the Democratic Party primaries for the 2020 presidential election, following the South Carolina primary the week ...
*
2024 Tennessee Democratic presidential primary
National legislative
List of national legislative elections in Tennessee from 2000-present.
Senate elections
*
2000 United States Senate election in Tennessee
*
2002 United States Senate election in Tennessee
The 2002 United States Senate election in Tennessee was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Fred Thompson decided to retire. Republican Lamar Alexander won the open seat.
Republican primary Candidates
* Lamar Alexand ...
*
2006 United States Senate election in Tennessee
The 2006 United States Senate election in Tennessee was held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican Party (United States), Republican Senator Bill Frist, the Majority Leader, retired after two terms in office. The open seat was won by Republican ...
*
2008 United States Senate election in Tennessee
*
2012 United States Senate election in Tennessee
The 2012 United States Senate election in Tennessee took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the general election including the 2012 U.S. presidential election, elections to the House of Representatives and various state and local elections. ...
*
2014 United States Senate election in Tennessee
The 2014 United States Senate election in Tennessee took place on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate from the State of Tennessee. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander defeated Democrat Gordon Ball, and wa ...
*
2018 United States Senate election in Tennessee
The 2018 United States Senate election in Tennessee took place on November 6, 2018, concurrently with other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. In ...
*
2020 United States Senate election in Tennessee
*
2024 United States Senate election in Tennessee
The 2024 United States Senate elections are scheduled to be held on November 5, 2024, as part of the 2024 United States elections. 33 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate will be contested in regular elections, the winners of which will serve six- ...
*
2026 United States Senate election in Tennessee
The 2026 United States Senate elections are scheduled to be held on November 3, 2026, with 33 of the 100 seats in the Senate being contested in regular elections, the winners of which will serve six-year terms in the United States Congress from ...
House of Representatives elections
*
2000 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee
*
*
*
*
2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee
*
*
*
*
*
*
2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee
*
*
2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee
Gubernatorial
List of gubernatorial elections in Tennessee from 2002-present.
*
2002 Tennessee gubernatorial election
The 2002 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002. The incumbent, Don Sundquist, was term-limited and is prohibited by the Constitution of Tennessee from seeking a third consecutive term. To succeed him, former Nashville ...
*
2006 Tennessee gubernatorial election
The 2006 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent, Incumbent Democratic Party (United States), Democratic governor Phil Bredesen, defeated Republican Party (United States), Republican State Senator Jim Bryson (p ...
*
2010 Tennessee gubernatorial election
The 2010 Tennessee gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Governor of Tennessee, Governor Phil Bredesen was term-limited and unable to seek re-election to a third term in offi ...
*
2014 Tennessee gubernatorial election
The 2014 Tennessee gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Republican Party (United States), Republican Governor Bill Haslam won re-election to a second term with over 70% of the vot ...
*
2018 Tennessee gubernatorial election
The 2018 Tennessee gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the next governor of Tennessee. Republican Bill Lee was elected with nearly 60% of the vote. Incumbent Republican Governor Bill Haslam was term-limited, and i ...
*
2022 Tennessee gubernatorial election
The 2022 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Republican Party (United States), Republican Governor Bill Lee (Tennessee politician), Bill Lee was re-elected to a second ter ...
*
2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election
State legislative
State Senate elections
*
2012 Tennessee Senate election
*
2014 Tennessee Senate election
*
2016 Tennessee Senate election
*
2018 Tennessee Senate election
*
2020 Tennessee Senate election
*
2022 Tennessee Senate election
*
2024 Tennessee Senate election
State House elections
*
2012 Tennessee House of Representatives election
*
2014 Tennessee House of Representatives election
*
2016 Tennessee House of Representatives election
*
2018 Tennessee House of Representatives election
*
2020 Tennessee House of Representatives election
*
2022 Tennessee House of Representatives election
The election of all 99 seats in the Tennessee House of Representatives occurred on November 8, 2022, concurrent with the 2022 Tennessee gubernatorial election, Governor, 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, U.S. H ...
*
2024 Tennessee House of Representatives election
Ballot propositions
*
2006 Tennessee Marriage Protection Amendment
*
2014 Tennessee Amendment 1
*
2022 Tennessee Amendment 1
The Tennessee Constitutional Amendment: 1, commonly known as Amendment 1 or The Right-to-Work Amendment, is an approved legislatively referred constitutional amendment to the Constitution of Tennessee that appeared on November 8, 2022. The amendme ...
*
2022 Tennessee Amendment 3
Local elections
Davidson County elections
Nashville Mayoral elections
*
2007 Nashville mayoral election
*
2011 Nashville mayoral election
*
2015 Nashville mayoral election
*
2018 Nashville mayoral special election
The 2018 Nashville mayoral special election took place on May 24, 2018, and elected the mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. David Briley, a Democrat who became interim mayor after the resignation of Megan Ba ...
*
2019 Nashville mayoral election
*
2023 Nashville mayoral election
Nashville
measures
Measure may refer to:
* Measurement, the assignment of a number to a characteristic of an object or event
Law
* Ballot measure, proposed legislation in the United States
* Church of England Measure, legislation of the Church of England
* Measu ...
*
Nashville Charter Amendment 1
*
Let's Move Nashville
Hamilton County elections
Countywide elections
*
2018 Hamilton County, Tennessee mayoral election
*
2022 Hamilton County, Tennessee mayoral election
*
2026 Hamilton County, Tennessee mayoral election
Chattanooga elections
*
2013 Chattanooga mayoral election
*
2017 Chattanooga mayoral election
*
2021 Chattanooga mayoral election
*
2025 Chattanooga mayoral election
Knox County elections
Countywide elections
*
2010 Knox County, Tennessee mayoral election
*
2014 Knox County, Tennessee mayoral election
*
2018 Knox County, Tennessee mayoral election
*
2022 Knox County, Tennessee mayoral election
*
2026 Knox County, Tennessee mayoral election
Knoxville elections
*
2003 Knoxville mayoral election
Elections are currently held every four years to elect the mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee.
Elections before 1987
1987
The 1987 Knoxville mayoral election took place on October and November of 1987 to elect the mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee. Th ...
*
2007 Knoxville mayoral election
Elections are currently held every four years to elect the mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee.
Elections before 1987
1987
The 1987 Knoxville mayoral election took place on October and November of 1987 to elect the mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee. Th ...
*
2011 Knoxville mayoral election
*
2015 Knoxville mayoral election
*
2019 Knoxville mayoral Election
*
2023 Knoxville mayoral election
Montgomery County elections
*
2006 Clarksville mayoral election
*
2010 Clarksville mayoral election
*
2014 Clarksville mayoral election
*
2018 Clarksville mayoral election
*
2022 Clarksville mayoral election
Madison County elections
*
2015 Jackson, Tennessee mayoral election
*
2019 Jackson, Tennessee mayoral election
*
2023 Jackson, Tennessee mayoral election
Rutherford County elections
*
2014 Murfreesboro mayoral election
*
2018 Murfreesboro mayoral election
*
2022 Murfreesboro mayoral election
Shelby County elections
Countywide elections
*
2010 Shelby County, Tennessee mayoral election
*
2014 Shelby County, Tennessee mayoral election
*
2018 Shelby County, Tennessee mayoral election
*
2022 Shelby County, Tennessee mayoral election
*
2026 Shelby County, Tennessee mayoral election
Memphis elections
*
2011 Memphis mayoral election
The 2011 Memphis mayoral election took place on October 6, 2011, to elect the mayor of Memphis, Tennessee. Incumbent mayor A C Wharton, who took office on October 26, 2009, upon the resignation of Willie Herenton, ran for election to a full ter ...
*
2015 Memphis mayoral election
The 2015 Memphis mayoral election took place on October 8, 2015 to elect the Mayor of Memphis, Tennessee. The mayoral election coincided with elections for the thirteen seats on the Memphis City Council.
The election was officially nonpartisan, ...
*
2019 Memphis mayoral election
*
2023 Memphis mayoral election
The 2023 Memphis mayoral election took place on October 5, 2023. Incumbent Jim Strickland is term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third term in office. The election used the plurality vote system, with no possibility of a runoff. T ...
Elections by year
*
2000 Tennessee elections
*
2002 Tennessee elections
*
2004 Tennessee elections
Tennessee state elections in 2004 were held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Primary elections for the United States Senate, United States House of Representatives, Tennessee Senate, and Tennessee House of Representatives, were held on August 5, 2 ...
*
2006 Tennessee elections
6 (six) is the natural number following 5 and preceding 7. It is a composite number and the smallest perfect number.
In mathematics
Six is the smallest positive integer which is neither a square number nor a prime number; it is the second small ...
*
2008 Tennessee elections
Tennessee state elections in 2008 were held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. Primary elections for the United States Senate, United States House of Representatives, Tennessee Senate, and Tennessee House of Representatives, as well as various jud ...
*
2010 Tennessee elections
*
2012 Tennessee elections
Tennessee state elections in 2012 were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Primary elections for the United States Senate, United States House of Representatives, Tennessee Senate, and Tennessee House of Representatives, as well as various Judge ...
*
2014 Tennessee elections
Tennessee state elections in 2014 were held on Tuesday, November 4, 2014. Primary elections for the United States Senate, United States House of Representatives, Governor of Tennessee, governorship, Tennessee Senate, and Tennessee House of Repr ...
*
2016 Tennessee elections
Tennessee state elections in 2016 were held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. Primary elections for the United States House of Representatives, Tennessee Senate, and Tennessee House of Representatives, as well as various Judge, judicial retention e ...
*
2018 Tennessee elections
Tennessee state elections in 2018 were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Primary elections for the United States Senate, United States House of Representatives, governorship, Tennessee Senate, and Tennessee House of Representatives, were held ...
*
2020 Tennessee elections
*
2022 Tennessee elections
Tennessee state elections in 2022 were held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Primary elections for the United States House of Representatives, Governor of Tennessee, governorship, Tennessee Senate, and Tennessee House of Representatives, as well a ...
*
2024 Tennessee elections
Tennessee state elections in 2024 will take place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Primary elections for the United States Senate, United States House of Representatives, Tennessee Senate, and Tennessee House of Representatives, as well as var ...
*
2026 Tennessee elections
See also
*
Political party strength in Tennessee Tennessee's politics are currently dominated by the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party. Republicans currently hold both of the state's List of United States senators from Tennessee, U.S. Senate seats, a majority of Tennessee's congre ...
*
Politics in Tennessee
*
List of United States senators from Tennessee
Tennessee was admitted to the United States, Union on June 1, 1796. Its United States Senate seats were declared vacant in March 1862 owing to its secession from the Union (American Civil War), Union. They were again filled from July 1866. Tennes ...
*
List of United States representatives from Tennessee
*
Tennessee Senate
The Tennessee Senate is the upper house of the U.S. state of Tennessee's state legislature, which is known formally as the Tennessee General Assembly.
The Tennessee Senate has the power to pass resolutions concerning essentially any issue rega ...
*
Tennessee House of Representatives
References
Works cited
*
External links
*
*
*
* (State affiliate of the U.S.
League of Women Voters)
*
{{Tennessee
Government of Tennessee
Political events in Tennessee