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Tennessee's 8th Congressional District election (August 2, 2018 Republican primary)
- 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]
2020 →
← 2016
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Tennessee's 8th Congressional District |
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Democratic primary Republican primary General election |
Election details |
Filing deadline: April 5, 2018 |
Primary: August 2, 2018 General: November 6, 2018 Pre-election incumbent: David Kustoff (Republican) |
How to vote |
Poll times: Varies by county Voting in Tennessee |
Race ratings |
Inside Elections: Solid Republican Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican |
Ballotpedia analysis |
U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018 |
See also |
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th Tennessee elections, 2018 U.S. Congress elections, 2018 U.S. Senate elections, 2018 U.S. House elections, 2018 |
Incumbent Rep. David Kustoff (R) defeated self-funding radiologist and broadcaster George Flinn Jr. (R) in a rematch for the Republican primary for Tennessee's 8th Congressional District. He first beat Flinn by 4 percentage points in a 13-candidate Republican primary field in 2016.
The only other candidate in the race, realtor Colleen Owens (R), suspended her campaign and endorsed Flinn in July.[3]
Flinn loaned more than $3 million to his own campaign and spent more than $2.7 million through mid-July. He released ads criticizing Kustoff for supporting HR 1625, the omnibus spending bill, and joining with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to fund Planned Parenthood.[4][5] Kustoff responded with an advertisement saying Flinn's broadcasting company profited from ads promoting Planned Parenthood.[6]
Both candidates expressed support for President Donald Trump (R). Flinn said he would back the Trump administration's agenda, while Kustoff had voted in line with Trump's position 93 percent of the time.[7][8]
For more on related elections, please see:
- Tennessee's 8th Congressional District election (August 2, 2018 Democratic primary)
- Tennessee's 8th Congressional District election, 2018
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2018
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2018
- Democratic Party primaries in Tennessee, 2018
- Republican Party primaries in Tennessee, 2018
Candidates and election results
Incumbent David Kustoff defeated George Flinn Jr. and Colleen Owens in the Republican primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8 on August 2, 2018.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | David Kustoff | 56.0 | 57,741 |
![]() | George Flinn Jr. | 39.7 | 40,903 | |
![]() | Colleen Owens | 4.3 | 4,460 |
Total votes: 103,104 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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. |
Top candidates
David Kustoff
Kustoff was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016. He was appointed U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee by President George W. Bush in 2006 and oversaw the Tennessee Waltz corruption trials against several local and state officials.[9]
He highlighted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 when announcing his campaign. "It’s the most important vote I’ve taken since I’ve been in Congress,” Kustoff said. “The fact that it was passed led by President Trump, we’re seeing an economic revival across this country and in West Tennessee. I’m very proud of that vote."[10]
On his campaign website, he identified supporting the Trump administration's agenda, national security and the Middle East, and law enforcement as some of his policy priorities.[11]
George Flinn Jr.
Flinn, an electrical engineer turned physician, established a chain of radiology clinics in Tennessee. He also founded Flinn Broadcasting, which owns 40 radio and television stations across the United States.[12][13] He served in the United States Public Health Service under the Nixon administration.[14]
"The establishment has worked overtime to keep us out. They prefer political insiders they can control. People who are preserving the system like it is," Flinn said in his campaign announcement video. "Like you, I won't be controlled by special interests."[15]
He listed repealing the Affordable Care Act, supporting the military and advancing technology for national security, and creating jobs through problem-solving as some of his policy priorities.[16]
Candidates
Republican primary candidates
- David Kustoff (Incumbent) ✔
- George Flinn Jr.
- Colleen Owens
Campaign strategies and tactics
Campaign advertisements
Flinn
Support
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Kustoff
Support
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Oppose
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Campaign finance
The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.
Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
David Kustoff | Republican Party | $1,792,247 | $1,835,726 | $71,900 | As of December 31, 2018 |
John Boatner Jr. | Democratic Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
Erika Stotts Pearson | Democratic Party | $9,495 | $8,094 | $951 | As of December 31, 2018 |
George Flinn Jr. | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
Colleen Owens | Republican Party | $20,223 | $20,222 | $0 | As of September 1, 2018 |
James Hart | Independent | $101 | $311 | $1,088 | As of December 31, 2018 |
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2018. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
District analysis
- See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
- See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores
The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+19, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 19 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Tennessee's 8th Congressional District the 42nd most Republican nationally.[17]
FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.01. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.01 points toward that party.[18]
District election history
2016
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Stephen Lee Fincher did not seek re-election to his seat in 2016. Twenty-one candidates filed in the race to replace him. David Kustoff (R) defeated Rickey Hobson (D), and independents Shelia Godwin, James Hart, Adrian Montague, Mark Rawles, and Karen Free Spirit Talley-Lane in the general election on November 8, 2016. Hobson defeated Gregory Alan Frye in the Democratic primary, while Kustoff defeated 12 other candidates in the Republican primary. The primary elections took place on August 4, 2016.[19][20][21]
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | ![]() |
68.8% | 194,386 | |
Democratic | Rickey Hobson | 25.1% | 70,925 | |
Independent | Shelia Godwin | 2.3% | 6,442 | |
Independent | James Hart | 1.4% | 4,057 | |
Independent | Adrian Montague | 0.9% | 2,497 | |
Independent | Mark Rawles | 0.9% | 2,445 | |
Independent | Karen Free Spirit Talley-Lane | 0.7% | 1,981 | |
Total Votes | 282,733 | |||
Source: Tennessee Secretary of State |
Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
54.8% | 7,774 | ||
Gregory Frye | 45.2% | 6,413 | ||
Total Votes | 14,187 | |||
Source: Tennessee Secretary of State |
Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
27.4% | 16,889 | ||
George Flinn Jr. | 23.1% | 14,200 | ||
Mark Luttrell | 17.7% | 10,878 | ||
Brian Kelsey | 12.9% | 7,942 | ||
Brad Greer | 11.1% | 6,819 | ||
Tom Leatherwood | 4.3% | 2,620 | ||
Hunter Baker | 1.6% | 1,014 | ||
Ken Atkins | 0.7% | 410 | ||
Raymond Honeycutt | 0.4% | 231 | ||
George Howell | 0.3% | 211 | ||
David Wharton | 0.2% | 131 | ||
David Bault | 0.2% | 109 | ||
David Maldonado | 0.1% | 76 | ||
Total Votes | 61,530 | |||
Source: Tennessee Secretary of State |
2014
The 8th Congressional District of Tennessee held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Stephen Lee Fincher (R) defeated Wes Bradley (D), Mark Rawles (C) and James Hart (I) in the general election.
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | ![]() |
70.8% | 122,205 | |
Democratic | Wes Bradley | 24.6% | 42,403 | |
Constitution | Mark Rawles | 2.6% | 4,450 | |
Independent | James Hart | 2% | 3,446 | |
Total Votes | 172,504 | |||
Source: Tennessee Secretary of State Vote totals above are unofficial and will be updated once official totals are made available. |
2012
The 8th Congressional District of Tennessee held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Stephen Lee Fincher won re-election in the district.[22]
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Timothy Dixon | 28.4% | 79,490 | |
Republican | ![]() |
68.3% | 190,923 | |
Independent | James Hart | 2.2% | 6,139 | |
Independent | Mark Rawles | 1% | 2,870 | |
Total Votes | 279,422 | |||
Source: Tennessee Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" |
2010
On November 2, 2010, Stephen Fincher won election to the United States House. He defeated Roy Herron (D) in the general election.[23]
U.S. House, Tennessee District 8 General Election, 2010 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Republican | ![]() |
60.3% | 98,759 | |
Democratic | Roy Herron | 39.7% | 64,960 | |
Total Votes | 163,719 |
2008
On November 4, 2008, John S. Tanner won re-election to the United States House. He defeated James Hart (Write-in) in the general election.[24]
U.S. House, Tennessee District 8 General Election, 2008 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Democratic | ![]() |
100% | 180,465 | |
Write-in | James Hart | 0% | 54 | |
Total Votes | 180,519 |
2006
On November 7, 2006, John S. Tanner won re-election to the United States House. He defeated John Farmer (R) and James Hart (I) in the general election.[25]
2004
On November 2, 2004, John S. Tanner won re-election to the United States House. He defeated James L. Hart (R) and Dennis Bertrand (Write-in) in the general election.[26]
2002
On November 5, 2002, John S. Tanner won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Mat McClain (R), James L. Hart (I) in the general election.[27]
2000
On November 7, 2000, John S. Tanner won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Billy Yancy (R) in the general election.[28]
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.[29][30]
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 overview
Partisan control
This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Tennessee heading into the 2018 elections.
Congressional delegation
- Following the 2016 elections, Republicans held both U.S. Senate seats in Tennessee.
- Republicans held seven of nine U.S. House seats in Tennessee.
State executives
- As of September 2018, Republicans held four 10 state executive positions. The remaining six were officially nonpartisan.
- The governor of Tennessee was Republican Bill Haslam. The state held elections for governor on November 6, 2018.
State legislature
- Republicans controlled both chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly. They had a 25-69 majority in the state House and a 4-26 majority in the state Senate.
Trifecta status
- See also: State government trifectas
- Tennessee was under a Republican trifecta, meaning Republicans had control of the state government.
2018 elections
- See also: Tennessee elections, 2018
Tennessee held elections for the following positions in 2018:
- 1 U.S. Senate seat
- All 9 U.S. House seats
- Governor
- 18 of 33 state Senate seats
- All 99 state House seats
- State legislative special elections
- Local judges
- School boards
- Municipal elections
- 1 local ballot measure
Demographics
Demographic data for Tennessee | ||
---|---|---|
Tennessee | U.S. | |
Total population: | 6,595,056 | 316,515,021 |
Land area (sq mi): | 41,235 | 3,531,905 |
Race and ethnicity** | ||
White: | 77.8% | 73.6% |
Black/African American: | 16.8% | 12.6% |
Asian: | 1.6% | 5.1% |
Native American: | 0.3% | 0.8% |
Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.2% |
Two or more: | 2% | 3% |
Hispanic/Latino: | 4.9% | 17.1% |
Education | ||
High school graduation rate: | 85.5% | 86.7% |
College graduation rate: | 24.9% | 29.8% |
Income | ||
Median household income: | $45,219 | $53,889 |
Persons below poverty level: | 21.4% | 11.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Tennessee. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. |
As of July 2016, Tennessee's three largest cities were Nashville-Davidson (pop. est. 667,885), Memphis (pop. est. 652,236), and Knoxville (pop. est. 187,347).[31]
State election history
This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Tennessee from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Tennessee Secretary of State.[32]
Historical elections
Presidential elections
Election results (President of the United States), Tennessee 2000-2016 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
2016 | ![]() |
60.7% | ![]() |
34.7% | 26.0% |
2012 | ![]() |
59.5% | ![]() |
39.1% | 20.4% |
2008 | ![]() |
56.9% | ![]() |
41.8% | 15.1% |
2004 | ![]() |
56.8% | ![]() |
42.5% | 14.3% |
2000 | ![]() |
51.2% | ![]() |
47.3% | 3.9% |
U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2014
This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Tennessee from 2000 to 2014. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.
Election results (U.S. Senator), Tennessee 2000-2014 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
2014 | ![]() |
61.9% | ![]() |
31.9% | 30.0% |
2012 | ![]() |
64.9% | ![]() |
30.4% | 34.5% |
2008 | ![]() |
65.1% | ![]() |
31.6% | 33.5% |
2006 | ![]() |
50.7% | ![]() |
48.0% | 2.7% |
2002 | ![]() |
54.3% | ![]() |
44.3% | 10.0% |
2000 | ![]() |
65.1% | ![]() |
32.2% | 32.9% |
Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Tennessee.
Election results (Governor), Tennessee 2000-2016 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
2014 | ![]() |
70.3% | ![]() |
22.8% | 47.5% |
2010 | ![]() |
65.0% | ![]() |
33.1% | 31.9% |
2006 | ![]() |
68.6% | ![]() |
29.7% | 38.9% |
2002 | ![]() |
50.7% | ![]() |
47.6% | 3.1% |
Congressional delegation, 2000-2016
This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Tennessee in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.
Trifectas, 1992-2017
A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.
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 |
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, 2018
- United States House elections in Tennessee (August 2, 2018 Republican primaries)
- Tennessee's 8th Congressional District election (August 2, 2018 Democratic primary)
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2018
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.
- ↑ Colleen Owens for Congress, "Home," accessed July 25, 2018
- ↑ Tennessee Star, "Flinn Targets Kustoff for Funding Planned Parenthood in West Tennessee Congressional Battle," June 1, 2018
- ↑ FEC, "Flinn, George S Dr Jr," accessed July 25, 2018
- ↑ Advertising Analytics, "Standing for Life," accessed July 25, 2018
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Tracking Congress In The Age Of Trump," accessed July 25, 2018
- ↑ Tracking Our Congress, "It’s Time You Hear The Truth About Congressman Kustoff," accessed July 25, 2018
- ↑ Kustoff for Congress, "About," accessed July 24, 2018
- ↑ Jackson Sun, "U.S. Rep David Kustoff announces he is seeking re-election," April 4, 2018
- ↑ Kustoff for Congress, "Issues," accessed July 24, 2018
- ↑ Tennesseean, "What about George Flinn?" July 24, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Star, "Tennessee’s Radio and Radiology Mogul Dr. George Flinn Lends His Campaign to Unseat Rep. David Kustoff $1.4 Million," April 20, 2018
- ↑ Flinn for 8, "Protecting Our Values," accessed July 24, 2018
- ↑ YouTube, "George Flinn," accessed July 24, 2018
- ↑ Flinn for 8, "Values & Beliefs," accessed July 24, 2018
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "Candidate Petitions Filed as of April 7, 2016 Noon Qualifying Deadline," accessed April 8, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Tennessee House Primaries Results," August 4, 2016
- ↑ CNN, "Election Results," accessed November 8, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, Tennessee"
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2004," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2000," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Tennessee Demographics, "Tennessee Cities by Population" accessed September 7, 2018
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "Election Results," accessed September 7, 2018