Republican Party primaries in Tennessee, 2018
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 9
- Early voting: Oct. 17 - Nov. 1
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: No
- Voter ID: Photo ID required
- Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.[2]
| Republican Party primaries, 2018 |
 |
| Primary Date |
| August 2, 2018 |
| Federal elections |
| Republican primary for U.S. Senate |
| Republican primaries for U.S. House |
| State elections |
| Republican primaries for Tennessee legislature |
| Republican primary for governor |
| State party |
| Republican Party of Tennessee |
| State political party revenue |
Republican Party primaries were held in Tennessee on August 2, 2018, to select the party's candidates for Tennessee's 2018 elections. These primaries included elections for U.S. Senate, all nine of the state's seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, Tennessee governor, and legislative elections.
There were four battleground races: the gubernatorial primary, 2nd Congressional District primary, 6th Congressional District primary, and 8th Congressional District primary.
Bill Lee won the Republican gubernatorial primary against five other candidates, among them U.S. Rep. Diane Black and state Rep. Beth Harwell. Lee received 37 percent of the vote. Incumbent Gov. Bill Haslam (R) was barred from running again due to term limits.
In the 2nd district U.S. House primary, Tim Burchett defeated six challengers for a chance to take John Duncan Jr.'s (R) seat in November; he received 48 percent of the vote, with Jimmy Matlock coming in second at 36 percent. Duncan's decision not to seek re-election left the seat open to a newcomer for the first time since 1989.
Former state agriculture commissioner John Rose won the primary for Tennessee's 6th Congressional District with 41 percent support. He defeated four other candidates, including former judge Bob Corlew, who came in second with 31 percent of the vote. Incumbent Rep. Diane Black (R) did not seek re-election as she ran for governor.
Incumbent Rep. David Kustoff (R) won the 8th District primary with 56 percent of the vote. He faced a rematch against George Flinn Jr., a radiologist and broadcaster. Flinn received 40 percent support in this race. Kustoff was first elected to the open seat in 2016, defeating Flinn by 4 percentage points in a crowded 13-candidate Republican primary field.
The filing deadline for candidates seeking to participate in these primaries was April 5, 2018. Heading into the 2018 primaries, Tennessee had a Republican state government trifecta, meaning the party held the state's governorship, a majority in the state senate, and a majority in the state house.
National background
Primary elections—in which registered voters select a candidate whom they believe should run on the party's ticket in the general election—can reflect internal conflict over the direction of a party.
Heading into the 2018 election, the Republican Party's legislative record during Donald Trump’s presidency figured into several Republican primaries. This record included the passage of major tax legislation in December 2017 and the confirmation of federal judges. It also included a $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill in March 2018, which Trump opposed, and unsuccessful efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.[3][4]
Trump, himself, also played a role in Republican primaries. His approval rating reached 90% in June among self-described Republicans, according to a Gallup survey.[5] Many Republican candidates campaigned on their support for Trump, and negative ads accusing opponents of criticizing the president were common.[6][7][8] A May report found Trump's name or image had appeared in 37% of all Republican campaign ads at that point in 2018.[9]
Battleground primaries
Battleground elections are those that Ballotpedia expected would either be more competitive than other races or attract significant national attention.
- Tennessee's 2nd Congressional District election (August 2, 2018 Republican primary)
- Tennessee's 6th Congressional District election (August 2, 2018 Republican primary)
- Tennessee's 8th Congressional District election (August 2, 2018 Republican primary)
- Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 2 Republican primary)
Federal elections
U.S. Senate
U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn defeated commercial driver Aaron Pettigrew in the Republican Senate primary with 84 percent of the vote. Incumbent Sen. Bob Corker (R) announced in 2017 he would not seek re-election.[10]
U.S. House
Ballotpedia identified three U.S. House Battleground primaries in Tennessee in 2018:
- Tennessee's 2nd Congressional District election (August 2, 2018 Republican primary)
- Tennessee's 6th Congressional District election (August 2, 2018 Republican primary)
- Tennessee's 8th Congressional District election (August 2, 2018 Republican primary)
District 1
Republican primary candidates
- Phil Roe (Incumbent) ✔
- Mickie Lou Banyas
- James Brooks
- Todd McKinley
District 2
Republican primary candidates
Did not make the ballot:
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
District 3
Republican primary candidates
District 4
Republican primary candidates
- Scott DesJarlais (Incumbent) ✔
- Jack Maddux
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
District 5
Republican primary candidates
Did not make the ballot:
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
District 6
Republican primary candidates
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
District 7
Republican primary candidates
District 8
Republican primary candidates
- David Kustoff (Incumbent) ✔
- George Flinn Jr.
- Colleen Owens
District 9
Republican primary candidates
Pivot Counties
- See also: Pivot Counties by state
One of 95 Tennessee counties—1 percent—is a Pivot County. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.
| Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Trump margin of victory in 2016 | Obama margin of victory in 2012 | Obama margin of victory in 2008 | ||||
| Hardeman County, Tennessee | 7.92% | 5.91% | 6.18% | ||||
In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Tennessee with 60.7 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 34.7 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Tennessee cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 76.7 percent of the time. In that same time frame, Tennessee supported Democratic candidates for president and Republican candidates equally. The state, however, favored Republicans in every presidential election between 2000 and 2016.
Presidential results by legislative district
The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Tennessee. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns show the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns show the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[11][12]
| In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 20 out of 99 state House districts in Tennessee with an average margin of victory of 50.7 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 22 out of 99 state House districts in Tennessee with an average margin of victory of 46.5 points. Clinton won one district controlled by a Republican heading into the 2018 elections. |
| In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 79 out of 99 state House districts in Tennessee with an average margin of victory of 36.8 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 77 out of 99 state House districts in Tennessee with an average margin of victory of 43.8 points. Trump won four districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections. |
| 2016 presidential results by state House district | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Obama | Romney | 2012 Margin | Clinton | Trump | 2016 Margin | Party Control |
| 1 | 26.48% | 71.78% | R+45.3 | 19.62% | 76.53% | R+56.9 | R |
| 2 | 25.47% | 72.94% | R+47.5 | 22.34% | 73.09% | R+50.8 | R |
| 3 | 23.44% | 74.89% | R+51.5 | 15.82% | 81.34% | R+65.5 | R |
| 4 | 24.92% | 73.37% | R+48.5 | 17.60% | 79.09% | R+61.5 | R |
| 5 | 26.22% | 72.04% | R+45.8 | 18.39% | 78.32% | R+59.9 | R |
| 6 | 27.88% | 70.48% | R+42.6 | 24.82% | 70.87% | R+46.1 | R |
| 7 | 32.16% | 65.69% | R+33.5 | 28.10% | 67.14% | R+39 | R |
| 8 | 25.60% | 72.64% | R+47 | 22.13% | 73.51% | R+51.4 | R |
| 9 | 25.47% | 72.83% | R+47.4 | 16.67% | 80.51% | R+63.8 | R |
| 10 | 26.13% | 72.49% | R+46.4 | 19.78% | 76.98% | R+57.2 | R |
| 11 | 24.31% | 73.99% | R+49.7 | 16.57% | 80.41% | R+63.8 | R |
| 12 | 21.96% | 76.64% | R+54.7 | 18.10% | 78.27% | R+60.2 | R |
| 13 | 46.29% | 51.08% | R+4.8 | 46.53% | 46.55% | R+0 | R |
| 14 | 27.16% | 71.40% | R+44.2 | 31.73% | 62.39% | R+30.7 | R |
| 15 | 64.97% | 32.36% | D+32.6 | 63.19% | 30.19% | D+33 | D |
| 16 | 26.02% | 72.27% | R+46.3 | 25.79% | 69.20% | R+43.4 | R |
| 17 | 23.13% | 75.42% | R+52.3 | 17.26% | 79.08% | R+61.8 | R |
| 18 | 37.12% | 60.80% | R+23.7 | 40.01% | 52.84% | R+12.8 | R |
| 19 | 24.61% | 73.61% | R+49 | 20.94% | 74.82% | R+53.9 | R |
| 20 | 26.93% | 71.34% | R+44.4 | 24.49% | 70.69% | R+46.2 | R |
| 21 | 25.45% | 73.18% | R+47.7 | 21.22% | 75.52% | R+54.3 | R |
| 22 | 23.71% | 74.79% | R+51.1 | 16.46% | 80.41% | R+64 | R |
| 23 | 25.15% | 73.42% | R+48.3 | 17.86% | 79.49% | R+61.6 | R |
| 24 | 24.40% | 74.21% | R+49.8 | 21.09% | 74.46% | R+53.4 | R |
| 25 | 26.28% | 72.36% | R+46.1 | 20.11% | 77.28% | R+57.2 | R |
| 26 | 34.03% | 64.08% | R+30.1 | 31.79% | 62.75% | R+31 | R |
| 27 | 34.43% | 63.74% | R+29.3 | 31.70% | 62.61% | R+30.9 | R |
| 28 | 80.31% | 18.45% | D+61.9 | 77.92% | 17.79% | D+60.1 | D |
| 29 | 33.45% | 64.95% | R+31.5 | 29.81% | 65.70% | R+35.9 | R |
| 30 | 37.06% | 61.14% | R+24.1 | 34.33% | 60.41% | R+26.1 | R |
| 31 | 27.30% | 71.02% | R+43.7 | 18.77% | 78.05% | R+59.3 | R |
| 32 | 26.67% | 71.68% | R+45 | 21.60% | 74.28% | R+52.7 | R |
| 33 | 35.25% | 62.79% | R+27.5 | 31.54% | 63.16% | R+31.6 | R |
| 34 | 33.18% | 65.32% | R+32.1 | 31.29% | 63.52% | R+32.2 | R |
| 35 | 23.70% | 74.95% | R+51.3 | 15.89% | 81.43% | R+65.5 | R |
| 36 | 26.89% | 71.70% | R+44.8 | 18.57% | 78.26% | R+59.7 | R |
| 37 | 38.33% | 59.99% | R+21.7 | 36.08% | 58.84% | R+22.8 | R |
| 38 | 24.89% | 73.79% | R+48.9 | 16.00% | 81.84% | R+65.8 | R |
| 39 | 33.22% | 65.17% | R+32 | 24.43% | 72.61% | R+48.2 | R |
| 40 | 31.85% | 66.76% | R+34.9 | 23.97% | 72.67% | R+48.7 | R |
| 41 | 32.24% | 66.34% | R+34.1 | 20.31% | 77.25% | R+56.9 | D |
| 42 | 30.46% | 67.77% | R+37.3 | 25.64% | 70.08% | R+44.4 | R |
| 43 | 35.21% | 62.96% | R+27.8 | 22.37% | 74.65% | R+52.3 | R |
| 44 | 31.04% | 67.73% | R+36.7 | 26.55% | 69.59% | R+43 | R |
| 45 | 26.81% | 71.94% | R+45.1 | 25.43% | 70.33% | R+44.9 | R |
| 46 | 31.50% | 67.04% | R+35.5 | 25.22% | 70.47% | R+45.3 | R |
| 47 | 30.99% | 67.13% | R+36.1 | 23.89% | 72.27% | R+48.4 | R |
| 48 | 36.74% | 61.61% | R+24.9 | 33.92% | 60.93% | R+27 | R |
| 49 | 39.71% | 58.68% | R+19 | 37.26% | 57.65% | R+20.4 | R |
| 50 | 41.70% | 56.68% | R+15 | 44.24% | 50.66% | R+6.4 | D |
| 51 | 66.01% | 31.55% | D+34.5 | 67.37% | 26.85% | D+40.5 | D |
| 52 | 67.26% | 31.18% | D+36.1 | 67.30% | 27.78% | D+39.5 | D |
| 53 | 51.53% | 46.59% | D+4.9 | 54.11% | 38.90% | D+15.2 | D |
| 54 | 83.83% | 15.06% | D+68.8 | 81.44% | 15.31% | D+66.1 | D |
| 55 | 56.64% | 40.99% | D+15.7 | 62.66% | 30.37% | D+32.3 | D |
| 56 | 37.97% | 60.61% | R+22.6 | 47.22% | 46.82% | D+0.4 | R |
| 57 | 27.13% | 71.48% | R+44.4 | 24.99% | 70.38% | R+45.4 | R |
| 58 | 86.45% | 11.94% | D+74.5 | 82.52% | 12.58% | D+69.9 | D |
| 59 | 70.87% | 27.77% | D+43.1 | 70.12% | 26.06% | D+44.1 | D |
| 60 | 42.92% | 55.47% | R+12.6 | 44.82% | 49.40% | R+4.6 | D |
| 61 | 25.02% | 73.85% | R+48.8 | 31.20% | 63.62% | R+32.4 | R |
| 62 | 29.19% | 69.47% | R+40.3 | 22.37% | 74.69% | R+52.3 | R |
| 63 | 24.83% | 73.95% | R+49.1 | 28.09% | 66.72% | R+38.6 | R |
| 64 | 31.94% | 66.63% | R+34.7 | 25.56% | 70.79% | R+45.2 | R |
| 65 | 29.11% | 69.35% | R+40.2 | 29.72% | 64.68% | R+35 | R |
| 66 | 31.53% | 67.11% | R+35.6 | 24.53% | 71.72% | R+47.2 | R |
| 67 | 54.58% | 43.95% | D+10.6 | 47.83% | 45.50% | D+2.3 | D |
| 68 | 35.78% | 62.76% | R+27 | 31.26% | 63.72% | R+32.5 | R |
| 69 | 40.73% | 57.62% | R+16.9 | 29.72% | 66.98% | R+37.3 | R |
| 70 | 31.22% | 67.54% | R+36.3 | 22.18% | 75.41% | R+53.2 | R |
| 71 | 24.67% | 73.66% | R+49 | 15.60% | 81.73% | R+66.1 | R |
| 72 | 27.58% | 70.95% | R+43.4 | 18.81% | 78.70% | R+59.9 | R |
| 73 | 32.43% | 66.66% | R+34.2 | 30.38% | 66.96% | R+36.6 | R |
| 74 | 44.75% | 53.51% | R+8.8 | 32.44% | 62.91% | R+30.5 | R |
| 75 | 35.99% | 62.32% | R+26.3 | 23.49% | 73.77% | R+50.3 | R |
| 76 | 31.38% | 67.25% | R+35.9 | 24.03% | 73.21% | R+49.2 | R |
| 77 | 26.95% | 71.89% | R+44.9 | 19.93% | 77.87% | R+57.9 | R |
| 78 | 31.74% | 66.52% | R+34.8 | 24.60% | 71.32% | R+46.7 | R |
| 79 | 32.57% | 66.24% | R+33.7 | 25.73% | 71.87% | R+46.1 | R |
| 80 | 65.84% | 33.40% | D+32.4 | 59.47% | 38.32% | D+21.2 | D |
| 81 | 29.62% | 69.23% | R+39.6 | 24.73% | 72.28% | R+47.6 | R |
| 82 | 47.11% | 52.21% | R+5.1 | 39.75% | 58.51% | R+18.8 | D |
| 83 | 35.52% | 63.50% | R+28 | 42.62% | 53.17% | R+10.6 | R |
| 84 | 88.19% | 11.41% | D+76.8 | 87.27% | 10.83% | D+76.4 | D |
| 85 | 86.69% | 12.90% | D+73.8 | 86.70% | 11.57% | D+75.1 | D |
| 86 | 76.09% | 23.16% | D+52.9 | 72.98% | 24.31% | D+48.7 | D |
| 87 | 86.77% | 12.68% | D+74.1 | 86.66% | 11.18% | D+75.5 | D |
| 88 | 76.07% | 23.17% | D+52.9 | 75.43% | 21.94% | D+53.5 | D |
| 89 | 29.02% | 69.00% | R+40 | 30.19% | 63.68% | R+33.5 | R |
| 90 | 82.88% | 15.83% | D+67.1 | 82.77% | 13.27% | D+69.5 | D |
| 91 | 89.73% | 9.60% | D+80.1 | 86.97% | 10.77% | D+76.2 | D |
| 92 | 32.45% | 65.92% | R+33.5 | 23.60% | 73.36% | R+49.8 | R |
| 93 | 78.51% | 20.54% | D+58 | 76.41% | 20.35% | D+56.1 | D |
| 94 | 31.77% | 67.08% | R+35.3 | 26.34% | 71.15% | R+44.8 | R |
| 95 | 23.35% | 75.79% | R+52.4 | 28.51% | 67.82% | R+39.3 | R |
| 96 | 43.76% | 55.37% | R+11.6 | 50.57% | 45.95% | D+4.6 | D |
| 97 | 37.56% | 61.31% | R+23.8 | 41.60% | 54.17% | R+12.6 | R |
| 98 | 81.57% | 17.71% | D+63.9 | 80.24% | 17.34% | D+62.9 | D |
| 99 | 28.53% | 70.51% | R+42 | 29.33% | 67.14% | R+37.8 | R |
| Total | 39.08% | 59.48% | R+20.4 | 34.91% | 61.06% | R+26.2 | - |
| Source: Daily Kos | |||||||
State elections
Tennessee Party Control: 1992-2024
Five years of Democratic trifectas • Fourteen years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | D | D | D | D | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | S | S | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Gubernatorial election
State legislative elections
Ballotpedia identified battleground races in the 2018 Tennessee state legislative Republican primary elections. These primaries had the potential to be more competitive than other races and could have led to changes in the membership of the Republican caucus or had an impact on general election races.
To determine the Tennessee state legislative Republican primary battleground races in 2018, Ballotpedia examined races that fit one or more of the three factors listed below:
- Identified by the media as a notable primary election.
- One or more of the candidates received a notable endorsement.
- The primary was known to be competitive based on past results or because it was a rematch of a primary that was competitive in the past.
House battlegrounds
District 35
What made this a battleground race?
| Incumbent Jerry Sexton faced a challenge from former state Sen. Mike Williams. Williams left the Republican Party in 2007 over disagreements with Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey (R) and unsuccessfully sought re-election as an independent in 2008. Grainger County Commissioner James Acuff also filed to run.[13] |
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 35
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jerry Sexton | 44.5 | 4,533 |
| Mike Williams | 31.5 | 3,205 | ||
| James Acuff | 24.0 | 2,439 | ||
| Total votes: 10,177 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
District 49
What made this a battleground race?
| Tennessee state Rep. Mike Sparks (R) faced Smyrna Town Councilman Tim Morrell, marking the third consecutive election cycle in which Sparks had an intra-party rival for the nomination. Morrell said Sparks was hostile to necessary infrastructure legislation, including Gov. Bill Haslam’s (R) 2017 plan to raise gas taxes to support road projects. Sparks said he opposed tax increases and thought the state should better manage existing revenue. Sparks’ previous challengers were Rutherford County Commissioner Robert Stevens in 2014 and Rutherford County Board of Education member Aaron Holladay in 2016. He beat Stevens by 8.4 percent and Holladay by 56 percent.[14] |
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 49
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mike Sparks | 51.0 | 2,430 |
| Tim Morrell | 49.0 | 2,335 | ||
| Total votes: 4,765 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
District 89
What made this a battleground race?
| Five Republicans filed to replace retiring state Rep. Roger Kane. Among them was former state Sen. Stacey Campfield, who was defeated in his 2014 primary. Other primary candidates were former Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchison, businessman Justin Lafferty, attorney Jesse Nelson, and physician Guy Smoak.[13] |
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 89
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Justin Lafferty | 30.3 | 2,734 |
 | Tim Hutchison | 25.7 | 2,322 | |
 | Stacey Campfield | 21.4 | 1,929 | |
| Guy Smoak | 11.4 | 1,029 | ||
| Jesse Nelson | 11.3 | 1,019 | ||
| Total votes: 9,033 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
District 92
What made this a battleground race?
| Incumbent Rick Tillis faced a challenge from former state Rep. Billy Spivey. Spivey criticized Tillis for voting for Gov. Bill Haslam’s (R) 2017 plan to raise gas taxes to support road projects.[13] |
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 92
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Thomas R. Tillis | 57.2 | 4,788 |
 | Billy Spivey | 42.8 | 3,586 | |
| Total votes: 8,374 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
State party overview
- See also: Republican Party of Tennessee
State political party revenue
The Democratic Party and the Republican Party maintain state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and select U.S. territories. The following maps display total state political party revenue per capita for the Democratic and Republican state party affiliates from 2011 to 2016. The blue map displays Democratic state parties and the red map displays Republican state parties. Click on a state below to view the state party's revenue per capita totals:
Total Democratic and Republican state political party revenue per capita in the United States, 2011-2016
Primary election scheduling
Tennessee was the only state to hold a primary election on August 2, 2018.
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Tennessee utilizes a closed primary process; a voter must either be registered with a political party or must declare his or affiliation with the party at the polls on primary election day in order to vote in that party's primary.[15]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
Each county election commission must determine the opening time for polling places in the county at least 15 days before an election, with certain requirements based on county population. All polling places close at 7 p.m. CST (8 p.m. EST). The polls must be open for a minimum of 10 consecutive hours, but not more than 13 hours. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[16][17]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To register to vote in Tennessee, an applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Tennessee, and at least 18 years old by the day of the next election.[18]
Prospective voters can register online, by mailing a voter registration application to the county election commission, or in person at a variety of locations including the county clerk’s office, the county election commission office, public libraries, and numerous state agencies. Registration must be completed 30 days before an election.[18]
Automatic registration
- See also: Automatic voter registration
Tennessee does not practice automatic voter registration.[19]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Tennessee has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
- See also: Same-day voter registration
Tennessee does not allow same-day voter registration.[20]
Residency requirements
To register to vote in Tennessee, you must be a resident of the state.[18] Click here for more information about determining residency in Tennessee.
Verification of citizenship
Tennessee does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, providing false information on an application "is a felony punishable by not less than two (2) years nor more than twelve (12) years imprisonment or a fine of $5,000 or both."[21]
Tennessee law requires election officials to conduct check of voter registration applicants' citizenship status. Section 2-2-141 of the Tennessee Code states the following:
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‘’’2-2-141. Proof of citizenship for registering to vote.’’’ (a) The coordinator of elections shall compare the statewide voter registration database with the department of safety database to ensure non-United States citizens are not registered to vote in this state. The coordinator of elections is authorized to compare the statewide voter registration database with relevant federal and state agencies and county records for the same purpose. If evidence exists that a particular registered voter is not a citizen of the United States, the coordinator of elections shall notify the county election commission where the person registered to vote that the registered voter may not be a citizen of the United States. (b) After receiving such notice, the county election commission shall send a notice to the registered voter inquiring whether the individual is eligible to be registered to vote. Any registered voter who receives the notice shall, within thirty (30) days of the receipt of such notice, provide proof of citizenship to the county election commission.[22] |
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| —Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-2-141[23] | ||
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[24] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The Tennessee secretary of state’s office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.
Voter ID requirements
Tennessee requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[25]
The following were accepted forms of identification as of October 2025. Click here for the Tennessee Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
Voters can present the following forms of identification, even if expired:[26]
- Tennessee driver’s license with photo
- United States passport
- Photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
- Photo ID issued by the federal or Tennessee state government
- United States Military photo ID
- Tennessee handgun carry permit with photo
First time voters who register by mail or online can not use an expired ID. If they do not have a currently valid ID, they may use the following to vote at the polls:[26]
- A copy of a current utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government check
- Paycheck
- Other government document that shows the voter’s name and address
The following voters are exempt from the photo ID requirements:[26]
- Voters who vote absentee by mail
- Voters who are residents of a licensed nursing home or assisted living center and who vote at the facility
- Voters who are hospitalized
- Voters with a religious objection to being photographed
- Voters who are indigent and unable to obtain a photo ID without paying a fee
Voters can obtain a free photo ID from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security at any participating driver service center. In order to receive an ID, a voter must bring proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate) and two proofs of Tennessee residency (such as a voter registration card, a utility bill, vehicle registration or title, or bank statement).[27]
Early voting
Tennessee permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting begins 20 days before an election and ends five days before an election, except for presidential primaries, when early voting closes seven days before the primary. Early voting is held at county election commission offices and satellite voting locations.[28]
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
Only certain voters may vote absentee by-mail in Tennessee. According to the Tennessee secretary of state's office:[29]
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You can vote absentee by-mail if you fall under one of the following categories:
NOTE: If you reside in a licensed nursing home, assisted living facility, home for the aged, or an independent living facility on the same property as a licensed nursing home, assisted living facility, or home for the aged inside your county of residence, you may not vote absentee by-mail. Election officials will come to the facility to vote eligible residents, or you may vote during early voting or on Election Day.[22] |
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Absentee ballot applications may not be submitted more than 90 days before an election and must be received by the county election commission no later than 10 days before an election. The completed ballot must be returned by mail and received by the county election commission by the close of polls on Election Day.[29]
See also
| Federal primaries in Tennessee | State primaries in Tennessee | Tennessee state party apparatus | Tennessee voter information |
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Footnotes
- ↑ In Tennessee, most polling places were open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. All precincts closed at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and 7:00 p.m. Central.
- ↑ In Tennessee, most polling places were open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. All precincts closed at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and 7:00 p.m. Central.
- ↑ ‘’National Review’’, “Trump Is Not Blameless in the Spending-Bill Disaster,” March 28, 2018
- ↑ The New York Times, "A New Guide to the Republican Herd," August 26, 2012
- ↑ Gallup, "Trump Job Approval Slips Back to 41%," June 25, 2018
- ↑ Daily Commercial, "Trump hurdle looms large in Florida GOP governor primary," July 30, 2018
- ↑ Daily Commercial, "These 2018 Primaries Are Worth Watching," July 25, 2018
- ↑ Washington Post, "Republican primary candidates have one goal: Securing Trump’s endorsement or denying it to an opponent," July 25, 2018
- ↑ USA Today, "Donald Trump once divided Republicans; ads for midterms signal that's no longer true," May 17, 2018
- ↑ CNBC, "Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee will not seek re-election," September 26, 2017
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 WREG, "A look at key primary legislative races in Tennessee," July 30, 2018
- ↑ Daily News Journal, "State Rep. Mike Sparks faces GOP competition from Smyrna Town Councilman Tim Morrell," April 9, 2018
- ↑ LexisNexis, "Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-7-115," accessed July 16, 2025
- ↑ LexisNexis, "Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-3-201," accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ LexisNexis, "Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-7-127," accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Register to Vote," accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Automatic Voter Registration," accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Same-Day Voter Registration," accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "Tennessee Mail-In Application For Voter Registration," accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ LexisNexis, “Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-2-141,” accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "What ID is required when voting?" accessed October 8, 2025
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Guide on ID Requirements when voting," accessed October 8, 2025
- ↑ Lauderdale County Elections, "Voter ID Requirements," accessed October 8, 2025
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "How to Early Vote - In Person," accessed July 16, 2025
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Guide to Absentee Voting," accessed July 15, 2025
