# 2020 Tennessee Senate election

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The 2020 Tennessee State Senate election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect 16 of the 33 seats for the Tennessee's State Senate. The elections coincided with the Presidential, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and State House elections. The primary elections were held on August 6, 2020, with the exception of presidential primaries held on March 3 of that year.
Republicans lost District 20, which is in the outskirts of Nashville in Davidson County.

## Retirements

One incumbent did not run for re-election in 2020. That incumbent was:

### Republicans

* District 26: Dolores Gresham: Retiring

## Incumbents defeated
### In the general election
#### Republicans

* District 20: Steven Dickerson lost to Heidi Campbell.

## Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Safe R | October 21, 2020 |

## Results summary

Summary of the November 3, 2020 Tennessee Senate election results :
| Party | Party | Candidates | Votes | Votes | Seats | Seats | Seats | Seats | Seats |
| Party | Party | Candidates | No. | % | Before | Up | Won | After | +/– |
| | Republican | 15 | 939,727 | 71.41 | 28 | 15 | 14 | 27 | 1 |
| | Democratic | 10 | 321,494 | 24.43 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| | Independent | 3 | 52,928 | 4.02 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| | Write-in | 2 | 1,777 | 0.14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,315,926 | 100 | 33 | 16 | 16 | 33 | |
| Source: ||||||||||
Popular vote
Republican
71.41%
Democratic
24.43%
Other
4.16% :
Senate seats
Republican
81.82%
Democratic
18.18% :

### Close races

Two races were decided by a margin of under 10%:
| District | Winner | Margin |
| District 10 | Republican | 6.32% |
| District 20 | Democratic (gain) | 3.52% |

## Overview

| District | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| District | Senator | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates |
| District 2 | Art Swann | Republican | 2017 (appointed) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Art Swann (Republican) |
| District 4 | Jon Lundberg | Republican | 2016 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Jon Lundberg (Republican) ▌ Amber Riddle (Democratic) |
| District 6 | Becky Duncan Massey | Republican | 2011 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Becky Duncan Massey (Republican) ▌ Jane George (Democratic) |
| District 8 | Frank S. Niceley | Republican | 2012 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Frank S. Niceley (Republican) |
| District 10 | Todd Gardenhire | Republican | 2012 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Todd Gardenhire (Republican) ▌Glenn Scruggs (Democratic) |
| District 12 | Ken Yager | Republican | 2008 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Ken Yager (Republican) |
| District 14 | Shane Reeves | Republican | 2018 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Shane Reeves (Republican) ▌Chase Clemons (Democratic) |
| District 16 | Janice Bowling | Republican | 2012 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Janice Bowling (Republican) ▌Sheila Younglove (Democratic) |
| District 18 | Ferrell Haile | Republican | 2010 2011 (retired) 2012 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Ferrell Haile (Republican) ▌John Gentry (Independent) |
| District 20 | Steven Dickerson | Republican | 2012 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Heidi Campbell (Democratic) ▌Steven Dickerson (Republican) |
| District 22 | Bill Powers | Republican | 2019 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Bill Powers (Republican) ▌Ronnie Glynn (Democratic) |
| District 24 | John Stevens | Republican | 2012 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y John Stevens (Republican) ▌Yahweh Yahweh (Independent) |
| District 26 | Dolores Gresham | Republican | 2008 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold. | ▌Y Page Walley (Republican) ▌Civil Miller-Watkins (Democratic) |
| District 28 | Joey Hensley | Republican | 2012 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Joey Hensley (Republican) ▌James Gray (Independent) |
| District 30 | Sara Kyle | Democratic | 2014 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Sara Kyle (Democratic) |
| District 32 | Paul Rose | Republican | 2019 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Paul Rose (Republican) ▌Julie Byrd Ashworth (Democratic) |

## Detailed results by State Senate district
### District 2
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Art Swann (incumbent) | 20,675 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,675 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 2nd State Senate District general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Art Swann (incumbent) | 79,674 | 97.82 |
| | Write-in | Patti Larimer Young | 1,774 | 2.18 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 81,448 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 4
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jon Lundberg (incumbent) | 21,051 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,051 | 100 |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Amber Riddle | 2,967 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,967 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 4th State Senate District general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jon Lundberg (incumbent) | 65,638 | 79.06 |
| | Democratic | Amber Riddle | 17,381 | 20.94 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 83,019 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 6
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Becky Duncan Massey (incumbent) | 19,741 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,741 | 100 |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jane George | 7,783 | 63.96 |
| | Democratic | Sam Brown | 4,386 | 36.04 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,169 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 6th State Senate District general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Becky Duncan Massey (incumbent) | 61,286 | 63.14 |
| | Democratic | Jane George | 35,785 | 36.87 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 97,071 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 8
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frank S. Niceley (incumbent) | 18,298 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,298 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 8th State Senate District general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frank S. Niceley (incumbent) | 59,713 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 59,713 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 10
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Todd Gardenhire (incumbent) | 13,720 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,720 | 100 |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Glenn Scruggs | 10,952 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,952 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 10th State Senate District general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Todd Gardenhire (incumbent) | 45,049 | 53.16 |
| | Democratic | Glenn Scruggs | 39,688 | 46.84 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 84,737 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 12
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ken Yager (incumbent) | 20,408 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,408 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 12th State Senate District general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ken Yager (incumbent) | 69,042 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 69,042 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 14
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Shane Reeves (incumbent) | 20,195 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,195 | 100 |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Chase Clemons | 6,475 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,475 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 14th State Senate District general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Shane Reeves (incumbent) | 62,351 | 71.84 |
| | Democratic | Chase Clemons | 24,440 | 28.16 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 86,791 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 16
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Janice Bowling (incumbent) | 21,638 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,638 | 100 |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sheila Younglove | 6,183 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,183 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 16th State Senate District general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Janice Bowling (incumbent) | 62,379 | 76.01 |
| | Democratic | Sheila Younglove | 19,687 | 23.99 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 82,066 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 18
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ferrell Haile (incumbent) | 18,923 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,923 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 18th State Senate District general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ferrell Haile (incumbent) | 68,141 | 72.18 |
| | Independent | John A. Gentry | 26,261 | 27.82 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 94,402 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 20
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Steven Dickerson (incumbent) | 14,345 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,345 | 100 |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Heidi Campbell | 13,441 | 51.37 |
| | Democratic | Kimi Abernathy | 12,723 | 48.63 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,164 | 100 |

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Steve Dickerson (R) | Heidi Campbell (D) | Undecided |
| Change Research/Heidi Campbell | August 31 – September 1, 2020 | 531 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 47% | 49% | 4% |

#### General election

Tennessee's 20th State Senate District general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Heidi Campbell | 58,746 | 51.76 |
| | Republican | Steven Dickerson (incumbent) | 54,755 | 48.24 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 113,501 | 100 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### District 22
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bill Powers (incumbent) | 8,338 | 52.75 |
| | Republican | Doug Englen | 7,468 | 47.25 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,806 | 100 |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ronnie L. Glynn | 6,724 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,724 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 22nd State Senate District general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bill Powers (incumbent) | 49,767 | 62.09 |
| | Democratic | Ronnie L. Glynn | 30,383 | 37.91 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 80,150 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 24
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Stevens (incumbent) | 13,061 | 61.24 |
| | Republican | Casey L. Hood | 8,266 | 38.76 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,327 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 24th State Senate District general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Stevens (incumbent) | 63,532 | 87.84 |
| | Independent | Yahweh Yahweh | 8,795 | 12.16 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 72,327 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 26
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Page Walley | 12,892 | 53.23 |
| | Republican | Jai Templeton | 11,328 | 46.77 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,220 | 100 |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Civil Miller-Watkins | 5,301 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,301 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 26th State Senate District general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Page Walley | 62,701 | 75.89 |
| | Democratic | Civil Miller-Watkins | 19,918 | 24.11 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 82,619 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 28
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Joey Hensley (incumbent) | 21,083 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,083 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 28th State Senate District general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Joey Hensley (incumbent) | 65,050 | 78.44 |
| | Independent | James Anthony Gray | 17,872 | 21.55 |
| | Write-in | James R. Trusty | 3 | 0.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 82,925 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 30
#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sara Kyle (incumbent) | 10,241 | 70.47 |
| | Democratic | M. LaTroy Williams | 4,292 | 29.53 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,533 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 30th State Senate District general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sara Kyle (incumbent) | 43,895 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,895 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 32
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Paul Rose (incumbent) | 17,294 | 76.40 |
| | Republican | Scott Throckmorton | 5,342 | 23.60 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,636 | 100 |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Julie Byrd Ashworth | 7,486 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,486 | 100 |

#### General election

Tennessee's 32nd State Senate District general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Paul Rose (incumbent) | 70,649 | 69.12 |
| | Democratic | Julie Byrd Ashworth | 31,571 | 30.89 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 102,220 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |