# 2018 Tennessee Senate election

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The 2018 Tennessee State Senate election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect 18 of the 33 seats for the Tennessee's State Senate. The elections coincided with the Governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and State House elections. The primary elections were held on August 2, 2018.

## Retirements

Three incumbents (2 Democrats and 1 Republican) did not run for re-election in 2018. Those incumbents are:

### Democrats

* District 19: Thelma Harper retired.
* District 29: Lee Harris retired to run for mayor of Shelby County.

### Republicans

* District 13: Bill Ketron retired to run for mayor of Rutherford County.

## Incumbents defeated
### In the primary election
#### Democrats

* District 33: Reginald Tate lost renomination to Katrina Robinson.

## Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| Governing | Safe R | Oct. 8, 2018 |

## Results summary

Summary of the November 6, 2018 Tennessee Senate election results :
| Party | Party | Candidates | Votes | Votes | Seats | Seats | Seats | Seats | Seats |
| Party | Party | Candidates | No. | % | Before | Up | Won | After | +/– |
| | Republican | 16 | 671,278 | 58.86 | 28 | 14 | 14 | 28 | |
| | Democratic | 15 | 459,033 | 40.25 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | |
| | Independent | 2 | 9,756 | 0.86 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| | Write-in | 2 | 421 | 0.04 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,140,488 | 100 | 33 | 18 | 18 | 33 | |
| Source: ||||||||||
Popular vote
Republican
58.86%
Democratic
40.25%
Other
0.90% :
Senate seats
Republican
84.85%
Democratic
15.15% :

### Closest race

This race was decided by a margin of under 10%:
| District | Winner | Margin |
| District 31 | Republican | 1.78% |

## Detailed results by State Senate District

Sources:

### District 1
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Steve Southerland (incumbent) | 22,806 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,806 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 1st State Senate District General Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Steve Southerland (incumbent) | 43,262 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,262 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 2 (special)

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Art Swann (incumbent) | 13,824 | 56.54 |
| | Republican | Scott P. Williams | 6,836 | 27.96 |
| | Republican | Wesley P. Maples | 3,792 | 15.51 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,452 | 100 |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | J. Nathan Higdon (write-in) | 314 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 314 | 100 |

#### Special election

Tennessee's 2nd State Senate District Special Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Art Swann (incumbent) | 55,595 | 99.28 |
| | Write-in | J. Nathan Higdon | 402 | 0.72 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 55,997 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 3
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rusty Crowe (incumbent) | 22,481 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,481 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 3rd State Senate District General Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rusty Crowe (incumbent) | 50,236 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 50,236 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 5
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Randy McNally (incumbent) | 23,525 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,525 | 100 |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Stuart Starr | 6,303 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,303 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 5th State Senate District General Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Randy McNally (incumbent) | 48,336 | 71.84 |
| | Democratic | Stuart Starr | 18,948 | 28.16 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 83,019 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 7
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Richard Briggs (incumbent) | 19,166 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,166 | 100 |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jamie Ballinger | 9,319 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,319 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 7th State Senate District General Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Richard Briggs (incumbent) | 38,558 | 55.57 |
| | Democratic | Jamie Ballinger | 30,826 | 44.43 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 69,384 | 100 |

### District 9
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Bell (incumbent) | 24,548 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,548 | 100 |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Carl Lansden | 4,775 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,775 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 9th State Senate District General Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Bell (incumbent) | 45,006 | 77.74 |
| | Democratic | Carl Lansden | 12,887 | 22.26 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 57,893 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 11
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bo Watson (incumbent) | 20,257 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,257 | 100 |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Randall "Randy" Price | 8,152 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,152 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 11th State Senate District General Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bo Watson (incumbent) | 51,082 | 65.14 |
| | Democratic | Randall "Randy" Price | 27,332 | 34.86 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 78,141 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 13
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dawn White | 10,639 | 58.22 |
| | Republican | Ernest G. Burgess | 7,635 | 41.78 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,274 | 100 |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kelly Northcutt | 8,217 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,217 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 13th State Senate District General Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dawn White | 36,594 | 57.07 |
| | Democratic | Kelly Northcutt | 25,974 | 40.50 |
| | Independent | Ginger Smith | 1,559 | 2.43 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 64,127 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 15
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Paul Bailey (incumbent) | 25,808 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,808 | 100 |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Angela Hedgecough | 7,636 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,636 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 15th State Senate District General Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Paul Bailey (incumbent) | 48,919 | 73.64 |
| | Democratic | Angela Hedgecough | 17,512 | 26.36 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 66,431 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 17
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mark Pody (incumbent) | 31,437 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 31,437 | 100 |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mary Alice Carfi | 10,460 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,460 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 17th State Senate District General Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mark Pody (incumbent) | 53,364 | 70.39 |
| | Democratic | Mary Alice Carfi | 22,452 | 29.61 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 75,816 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 19
#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Brenda Gilmore | 13,885 | 64.70 |
| | Democratic | Howard Jones | 5,262 | 24.52 |
| | Democratic | Sandra Moore | 1,181 | 5.50 |
| | Democratic | George Thomas | 1,132 | 5.28 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,460 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 19th State Senate District General Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Brenda Gilmore | 49,586 | 85.79 |
| | Independent | Christina "Chris" Callaway | 6,271 | 10.85 |
| | Independent | Rueben "Dock" Dockery | 1,926 | 3.33 |
| | Write-in | Howard Jones | 19 | 0.03 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 57,802 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 21
#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jeff Yarbro (incumbent) | 19,402 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,402 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 21st State Senate District General Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jeff Yarbro (incumbent) | 55,905 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 55,905 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 23
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jack Johnson (incumbent) | 26,893 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,893 | 100 |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kristen Grimm | 9,673 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,673 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 23rd State Senate District General Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jack Johnson (incumbent) | 68,118 | 66.90 |
| | Democratic | Kristen Grimm | 33,710 | 33.11 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 101,828 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 25
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kerry Roberts (incumbent) | 23,909 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,909 | 100.00% |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Wade Munday | 9,078 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,078 | 100.00% |

#### General election

Tennessee's 25th State Senate District General Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kerry Roberts (incumbent) | 47,188 | 71.52 |
| | Democratic | Wade Munday | 18,795 | 28.49 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 65,983 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 27
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ed Jackson (incumbent) | 14,404 | 70.76 |
| | Republican | Brandon Dodds | 5,951 | 29.24 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,355 | 100 |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Savannah Williamson | 3,692 | 42.99 |
| | Democratic | Jackie Williams | 3,637 | 42.35 |
| | Democratic | John H. York Jr. | 1,259 | 14.66 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,588 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 27th State Senate District General Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ed Jackson (incumbent) | 35,837 | 65.14 |
| | Democratic | Savannah Williamson | 19,177 | 34.86 |
| | Write-in | John H. York Jr. | 0 | 0.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 55,014 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 29
#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Raumesh Akbari | 14,861 | 58.42 |
| | Democratic | Justin Ford | 10,577 | 41.58 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,438 | 100 |

#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Stephens | 3,873 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,873 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 29th State Senate District General Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Raumesh Akbari | 43,851 | 83.48 |
| | Republican | Tom Stephens | 8,679 | 16.52 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 52,530 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 31
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Brian Kelsey (incumbent) | 22,767 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,767 | 100 |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gabby Salinas | 7,737 | 47.98 |
| | Democratic | David Weatherspoon | 6,890 | 42.73 |
| | Democratic | M. Rodanial Ray Ransom | 1,499 | 9.30 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,126 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 31st State Senate District General Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Brian Kelsey (incumbent) | 40,504 | 50.89 |
| | Democratic | Gabby Salinas | 39,086 | 49.11 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 79,590 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 33
#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Katrina Robinson | 14,164 | 68.66 |
| | Democratic | Reginald Tate (incumbent) | 6,464 | 31.34 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,628 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 33rd State Senate District General Election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Katrina Robinson | 42,992 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 42,992 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |