# 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee

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vte :
The 2006 congressional elections in Tennessee was held on November 7, 2006, to determine who will represent the state of Tennessee in the United States House of Representatives.
Following the 2006 elections, no seats changed hands, leaving the Tennessee delegation at a 5-4 Democratic majority.

## Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– |
| | Democratic | 860,861 | 50.18% | 5 | — |
| | Republican | 799,547 | 46.61% | 4 | — |
| | Independents | 55,018 | 3.21% | 0 | — |
| Totals | Totals | 1,715,426 | 100.00% | 9 | — |
(There was 6 Write-in votes that were added to the statewide total number of votes).
Popular vote
Democratic
50.18%
Republican
46.61%
Other
3.21% :
House seats
Democratic
55.56%
Republican
44.44% :

### By district

| District | District | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| District | 2004 CPVI | Representative | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates |
| Tennessee 1 | R+14 | Bill Jenkins | Republican | 1996 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold. | ▌Y David Davis (Republican) 61.1% ▌Rick Trent (Democratic) 36.9% Others ▌Bob Smith (Green) 0.6% ▌James Reeves (Independent) 0.6% ▌Michael Peavler (Independent) 0.5% ▌Michael Sabri (Independent) 0.2% |
| Tennessee 2 | R+11 | Jimmy Duncan | Republican | 1998 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Jimmy Duncan (Republican) 77.7% ▌John Greene (Democratic) 22.3% |
| Tennessee 3 | R+8 | Zach Wamp | Republican | 1994 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Zach Wamp (Republican) 65.7% ▌Brent Benedict (Democratic) 34.3% |
| Tennessee 4 | R+3 | Lincoln Davis | Democratic | 2002 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Lincoln Davis (Democratic) 67.5% ▌Kenneth Martin (Republican) 32.5% |
| Tennessee 5 | D+6 | Jim Cooper | Democratic | 1982 1994 (retired) 2002 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Jim Cooper (Democratic) 68.9% ▌Tom Kovach (Republican) 28.0% ▌Virginia Welsch (Independent) 2.1% ▌Scott Knapp (Independent) 1.0% |
| Tennessee 6 | R+4 | Bart Gordon | Democratic | 1984 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Bart Gordon (Democratic) 67.1% ▌Randy Stamps (Republican) 31.4% ▌Robert Garrison (Independent) 1.1% ▌Norman Saliba (Independent) 0.5% |
| Tennessee 7 | R+12 | Marsha Blackburn | Republican | 2002 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Marsha Blackburn (Republican) 66.0% ▌Bill Morrison (Democratic) 31.8% Others ▌Katey Culver (Green) 0.8% ▌James White (Independent) 0.4% ▌William Smith (Independent) 0.4% ▌John L. Rimer (Independent) 0.3% ▌Gayl Pratt (Independent) 0.3% |
| Tennessee 8 | EVEN | John Tanner | Democratic | 1988 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y John Tanner (Democratic) 73.2% ▌John Farmer (Republican) 26.8% |
| Tennessee 9 | D+18 | Harold Ford Jr. | Democratic | 1996 | Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator. New member elected. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Steve Cohen (Democratic) 59.9% ▌Jake Ford (Independent) 22.2% ▌Mark White (Republican) 18.0% |

## District 1

Incumbent Republican Congressman Bill Jenkins, approaching his seventieth birthday, declined to seek a sixth term in order to spend more time with his family, creating an open seat. This staunchly conservative district, based in northeastern Tennessee, has been held by Republicans since 1881, one of the longest streaks out of any district nationwide. Republican State Representative David Davis won a narrow victory in the Republican primary and moved on to the general election, where he defeated Democratic candidate Rick Trent, a real estate businessman, and several independent candidates by a solid, but smaller margin than is normally seen in this district.
Tennessee's 1st congressional district election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Davis | 108,336 | 61.11 |
| | Democratic | Rick Trent | 65,538 | 36.97 |
| | Independent | Robert N. Smith | 1,024 | 0.58 |
| | Independent | James W. Reeves | 1,003 | 0.57 |
| | Independent | Michael Peavler | 966 | 0.54 |
| | Independent | Michael Sabri | 411 | 0.23 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 177,278 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 2

Incumbent Republican Congressman Jimmy Duncan, seeking a tenth term, faced no serious competition from two-time congressional candidate John Greene. This congressional district, based largely in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area, has been continuously held by the Republican Party since 1867 and has a long history of staunch conservatism. Duncan defeated Greene in an overwhelming landslide, as expected, winning another term in Congress.
Tennessee's 2nd congressional district election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jimmy Duncan (inc.) | 157,095 | 77.72 |
| | Democratic | John Greene | 45,025 | 22.28 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 202,120 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 3

This gerrymandered district, which stretches from the Chattanooga metropolitan area in southern Tennessee to Claiborne County in northern Tennessee, is strongly conservative and has been represented by Republican Congressman Zach Wamp since his initial 1994 election. Seeking a seventh term, Wamp easily dispatched Democratic nominee Brent Benedict to win re-election.
Tennessee's 3rd congressional district election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Zach Wamp (inc.) | 130,791 | 65.69 |
| | Democratic | Brent Benedict | 68,324 | 34.31 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 199,115 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 4

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Lincoln Davis has represented this district since his 2002 election, claiming the seat that Van Hilleary vacated to run for Governor of Tennessee. Though this district has become more conservative in recent years, it has a long history of electing Democratic Congressmen, including Jim Cooper, Al Gore, and Albert Gore, Sr. It stretches from the outer reaches of the Nashville metropolitan area, hugs much of the southern Tennessee border, and shoots upwards to Campbell County in northern Tennessee. Davis ultimately defeated Republican candidate Kenneth Martin in a landslide win to seize a third term in Congress.
Tennessee's 4th congressional district election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lincoln Davis (inc.) | 123,666 | 66.45 |
| | Republican | Kenneth Martin | 62,449 | 33.55 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 186,115 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 5

This Democratic-leaning district, largely based in the city of Nashville, has been represented by Democratic Congressman Jim Cooper since 2002, though he had previously represented an adjacent district from 1983 to 1995. True to the district's liberal tilt, Cooper swamped Republican nominee Thomas Kovach and independent candidate Ginny Welsch to win a third term in Congress.
Tennessee's 5th congressional district election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Cooper (inc.) | 122,919 | 69.00 |
| | Republican | Thomas F. Kovach | 49,702 | 27.90 |
| | Independent | Ginny Welsch | 3,766 | 2.11 |
| | Independent | Scott Knapp | 1,755 | 0.99 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 178,142 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 6

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Bart Gordon, a high-ranking member on the House Science and Technology Committee, sought a twelfth term in this increasingly conservative district based in the eastern suburbs of Nashville. In a testament to Gordon's moderate tenure, his widespread popularity, and the Democratic wave sweeping the country in 2006, Gordon was re-elected again with nearly seventy percent of the vote.

### Endorsements
#### Individuals

* Wesley Clark, General, 2004 democratic presidential candidate
Tennessee's 6th congressional district election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bart Gordon (inc.) | 129,069 | 67.09 |
| | Republican | David R. Davis | 60,392 | 31.39 |
| | Independent | Robert L. Garrison | 2,035 | 1.06 |
| | Independent | Norman R. Saliba | 884 | 0.46 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 192,380 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 7

This staunchly conservative district, which stretches from the western suburbs of Memphis, runs along the southern border of Tennessee, and hugs the western suburbs of Nashville, is the state's wealthiest. Incumbent Republican Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn has represented this district since her election in 2002, replacing Republican Congressman Ed Bryant, who opted to run for Senate. Blackburn was victorious in her bid for a third term, defeating Democratic nominee Bill Morrison and five independents in a landslide.
Tennessee's 7th congressional district election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Marsha Blackburn (inc.) | 152,288 | 66.05 |
| | Democratic | Bill Morrison | 73,369 | 31.82 |
| | Independent | Kathleen A. Culver | 1,806 | 0.78 |
| | Independent | Mickey White | 898 | 0.39 |
| | Independent | William J. Smith | 848 | 0.37 |
| | Independent | John L. Rimer | 710 | 0.31 |
| | Independent | Gayl G. Pratt | 663 | 0.29 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 230,582 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 8

This Republican-leaning district, rooted in the northwestern portion of the state, has been represented by moderate Democratic Congressman John S. Tanner since 1989. Tanner ran for re-election to a ninth term, and easily defeated Republican candidate John Farmer, carrying every county.
Tennessee's 8th congressional district election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John S. Tanner (inc.) | 129,610 | 73.18 |
| | Republican | John Farmer | 47,492 | 26.82 |
| | Write-ins | | 6 | 0.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 178,142 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 9
### Campaign

This district, based exclusively within the city of Memphis, has the distinction of being the state's most liberal district, the only district contained within one county, and Tennessee's only African-American majority district. Incumbent Democratic Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. opted to run for Senate rather than seeking a sixth term, creating an open seat. Democratic State Senator Steve Cohen won the Democratic primary to replace Ford with a slight plurality, which is tantamount to election in this district. Cohen faced Republican nominee Mark White and Jake Ford, the younger brother of Harold Ford, Jr. Cohen defeated both opponents by a solid margin, and held the distinction of being white and representing a solidly African-American district, a rarity.

### Endorsements

Local officials
* W. W. Herenton, mayor of Memphis
* A C Wharton, mayor of Shelby County
Federal officials
* Harold Ford Sr., former U.S. Representative from TN-09

### Results

Tennessee's 9th congressional district election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Steve Cohen | 103,341 | 59.88 |
| | Independent | Jake Ford | 38,243 | 22.16 |
| | Republican | Mark White | 31,002 | 17.96 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 172,586 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |