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Tennessee's 8th Congressional District
Tennessee's 8th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by David Kustoff (R).
As of the 2020 Census, Tennessee representatives represented an average of 768,544 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 708,381 residents.
Elections
See also: Tennessee's 8th Congressional District election, 2030
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
See also: Tennessee's 8th Congressional District election, 2028
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
See also: Tennessee's 8th Congressional District election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on August 6, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8
William Wicker (D) is running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8 on August 6, 2026.
Candidate | ||
William Wicker  | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary
Republican primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8
Incumbent David Kustoff (R) is running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8 on August 6, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | David Kustoff | |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
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See also: Tennessee's 8th Congressional District election, 2024
General election
General election for U.S. House Tennessee District 8
Incumbent David Kustoff (R) defeated Sarah Freeman (D) and James Hart (Independent) in the general election for U.S. House Tennessee District 8 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | David Kustoff (R) | 72.3 | 240,411 |
 | Sarah Freeman (D) | 25.6 | 85,043 | |
 | James Hart (Independent) | 2.1 | 6,861 | |
| Total votes: 332,315 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8
Sarah Freeman (D) defeated Brenda Woods (D), Lynnette Williams (D), Leonard Perkins (D), and Lawrence Pivnick (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8 on August 1, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sarah Freeman | 33.7 | 5,552 |
| Brenda Woods | 27.8 | 4,580 | ||
| Lynnette Williams | 17.5 | 2,887 | ||
 | Leonard Perkins | 13.1 | 2,160 | |
 | Lawrence Pivnick | 7.8 | 1,279 | |
| Total votes: 16,458 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary
Republican primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8
Incumbent David Kustoff (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8 on August 1, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | David Kustoff | 100.0 | 55,809 |
| Total votes: 55,809 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- George Flinn Jr. (R)
See also: Tennessee's 8th Congressional District election, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. House Tennessee District 8
Incumbent David Kustoff (R) defeated Lynnette Williams (D), James Hart (Independent), and Ronnie Henley (Independent) in the general election for U.S. House Tennessee District 8 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | David Kustoff (R) | 74.0 | 155,602 |
| Lynnette Williams (D) | 24.3 | 51,102 | ||
| | James Hart (Independent) | 1.2 | 2,541 | |
 | Ronnie Henley (Independent) | 0.5 | 1,070 | |
| Total votes: 210,315 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8
Lynnette Williams (D) defeated Tim McDonald (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8 on August 4, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Lynnette Williams | 63.3 | 15,819 | |
 | Tim McDonald | 36.7 | 9,187 | |
| Total votes: 25,006 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary
Republican primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8
Incumbent David Kustoff (R) defeated Bob Hendry (R), Danny Bridger Jr. (R), and Dean Clouse (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8 on August 4, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | David Kustoff | 83.7 | 69,538 |
 | Bob Hendry | 8.4 | 6,990 | |
 | Danny Bridger Jr. | 5.1 | 4,233 | |
 | Dean Clouse | 2.8 | 2,291 | |
| Total votes: 83,052 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
See also: Tennessee's 8th Congressional District election, 2020
General election
General election for U.S. House Tennessee District 8
Incumbent David Kustoff (R) defeated Erika Stotts Pearson (D), James Hart (Independent), and Jon Dillard (Independent) in the general election for U.S. House Tennessee District 8 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | David Kustoff (R) | 68.5 | 227,216 |
 | Erika Stotts Pearson (D) | 29.5 | 97,890 | |
| | James Hart (Independent) | 1.1 | 3,763 | |
 | Jon Dillard (Independent) | 0.9 | 2,984 | |
| Total votes: 331,853 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8
Erika Stotts Pearson (D) defeated Savannah Williamson (D), Lawrence Pivnick (D), and Hollis Skinner (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8 on August 6, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Erika Stotts Pearson | 51.1 | 14,510 |
| Savannah Williamson | 20.4 | 5,788 | ||
| | Lawrence Pivnick | 16.5 | 4,685 | |
| Hollis Skinner | 11.9 | 3,389 | ||
| Total votes: 28,372 (100% precincts reporting) | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary
Republican primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8
Incumbent David Kustoff (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8 on August 6, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | David Kustoff | 100.0 | 70,677 |
| Total votes: 70,677 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, 2018
General election
General election for U.S. House Tennessee District 8
Incumbent David Kustoff (R) defeated Erika Stotts Pearson (D) and James Hart (Independent) in the general election for U.S. House Tennessee District 8 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | David Kustoff (R) | 67.7 | 168,030 |
| | Erika Stotts Pearson (D) | 30.1 | 74,755 | |
| | James Hart (Independent) | 2.2 | 5,560 | |
| Total votes: 248,345 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8
Erika Stotts Pearson (D) defeated John Boatner Jr. (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8 on August 2, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Erika Stotts Pearson | 50.4 | 17,137 |
 | John Boatner Jr. | 49.6 | 16,847 | |
| Total votes: 33,9840 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary
Republican primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8
Incumbent David Kustoff (R) defeated George Flinn Jr. (R) and Colleen Owens (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Tennessee District 8 on August 2, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | David Kustoff | 56.0 | 57,741 |
 | George Flinn Jr. | 39.7 | 40,903 | |
 | Colleen Owens | 4.3 | 4,460 | |
| Total votes: 103,1040 | |||
| = 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 map
Redistricting
2020-2021
On February 6, 2022, Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed new congressional districts into law, approving a proposal passed by both chambers of the Tennessee legislature.[11] On January 18, 2022, the Senate Judiciary Committee recommended a congressional district proposal for consideration by the full Senate in a 7-2 vote along party lines, with all Republicans supporting the proposal and all Democrats opposing it.[12] The Senate approved proposals for congressional and Senate maps in a 26-5 party-line vote on January 20.[13] The House approved the congressional plan in a 70-26 party-line vote on January 24.[14] This map took effect for Tennessee's 2022 congressional elections.
On November 15, 2021, Tennessee Democrats released a congressional district map keeping major cities like Nashville whole and putting Williamson, Rutherford, and Wilson counties in the state's fourth congressional district.[15] The House Select Committee on Redistricting released a proposal on January 12, 2022.[16]
How does redistricting in Tennessee work? In Tennessee, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.[17]
The Tennessee Constitution requires that state Senate districts "preserve counties whole where possible." State statutes mandate that no more than 30 counties may be split across districts. Furthermore, state law requires that state legislative districts be contiguous. There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.[17]
2020
2024
2010-2011
In 2011, the Tennessee State Legislature re-drew the congressional districts based on updated population information from the 2010 census.
District analysis
- See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
- See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores
2026
Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+21. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 21 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Tennessee's 8th the 30th most Republican district nationally.[18]
2024
Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+21. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 21 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Tennessee's 8th the 34th most Republican district nationally.[19]
Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Donald Trump (R) would have defeated Joe Biden (D) 67.9%-30.6%.[20]
2022
Heading into the 2022 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+21. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 21 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Tennessee's 8th the 32nd most Republican district nationally.[21]
Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have received 30.6% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 67.9%.[22]
2018
Heading into the 2018 elections, based on results from the 2016 and 2012 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+19. This meant that in those 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.[23]
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.[24]
See also
- Redistricting in Tennessee
- Tennessee's 8th Congressional District election, 2024
- Tennessee's 8th Congressional District election, 2022
- Tennessee's 8th Congressional District election, 2020
- Tennessee's 8th Congressional District election, 2018
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedjan24 - ↑ The Tennessee Journal, "Dems submit congressional redistricting plan," November 15, 2021
- ↑ Washington Examiner, "Proposed Tennessee congressional map splits Davidson County three ways," January 13, 2022
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 All About Redistricting, "Tennessee," accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI℠)," accessed January 10, 2024
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2020 presidential results by congressional district, for new and old districts," accessed September 15, 2022
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI℠)," accessed February 6, 2023
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2020 presidential results by congressional district, for new and old districts," accessed September 15, 2022
- ↑ 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
