# 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee

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vte :
The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee was held on November 8, 2016, to elect the nine U.S. representatives from the state of Tennessee, one from each of the state's nine congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including President of the United States. The primaries were held on August 4.
Following the 2016 elections, no seats changed hands, leaving the Tennessee delegation at a 7-2 Republican majority.

## Overview

| Party | Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats Before | Seats After | +/– |
| | Republican | 1,493,740 | 62.47% | 7 | 7 | |
| | Democratic | 814,181 | 34.05% | 2 | 2 | |
| | Independents | 83,134 | 3.48% | 0 | 0 | |
| | Write-Ins | 6 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | |
| Totals | Totals | 2,391,061 | 100.00% | 9 | 9 | 0 |
Popular vote
Republican
62.47%
Democratic
34.05%
Other
3.48% :
House seats
Republican
77.78%
Democratic
22.22% :

### By district

Results of the 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee by district:
| District | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Others | Others | Total | Total | Result |
| District | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Result |
| District 1 | 198,293 | 78.37% | 39,024 | 15.42% | 15,708 | 6.21% | 253,025 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 2 | 212,455 | 75.65% | 68,401 | 24.35% | 0 | 0.00% | 280,856 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 3 | 176,613 | 66.39% | 76,727 | 28.84% | 12,666 | 4.76% | 266,006 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 4 | 165,796 | 65.03% | 89,141 | 34.97% | 0 | 0.00% | 254,937 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 5 | 102,433 | 37.45% | 171,111 | 62.55% | 0 | 0.00% | 273,544 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 6 | 202,234 | 71.09% | 61,995 | 21.79% | 20,261 | 7.12% | 284,490 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 7 | 200,407 | 72.22% | 65,226 | 23.50% | 11,880 | 4.28% | 277,513 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 8 | 194,386 | 68.75% | 70,925 | 25.09% | 17,422 | 6.16% | 282,733 | 100.0% | Republican hold |
| District 9 | 41,123 | 18.87% | 171,631 | 78.75% | 5,203 | 2.39% | 217,957 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| Total | 1,493,740 | 62.47% | 814,181 | 34.05% | 83,140 | 3.48% | 2,391,061 | 100.0% | |

## District 1

Incumbent Republican Phil Roe, who had represented the district since 2009, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 83% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+25.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Phil Roe, incumbent U.S. Representative

##### Eliminated in primary

* Clint Tribble, conservative activist and YouTube personality

#### Endorsements

Newspapers
* Knoxville News Sentinel

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Phil Roe (incumbent) | 35,350 | 82.2 |
| | Republican | Clint Tribble | 7,673 | 17.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,023 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Alan Bohms, executive director of the Volunteer Firefighter Alliance

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Alan Bohms | 4,161 | 100.0 |

### Independent Candidates

* Robert Franklin, U.S. Navy veteran
* Paul Krane (write-in), student

### General election
#### Endorsements

Newspapers
* Knoxville News Sentinel

#### Results

Tennessee's 1st congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Phil Roe (incumbent) | 198,293 | 78.4 |
| | Democratic | Alan Bohms | 39,024 | 15.4 |
| | Independent | Robert Franklin | 15,702 | 6.2 |
| | Independent | Paul Krane (write-in) | 6 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 253,025 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 2

Incumbent Republican Jimmy Duncan, who had represented the district since 1989, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 73% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+20.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* John J. Duncan Jr., incumbent U.S. Representative

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John J. Duncan, Jr. (incumbent) | 28,806 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Stuart Starr, IT business owner and union organizer

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Stuart Starr | 7,851 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Newspapers
* Knoxville News Sentinel

#### Results

Tennessee's 2nd congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John J. Duncan, Jr. (incumbent) | 212,455 | 75.6 |
| | Democratic | Stuart Starr | 68,401 | 24.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 280,856 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 3

Incumbent Republican Chuck Fleischmann, who had represented the district since 2011, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 62% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+16.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Chuck Fleischmann, incumbent U.S. Representative

##### Eliminated in primary

* Allan Levene, information technology specialist and perennial candidate
* Geoffery Suhmer Smith

#### Endorsements

Newspapers
* Knoxville News Sentinel

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Chuck Fleischmann (incumbent) | 31,964 | 83.9 |
| | Republican | Geoffery Suhmer Smith | 3,076 | 8.1 |
| | Republican | Allan Levene | 3,059 | 8.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 38,099 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Melody Shekari, policy analyst for the Chattanooga Department of Transportation

##### Eliminated in primary

* Michael Friedman
* George Ryan Love

#### Endorsements

Newspapers
* Chattanooga Times
* Knoxville News Sentinel

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Melody Shekari | 8,660 | 53.9 |
| | Democratic | Michael Friedman | 5,329 | 33.2 |
| | Democratic | George Ryan Love | 2,070 | 12.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,059 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Campaign

Fleischmann was heavily favored to win re-election.

#### Endorsements

Newspapers
* Chattanooga Free Press
* Knoxville News Sentinel
Newspapers
* Chattanooga Times

#### Results

Tennessee's 3rd congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Chuck Fleischmann (incumbent) | 176,613 | 66.4 |
| | Democratic | Melody Shekari | 76,727 | 28.9 |
| | Independent | Rick Tyler | 5,098 | 1.9 |
| | Independent | Cassandra Mitchell | 5,075 | 1.9 |
| | Independent | Topher Kersting | 2,493 | 0.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 266,006 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 4

Incumbent Republican Scott DesJarlais, who had represented the district since 2011, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 58% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+18.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Scott DesJarlais, incumbent U.S. Representative

##### Eliminated in primary

* Grant Starrett, real estate developer and attorney

#### Campaign

Scandal-ridden incumbent representative Scott DesJarlais had narrowly won his primary in 2012, and faced another competitive primary against Starrett. While DesJarlais originally trailed in fundraising, the race tightened when a mailer sent out by the Starrett campaign sparked controversy over its alleged racism.

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Scott DesJarlais (incumbent) | 24,211 | 52.1 |
| | Republican | Grant Starrett | 20,138 | 43.3 |
| | Republican | Erran Persley | 1,615 | 3.5 |
| | Republican | Yomi Faparusi | 493 | 1.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 46,457 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Steven Reynolds, manager in the construction industry

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Steven Reynolds | 11,511 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

Tennessee's 4th congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Scott DesJarlais (incumbent) | 165,796 | 65.0 |
| | Democratic | Steven Reynolds | 89,141 | 35.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 254,937 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 5

Incumbent Democrat Jim Cooper, who had represented the district since 2003, as well as previously between 1983 and 1995, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 62% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+5.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Jim Cooper, incumbent U.S. Representative

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Cooper (incumbent) | 32,103 | 100.0 |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Stacy Reis Snyder, small business owner and songwriter

##### Eliminated in primary

* Jody Ball, businessman
* John "Big John" Smith, deputy sheriff and candidate for this seat in 2012 & 2014

##### Withdrawn

* Ronnie Holden, candidate for this seat in 2014

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Stacy Ries Snyder | 7,666 | 50.8 |
| | Republican | John "Big John" Smith | 4,295 | 28.5 |
| | Republican | Jody Ball | 3,124 | 20.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,085 | 100.0 |

### General election

Cooper was heavily favored to win re-election due to Nashville's partisan composition.

#### Results

Tennessee's 5th congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Cooper (incumbent) | 171,111 | 62.6 |
| | Republican | Stacy Ries Snyder | 102,433 | 37.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 273,544 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 6

Incumbent Republican Diane Black, who had represented the district since 2011, ran for re-election. She was re-elected with 64% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+21.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Diane Black, incumbent U.S. Representative

##### Eliminated in primary

* Joe Carr, former state representative and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2014
* Donald Strong
* Tommy Hay

#### Campaign

Joe Carr attempted to ride anti-establishment sentiment to defeat incumbent Diane Black, who was openly considering a future run for governor.

#### Results

Despite a strong challenge, Black won re-election by a larger margin than expected.
Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Diane Black (incumbent) | 33,215 | 63.7 |
| | Republican | Joe Carr | 16,665 | 31.9 |
| | Republican | Donald Strong | 1,354 | 2.6 |
| | Republican | Tommy Hay | 945 | 1.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 52,179 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* David Kent, manufacturing industry manager

##### Eliminated in primary

* Flo Matheson, nominee for state representative in 2012

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | David Kent | 7,551 | 67.0 |
| | Democratic | Flo Matheson | 3,714 | 33.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,265 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

Tennessee's 6th congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Diane Black (incumbent) | 202,234 | 71.1 |
| | Democratic | David Kent | 61,995 | 21.8 |
| | Independent | David Ross | 20,261 | 7.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 284,490 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 7

Incumbent Republican Marsha Blackburn, who had represented the district since 2003, ran for re-election. She was re-elected with 70% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+18.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Marsha Blackburn, incumbent U.S. Representative

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Marsha Blackburn (incumbent) | 38,490 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Tharon Chandler, journalist

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tharon Chandler | 9,956 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

Blackburn dramatically outspent Chandler and easily won re-election.
Tennessee's 7th congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Marsha Blackburn (incumbent) | 200,407 | 72.2 |
| | Democratic | Tharon Chandler | 65,226 | 23.5 |
| | Independent | Leonard D. Ladner | 11,880 | 4.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 277,513 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 8

Incumbent Republican Stephen Fincher, who had represented the district since 2011, announced he would not run for re-election. He was re-elected with 71% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+19.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* David Kustoff, former United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee

##### Eliminated in primary

* Ken Atkins, corrections officer and former car dealership owner
* Hunter Baker, Union University professor
* Dave Bault, inspector for Terminix
* George Flinn, radiologist and perennial candidate
* Brad Greer, businessman and political consultant
* Brian Kelsey, state senator
* Tom Leatherwood, Shelby County Register of Deeds
* Mark Luttrell, Shelby County Mayor
* David Maldonado, businessman
* David Wharton

##### Withdrawn

* Steve Basar, Shelby County Commissioner

##### Declined

* Stephen Fincher, incumbent U.S. Representative
* Scott Golden, district director for Congressman Fincher and member of the Tennessee Republican State Executive Committee
* Andy Holt, state representative
* Ed Jackson, state senator
* Ron Kirkland, physician and candidate for this seat in 2010
* Steve McManus, state representative
* Mark Norris, Majority Leader of the Tennessee Senate
* John Ryder, Republican National Committee General Counsel and committee member
* Bill Sanderson, state representative
* John Stevens, state senator
* Matthew Stowe, district attorney general for the 24th judicial district
* Mary Wagner, Shelby County GOP Chair
* Amy Weirich, Shelby County District Attorney

#### Results

Kustoff won the crowded Republican primary with 27% of the vote.
Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Kustoff | 16,889 | 27.4 |
| | Republican | George Flinn | 14,200 | 23.1 |
| | Republican | Mark H. Luttrell | 10,878 | 17.7 |
| | Republican | Brian Kelsey | 7,942 | 12.9 |
| | Republican | Brad Greer | 6,819 | 11.1 |
| | Republican | Tom Leatherwood | 2,620 | 4.3 |
| | Republican | Hunter Baker | 1,014 | 1.6 |
| | Republican | Ken Atkins | 410 | 0.7 |
| | Republican | Raymond Honeycutt | 231 | 0.4 |
| | Republican | George B. Howell | 211 | 0.3 |
| | Republican | David Wharton | 131 | 0.2 |
| | Republican | Dave Bault | 109 | 0.2 |
| | Republican | David J Maldonado | 76 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 61,530 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Rickey Hobson, manager at Delta Air Lines

##### Eliminated in primary

* Gregory Alan Frye

##### Withdrawn

* James Coffman
* Erika Stotts Pearson, sports agent

##### Declined

* Roy Herron, former state senator, former Chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party and nominee for this seat in 2010
* Michael McCusker, Shelby County Assistant District Attorney and retired Army Major
* David Vinciarelli

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rickey Hobson | 7,774 | 54.8 |
| | Democratic | Gregory Alan Frye | 6,413 | 45.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,187 | 100.0 |

### General election

The 8th District, consisting of Memphis' suburbs and much of rural West Tennessee, is strongly Republican, foreshadowing a likely Kustoff win.

#### Results

Tennessee's 8th congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Kustoff | 194,386 | 68.7 |
| | Democratic | Rickey Hobson | 70,925 | 25.1 |
| | Independent | Shelia L. Godwin | 6,442 | 2.3 |
| | Independent | James Hart | 4,057 | 1.4 |
| | Independent | Adrian M. Montague | 2,497 | 0.9 |
| | Independent | Mark J. Rawles | 2,445 | 0.9 |
| | Independent | Karen Free Spirit Talley-Lane | 1,981 | 0.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 282,733 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 9

Incumbent Democrat Steve Cohen, who had represented the district since 2007, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 75% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+25.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Steve Cohen, incumbent U.S. Representative

##### Eliminated in primary

* Larry Crim, perennial candidate
* Justin Ford, Shelby County Commission Chair
* Larry Williams

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Steve Cohen (incumbent) | 35,645 | 85.5 |
| | Democratic | Justin Ford | 4,165 | 10.0 |
| | Democratic | M. LaTroy Williams | 1,452 | 3.5 |
| | Democratic | Larry Crim | 406 | 1.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,668 | 100.0 |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Wayne Alberson

##### Withdrawn

* Palmer Lee Harris
* Ernest Lunati, candidate for this seat in 2012

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Wayne Alberson | 38,490 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

Tennessee's 9th congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Steve Cohen (incumbent) | 171,631 | 78.7 |
| | Republican | Wayne Alberson | 41,123 | 18.9 |
| | Independent | Paul Cook | 5,203 | 2.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 217,957 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |