Tennessee 2012 legislative election results

The tabs below contain analysis of election results in the 2012 legislative elections for Tennessee.

• Senate
• House
• National Partisan Trends

2012 Legislative Election Results
State-by-State Analysis
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Other 2012 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2012 • State Senate elections • State House elections

Tennessee State Senate Election Results

This page contains macro-level election results and analysis for the Tennessee State Senate 2012 elections. For results in individual contests see our Tennessee State Senate elections, 2012 page. The following is a breakdown of the state senate before and after the election:

Tennessee State Senate
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	13	7
	Republican Party	20	26
Total		33	33

What You'll See on This Page

This page will display the following lists of candidates

• Incumbents running on November 6
• Defeated incumbents
• Challengers who defeated an incumbent
• Newly elected senators
• List of all winners
• Unopposed candidates
• Third party candidates

State Senate Overview:

• A total of 16 of the state's Senate seats were up for election in 2012.

Incumbents

Incumbents running in November 6

The following is a list of all of the incumbents running on the November 6 general election ballot:

1. Becky Duncan Massey
2. Dolores Gresham
3. Doug Overbey
4. Jim Kyle
5. Jim Tracy
6. Ken Yager
7. Mark Norris
8. Ron Ramsey
9. Tim Barnes

Incumbents defeated

The followings is a list of incumbents defeated in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Tim Barnes	Democratic	Tennessee State Senate District 22

Primary election

Candidate	Party	District
Beverly Marrero	Democratic	Tennessee State Senate District 30

Challengers who beat an incumbent

The following is a list of challengers who defeated an incumbent in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Frank Niceley	Republican	Tennessee State Senate District 8
Janice Bowling	Republican	Tennessee State Senate District 16
Joey Hensley	Republican	Tennessee State Senate District 28
John Stevens (Tennessee)	Republican	Tennessee State Senate District 24
Mark Green (Tennessee)	Republican	Tennessee State Senate District 22
Steven Dickerson	Republican	Tennessee State Senate District 20
Todd Gardenhire	Republican	Tennessee State Senate District 10

Primary election

Results will display after the election on November 6.

New State Senators and General Election Winners

Newly elected senators

The following list will display the newly-elected members of the Tennessee State Senate:

Democratic

Results will display after the election on November 6.

Republican

1. Frank Niceley
2. Janice Bowling
3. Joey Hensley
4. John Stevens (Tennessee)
5. Mark Green (Tennessee)
6. Steven Dickerson
7. Todd Gardenhire

Open Seat Winners

The following will display a list of candidates who won election in seats where no incumbent was running:

Democratic

Results will display after the election on November 6.

Republican

Results will display after the election on November 6.

Candidates who won election

The following will be a list of all candidates elected to the Tennessee State Senate:

Democratic

1. Jim Kyle

Republican

1. Becky Duncan Massey
2. Dolores Gresham
3. Doug Overbey
4. Frank Niceley
5. Janice Bowling
6. Jim Tracy
7. Joey Hensley
8. John Stevens (Tennessee)
9. Ken Yager
10. Mark Green (Tennessee)
11. Mark Norris
12. Ron Ramsey
13. Steven Dickerson
14. Todd Gardenhire

Competitiveness

Unopposed candidates in general election

The following candidates will not face major party competition:

Democratic

1. Jim Kyle

Republican

1. Doug Overbey
2. Frank Niceley
3. Ken Yager
4. Mark Norris
5. Ron Ramsey

Ballot Access

Third party candidates

The following is a list of third party and independent candidates who are running in 2012:

No candidates have been added to this category yet.

2012 Legislative Election Results
State-by-State Analysis
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Other 2012 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2012 • State Senate elections • State House elections

Tennessee State House Election Results

This page contains macro-level election results and analysis for the Tennessee House of Representatives elections in 2012. For results in individual contests, see our Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2012. The following is a breakdown of the state house before and after the election:

Tennessee House of Representatives
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	34	27
	Republican Party	64	71
	Independent	0	1
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		99	99

What You'll See on This Page

This page will display the following lists of candidates

• Incumbents running on November 6
• Defeated incumbents
• Challengers who defeated an incumbent
• Newly elected representatives
• List of all winners
• Unopposed candidates
• Third party candidates

State House Overview

• All XHOUSEX of the state's House seats were up for election in 2012.

Incumbency Analysis

Incumbents who ran on November 6

The following is a list of all of the incumbents who are running on the November 6 general election ballot:

1. Andrew H. Holt
2. Antonio Parkinson
3. Art Swann
4. Barbara Cooper
5. Barrett Rich
6. Beth Harwell
7. Bill Dunn
8. Bill Sanderson
9. Brenda Gilmore
10. Cameron Sexton
11. Charles Curtiss
12. Charles Sargent, Jr.
13. Craig Fitzhugh
14. Curry Todd
15. Curtis Halford
16. Curtis Johnson
17. David Alexander, Tennessee
18. David Hawk
19. David Shepard
20. Dennis Powers
21. Dennis Roach
22. Eric Watson
23. G.A. Hardaway
24. Gary Odom
25. Gerald McCormick
26. Glen Casada
27. Harry Brooks
28. Jeremy Faison
29. Jim Coley
30. Jim Gotto
31. Jimmy Eldridge
32. Jimmy Matlock
33. Joanne Favors
34. Joe Armstrong
35. Joe Carr
36. Joe Pitts
37. Joe Towns, Jr.
38. John DeBerry, Jr.
39. John Ragan
40. John Tidwell
41. John W. Forgety
42. John Windle
43. Johnnie Turner
44. Johnny Shaw
45. Jon Lundberg
46. Joshua Evans
47. Judd Matheny
48. Karen Camper
49. Kelly Keisling
50. Kent Williams, Tennessee Representative
51. Kevin Brooks
52. Larry Miller
53. Lois DeBerry
54. Mark Pody
55. Mark White
56. Matthew Hill
57. Michael Turner (Tennessee)
58. Mike Harrison
59. Mike Sparks
60. Mike Stewart
61. Pat Marsh
62. Richard B. Womick
63. Richard Floyd
64. Robert Ramsey
65. Ron Lollar
66. Ryan Haynes
67. Ryan Williams
68. Sheila Butt
69. Sherry Jones
70. Stephen McManus
71. Steve Hall
72. Steve McDaniel
73. Terri Lynn Weaver
74. Tim Wirgau
75. Tony Shipley
76. Vance Dennis
77. Vince Dean

Incumbents defeated

The followings will display a a list of incumbents defeated in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Jim Gotto	Republican	Tennessee House Of Representatives District 60

Primary election

Candidate	Party	District
Dale Ford	Republican	Tennessee House Of Representatives District 6
Debra Maggart	Republican	Tennessee House Of Representatives District 45
Don Miller	Republican	Tennessee House Of Representatives District 10
Jeanne Richardson	Democratic	Tennessee House Of Representatives District 89
Jim Cobb	Republican	Tennessee House Of Representatives District 31
Julia Cheyanne Hurley	Republican	Tennessee House Of Representatives District 32
Linda Elam	Republican	Tennessee House Of Representatives District 57
Mary Pruitt	Democratic	Tennessee House Of Representatives District 58
Mike Kernell	Democratic	Tennessee House Of Representatives District 93
Richard Montgomery	Republican	Tennessee House Of Representatives District 12
Tommie Brown	Democratic	Tennessee House Of Representatives District 28

Challengers who beat an incumbent

The following will display a list of challengers who defeated an incumbent in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Andrew Farmer	Republican	Tennessee House of Representatives, District 17
Bo Mitchell	Democratic	Tennessee House of Representatives, District 50
Courtney Rogers	Republican	Tennessee House of Representatives, District 45
Dale Carr	Republican	Tennessee House of Representatives, District 12
Darren Jernigan	Democratic	Tennessee House of Representatives, District 60
Dawn White	Republican	Tennessee House of Representatives, District 37
Gloria Johnson	Democratic	Tennessee House of Representatives District 13
Harold M. Love	Democratic	Tennessee House of Representatives, District 58
James Van Huss	Republican	Tennessee House of Representatives, District 6
Kent Calfee	Republican	Tennessee House of Representatives, District 32
Mary Littleton	Republican	Tennessee House of Representatives, District 78
Mike Carter (Tennessee)	Republican	Tennessee House of Representatives, District 29
Ron Travis	Republican	Tennessee House of Representatives, District 31
Susan Lynn	Republican	Tennessee House of Representatives, District 57
Tilman Goins	Republican	Tennessee House of Representatives, District 10
Timothy Hill	Republican	Tennessee House of Representatives, District 3
William G. Lamberth	Republican	Tennessee House of Representatives, District 44

Primary election

No candidates have been added to this category yet.

New Representatives and General Election Winners

Newly elected representatives

The following will list the newly-elected members of the Tennessee House of Representatives:

Democratic

1. Bo Mitchell
2. Darren Jernigan
3. Gloria Johnson
4. Harold M. Love
5. Jason Powell

Republican

1. Andrew Farmer
2. Barry Doss
3. Billy Spivey
4. Courtney Rogers
5. Dale Carr
6. Dawn White
7. Debra Moody
8. James Van Huss
9. Jeremy Durham
10. Kent Calfee
11. Mary Littleton
12. Mike Carter (Tennessee)
13. Roger Kane
14. Ron Travis
15. Susan Lynn
16. Tilman Goins
17. Timothy Hill
18. William G. Lamberth

Open Seat Winners

The following will list candidates who won election in seats where no incumbent was running:

Democratic

1. Jason Powell

Republican

1. Barry Doss
2. Billy Spivey
3. Debra Moody
4. Jeremy Durham
5. Roger Kane

Candidates who won election

The following will list all candidates elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2012:

Democratic

1. Antonio Parkinson
2. Barbara Cooper
3. Bo Mitchell
4. Brenda Gilmore
5. Charles Curtiss
6. Craig Fitzhugh
7. Darren Jernigan
8. David Shepard
9. G.A. Hardaway
10. Gary Odom
11. Gloria Johnson
12. Harold M. Love
13. Jason Powell
14. Joanne Favors
15. Joe Armstrong
16. Joe Pitts
17. Joe Towns, Jr.
18. John DeBerry, Jr.
19. John Tidwell
20. John Windle
21. Johnnie Turner
22. Johnny Shaw
23. Karen Camper
24. Larry Miller
25. Lois DeBerry
26. Michael Turner (Tennessee)
27. Mike Stewart
28. Sherry Jones

Republican

1. Andrew Farmer
2. Andrew H. Holt
3. Art Swann
4. Barrett Rich
5. Barry Doss
6. Beth Harwell
7. Bill Dunn
8. Bill Sanderson
9. Billy Spivey
10. Cameron Sexton
11. Charles Sargent, Jr.
12. Courtney Rogers
13. Curry Todd
14. Curtis Halford
15. Curtis Johnson
16. Dale Carr
17. David Alexander, Tennessee
18. David Hawk
19. Dawn White
20. Debra Moody
21. Dennis Powers
22. Dennis Roach
23. Eric Watson
24. Gerald McCormick
25. Glen Casada
26. Harry Brooks
27. James Van Huss
28. Jeremy Durham
29. Jeremy Faison
30. Jim Coley
31. Jimmy Eldridge
32. Jimmy Matlock
33. Joe Carr
34. John Ragan
35. John W. Forgety
36. Jon Lundberg
37. Joshua Evans
38. Judd Matheny
39. Kelly Keisling
40. Kent Calfee
41. Kevin Brooks
42. Mark Pody
43. Mark White
44. Mary Littleton
45. Matthew Hill
46. Mike Carter (Tennessee)
47. Mike Harrison
48. Mike Sparks
49. Pat Marsh
50. Richard B. Womick
51. Richard Floyd
52. Robert Ramsey
53. Roger Kane
54. Ron Lollar
55. Ron Travis
56. Ryan Haynes
57. Ryan Williams
58. Sheila Butt
59. Stephen McManus
60. Steve Hall
61. Steve McDaniel
62. Susan Lynn
63. Terri Lynn Weaver
64. Tilman Goins
65. Tim Wirgau
66. Timothy Hill
67. Tony Shipley
68. Vance Dennis
69. Vince Dean
70. William G. Lamberth

Competitiveness

Unopposed candidates in general election

The following candidates will not face major party competition:

Democratic

1. Antonio Parkinson
2. Brenda Gilmore
3. G.A. Hardaway
4. Gary Odom
5. Harold M. Love
6. Joe Armstrong
7. Joe Pitts
8. Joe Towns, Jr.
9. John DeBerry, Jr.
10. Johnnie Turner
11. Karen Camper
12. Lois DeBerry
13. Michael Turner (Tennessee)
14. Mike Stewart

Republican

1. Art Swann
2. Beth Harwell
3. Bill Dunn
4. Charles Sargent, Jr.
5. Curry Todd
6. Curtis Halford
7. Curtis Johnson
8. Dale Carr
9. Dennis Powers
10. Dennis Roach
11. Gerald McCormick
12. Glen Casada
13. Harry Brooks
14. Jeremy Durham
15. Jim Coley
16. Joe Carr
17. Jon Lundberg
18. Joshua Evans
19. Kevin Brooks
20. Mark Pody
21. Mark White
22. Mike Carter (Tennessee)
23. Mike Harrison
24. Pat Marsh
25. Robert Ramsey
26. Roger Kane
27. Ron Lollar
28. Ron Travis
29. Stephen McManus
30. Steve McDaniel
31. Susan Lynn
32. Tilman Goins

Ballot Access

Third party candidates

The following is a list of third party and independent candidates running in 2012:

1. Allen R. Cole
2. Artie Smith
3. Bryan Moneyhun
4. Calvin Cassady
5. Daniel Lewis
6. George Thomas Hill
7. James Hart
8. John Bragorgos
9. John C. Johnson
10. John Crandall
11. Kenneth W. Buser
12. Kent Williams, Tennessee Representative
13. Nick H. Cazana
14. Rick Wilson (Tennessee)
15. Susan Shann
16. Suzanne Parker
17. Virgil Kidwell
18. W. Rodger Cooksey

2012 Legislative Election Results
State-by-State Analysis
Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Maine Massachusetts • Michigan• Minnesota • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming
Other 2012 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2012 • State Senate elections • State House elections

National Partisan Trends

The following tables will detail the partisan breakdown of national election results.

Incumbents who were defeated in the general election

In the 44 states with elections, there were 4,534 incumbents who ran in the general election. The following is a breakdown of incumbent defeats in the 2012 general election:

Incumbents defeated in 2012 legislative general election
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	21	49	70
Republican	37	182	219
Third Party	2	3	5
TOTALS	60	234	294

Total new legislators elected

In total, 1,707 (28.4%) new legislators were elected in 2012. Of these 1,707, 849 (50.0%) were Republicans and 854 (50.0%) were Democrats.

The following is the breakdown of new legislators.

New Legislators after the 2012 legislative elections
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	165	684	849
Republican	202	652	854
Independent	0	4	4
TOTALS	367	1,340	1,707

Winners of Open Seats

Open seats contests made up 705 (11.7%) of the 6,015 seats in 2012. Of these 705 open seats, Republicans won 401 (56.9%) while Democrats won 304 (43.1%). Going into the election, the number of open seats formerly held by each party was quite similar. Estimates prior to the election suggested that approximately 52% of the open seats were previously held by Republicans and 48% were held by Democrats.

The following is the breakdown of open seat winners.

Open Seat Winners in 2012 legislative elections
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	82	220	302
Republican	105	296	401
Third Party	0	0	0
TOTALS	187	516	703

Impact on legislative majorities

See also: Partisan balance of state legislatures

Partisan Balance of Chambers with 2012 Elections
	Pre-election				Post-election
Legislative chamber
State senates	17	24	1	1	18	24	0	1
State houses	15	27	1	0	19	24	0	0
Totals:	32	51	2	1	37	48	0	1

Partisan Balance of All 99 Chambers Before and After 2012 Elections
	Pre-election				Post-election
Legislative chamber
State senates	19	28	2	1	20	28	1	1
State houses	17	31	1	0	21	28	0	0
Totals:	35	60	3	1	41	56	1	1