Tennessee State Senate elections, 2022
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| 2022 Tennessee Senate Elections | |
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| Primary | August 4, 2022 |
| General | November 8, 2022 |
| Past Election Results |
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| 2022 Elections | |
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Elections for the Tennessee State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for August 4, 2022. The filing deadline was April 14, 2022. The filing deadline was originally scheduled for April 7, 2022, but was rescheduled for May 5, 2022, after a judicial panel ordered the Senate maps be redrawn. This decision was appealed and reversed and the filing deadline for the state Senate was changed to April 14, 2022. [1][2]
The Tennessee State Senate was one of 88 state legislative chambers holding elections in 2022. There are 99 chambers throughout the country.
Party control
| Party | As of November 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 6 | |
| Republican Party | 27 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 33 | |
Candidates
Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:
- Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
- Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies
This list will be updated after the candidate filing deadline has passed and the official list of candidates becomes available. Please contact us if you notice an official candidate missing from the list or the inclusion of a candidate who withdrew.
Primary
Tennessee State Senate Primary 2022 |
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| Office |  Democratic |
 Republican |
Other |
| District 1 |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 3 |
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| District 5 |
No candidates filed for the Democratic primary Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 7 |
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| District 9 |
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| District 11 |
No candidates filed for the Democratic primary |
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| District 13 |
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| District 15 |
No candidates filed for the Democratic primary |
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| District 17 |
No candidates filed for the Democratic primary |
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| District 19 |
Barry Barlow Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 21 |
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No candidates filed for the Republican primary |
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| District 23 |
No candidates filed for the Democratic primary |
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| District 25 |
No candidates filed for the Democratic primary |
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| District 27 |
No candidates filed for the Democratic primary |
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| District 29 |
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No candidates filed for the Republican primary |
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| District 31 |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 33 |
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= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate ConnectionGeneral
Tennessee State Senate General Election 2022 |
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| Office | Democratic |
Republican |
Other |
| District 1 |
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| District 3 |
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| District 5 |
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| District 7 |
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| District 9 |
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| District 11 |
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| District 13 |
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| District 15 |
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| District 17 |
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| District 19 |
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| District 21 |
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Rueben Dockery (Independent) |
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| District 23 |
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| District 25 |
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Ronnie Henley (Independent) |
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| District 27 |
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| District 29 |
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| District 31 |
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| District 33 |
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Hastina Robinson (Independent) |
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Competitiveness
This section will be updated with information about the competitiveness of state legislative elections in Tennessee. For more information about Ballotpedia's Competitiveness Analysis of state legislative elections, please click here.
Process to become a candidate
See statutes: Chapter 2-5 and Chapter 2-7 of the Tennessee Code
State legislative candidates
A candidate running for the state legislature, whether partisan or independent, must adhere to the same ballot access requirements, which are detailed below.
- The candidate must obtain a nominating petition from a county election commission office or the office of the state coordinator of elections.[3][4]
- The nominating petition must be signed by the candidate and at least 25 voters who are registered in the candidate's district.[3][4]
- The signer of a petition must include the address shown on his or her voter registration card in order for his or her signature to be counted.[4]
- The candidate must file the original nominating petition in the office of the county election commission by the first Thursday of April in his or her county of residence. The candidate must also file a certified duplicate in the county election commission office in each county wholly or partially within the candidate's district. This requirement applies to both political party candidates running in the primary and independent candidates running in the general election.[3][4]
- There are no filing fees.
Federal and statewide office
A partisan or independent candidate for governor, United States Representative, or United States Senator must obtain a nominating petition from a county election commission office or the office of the state coordinator of elections.[5][6]
- The nominating petition must be signed by at least 25 voters who are registered anywhere in Tennessee.[5][7]
- The signer of a petition must include the address shown on his or her voter registration card in order for the signature to be counted.[4]
- The candidate must file the nominating petition no later than noon on the first Thursday of April.[5][7]
- The candidate must file the original nominating petition in the office of the Tennessee State Election Commission. The candidate must also file a certified duplicate in the office of the state coordinator of elections. Both of these must be received by the qualifying deadline.[5][7]
- There are no filing fees.
For write-in candidates
In order to have his or her votes tallied, a write-in candidate must file a certificate of write-in candidacy no later than noon on the 50th day before the general election in each county that makes up the district of the listed office. For the offices of governor, United States Senator, and United States Representative, this form must be filed with the Tennessee Coordinator of Elections.[8][9]
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve in the Tennessee State Senate, a candidate must be:[10]
- A U.S. citizen
- 30 years old before the general election
- A three-year resident of Tennessee before the general election
- A district resident for 1 year prior to the general election
- A qualified voter
- The following situations would eliminate a candidate from qualifying for office:
- Those who have been convicted of offering or giving a bribe, or of larceny, or any other offense declared infamous by law, unless restored to citizenship in the mode pointed out by law;
- Those against whom there is a judgment unpaid for any moneys received by them, in any official capacity, due to the United States, to this state, or any county thereof;
- Those who are defaulters to the treasury at the time of the election, and the election of any such person shall be void;
- Soldiers, seamen, marines, or airmen in the regular army or navy or air force of the United States; and
- Members of congress, and persons holding any office of profit or trust under any foreign power, other state of the union, or under the United States.
Salaries and per diem
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[11] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $28,405.96/year | $326.47/day. Legislators living within 50 miles of the Capitol receive a reduced amount of $47 per day. |
When sworn in
Template:TN sworn in
Tennessee political history
Trifectas
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.
Tennessee Party Control: 1992-2025
Five years of Democratic trifectas • Fifteen 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 |
Presidential politics in Tennessee
2016 Presidential election results
| U.S. presidential election, Tennessee, 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine | 34.7% | 870,695 | 0 | |
| Republican |  Donald Trump/Mike Pence |
60.7% | 1,522,925 | 11 | |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Bill Weld | 2.8% | 70,397 | 0 | |
| Green | Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka | 0.6% | 15,993 | 0 | |
| Independent | Rocky De La Fuente/Michael Steinberg | 0.2% | 4,075 | 0 | |
| Independent | Alyson Kennedy/Osborne Hart | 0.1% | 2,877 | 0 | |
| Independent | Mike Smith/Daniel White | 0.3% | 7,276 | 0 | |
| - | Write-in votes | 0.5% | 13,789 | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 2,508,027 | 11 | |||
| Election results via: Tennessee Secretary of State | |||||
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.[12]
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.[13][14]
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.[15]
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.[15]
Automatic registration
- See also: Automatic voter registration
Tennessee does not practice automatic voter registration.[16]
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.[17]
Residency requirements
To register to vote in Tennessee, you must be a resident of the state.[15] 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."[18]
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.[19] |
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| —Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-2-141[20] | ||
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.[21] 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.[22]
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:[23]
- 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:[23]
- 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:[23]
- 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).[24]
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.[25]
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:[26]
| “ |
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.[19] |
” |
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.[26]
Redistricting following the 2020 census
On November 22, 2023, the Davidson County Chancery Court struck down the state Senate map, declaring it unconstitutional. The court ordered the state to create a new state Senate map by January 31, 2024.[27] On April 13, 2022, the Tennessee Supreme Court reversed a ruling by the Davidson County Chancery Court on April 6, blocking the same state Senate map. Gov. Lee signed the state's legislative districts into law on February 6, 2022.[28]
See also
| Tennessee | State Legislative Elections | News and Analysis |
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2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Tennessean, "Tennessee Supreme Court reverses lower court order blocking state's new Senate map," April 13, 2022
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "Petition Information," accessed April 11, 2022
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Tennessee Department of Elections, "Qualifying Procedures for Candidates for Tennessee House of Representatives," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Tennessee Code, "Chapter 2-5-101," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Tennessee Department of Elections, "Qualifying Procedures for Candidates for Governor," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ Tennessee Code, "Chapter 2-5-103," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Qualifying Procedures for United States Senate Tennessee Candidates for United States Senate," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ Tennessee Department of Elections, "Write-In Candidacy Form," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ Tennessee Code, "Chapter 2-7-133," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "Qualifications for elected offices in Tennessee," accessed December 18, 2013
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 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
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 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
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 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
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Guide to Absentee Voting," accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ The Tennessean, "Judges rule Tennessee Senate map unconstitutional, order legislature to redraw by Jan. 31," November 22, 2023
- ↑ The Tennessean, "Gov. Bill Lee signs redistricting bills dividing Davidson County into three congressional districts," February 7, 2022
