# Tennessee's 4th congressional district

The 4th congressional district of Tennessee is a congressional district in southern Tennessee. It has been represented by Republican Scott DesJarlais since January 2011.
Most of the district is rural, but many residents live in the suburbs of Chattanooga and Nashville. The area is very hilly, and has many well-known geographical features related to its location on the Cumberland Plateau.
This part of Tennessee has several well-recognized distilleries such as Duck River, George Dickel, Southern Pride, and most famously the Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg.
The region encompasses many of Tennessee's higher education facilities, such as Middle Tennessee State University, Sewanee: The University of the South, and Bryan College.

## Current boundaries

The district lies mostly in the southern part of Middle Tennessee, but stretches into East Tennessee. For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), it contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:
Bedford County (5)
    All 5 communities
Bledsoe County (1)
    Pikeville
Coffee County (5)
    All 5 communities
Franklin County (10)
    All 10 communities
Giles County (7)
    All 7 communities
Grundy County (8)
    All 8 communities
Lawrence County (8)
    All 8 communities
Lincoln County (8)
    All 8 communities
Marion County (11)
    All 8 communities
Meigs County (1)
    Decatur
Moore County (1)
    Lynchburg
Rhea County (3)
    All 3 communities
Rutherford County (7)
    All 7 communities
Sequatchie County (2)
    Dunlap, Lone Oak
Warren County (4)
    All 4 communities

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 62% - 36% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 66% - 34% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 68% - 27% |
| 2018 | Senate | Blackburn 61% - 37% |
| 2018 | Governor | Lee 66% - 33% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 68% - 30% |
| 2020 | Senate | Hagerty 69% - 28% |
| 2022 | Governor | Lee 72% - 26% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 71% - 28% |

## History

Throughout the 20th century, the 4th district took many different forms, but in most cases encompassed most of the rural area between Nashville and Knoxville. It has often been the state's largest district in terms of area, and one of the largest east of the Mississippi River, because of low population density and the district's rural character.
For almost thirty years (1947–1977), this area of Tennessee was represented in Congress by Joe L. Evins. (Early in his political career, his district was numbered as the "5th", but that district was almost entirely in what became the 4th after the round of redistricting following the 1950 census.) Evins' successor in Congress was future vice president Al Gore Jr., who represented the 4th from 1977 to 1983. The district's current configuration dates from the 1980 census, when Tennessee gained a new congressional seat. Parts of what were previously in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th districts were combined to form a new 4th district. Most of Gore's territory became the 6th district.
The new district incorporated pieces of heavily Republican East Tennessee and traditionally Democratic Middle Tennessee. It was so large that it stretched across five of Tennessee's eight television markets (Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, the Tri-Cities, as well as the Tennessee share of the Huntsville, Alabama, market). and five of the state's nine radio markets (the above-mentioned cities, plus Cookeville). This gave congressional races much of the feel of statewide races; candidates' advertising budgets sometimes rivaled those for governor and U.S. Senate. Open-seat races in this district were usually among the most-watched in the country. However, the district's large size and lack of unifying influences make it very difficult to unseat an incumbent. Consequently, the district's congressman was usually reckoned as a statewide figure, with a good chance for winning state office in the future.
In 1982, Democrat Jim Cooper, son of former governor Prentice Cooper, defeated Cissy Baker, daughter of Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker. Cooper went on to represent the district until 1995. On paper, this district was not safe for either party, given its volatile demographics. Much of the eastern portion, for instance, had not been represented by a Democrat since before the Civil War. However, Cooper was reelected five times without serious difficulty.
Cooper gave up his seat to run for the U.S. Senate in 1994, but lost to Fred Thompson. Republican Van Hilleary won the seat as part of the massive Republican wave of that year. Hilleary was reelected three times without much difficulty, handily winning a second term even as Bill Clinton carried the district due to Gore's presence as his running mate; Gore represented much of the western portion of the district for his first three terms in the House.
In 2002, Hilleary retired to mount an ultimately unsuccessful bid to become Governor of Tennessee, and was replaced by Democratic state senator Lincoln Davis. Davis held the seat for eight years. In 2010, Davis was challenged by Republican doctor Scott DesJarlais from South Pittsburg, who rode to victory on the Tea Party wave of 2010 despite Davis raising more money. This marked the first time that an incumbent had been defeated in the district since the reformation of the district in 1982. Indeed, DesJarlais became the first challenger to defeat an incumbent Tennessee congressman in a general election since 1974. Following the 2010 census, the 4th was made slightly more compact. The district lost its northern portion, including its territory near the Tri-Cities and Knoxville. On the other hand, it gained all of Rutherford County, home of Murfreesboro, and northern Bradley County.

## List of members representing the district

| Name | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | District location |
| District established March 4, 1813 ||||||
| John H. Bowen (Gallatin) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1815 | 13th | Elected in 1813. Retired. | 1813–1823 [data missing] |
| Bennett H. Henderson (Hendersonville) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1817 | 14th | Elected in 1815. Retired. | 1813–1823 [data missing] |
| Samuel E. Hogg (Lebanon) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1819 | 15th | Elected in 1817. Retired. | 1813–1823 [data missing] |
| Robert Allen (Carthage) | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1819 – March 3, 1823 | 16th 17th | Elected in 1819. Re-elected in 1821. Redistricted to the 5th district. | 1813–1823 [data missing] |
| Jacob C. Isacks (Winchester) | Democratic-Republican (Jackson) | March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd | Elected in 1823. Re-elected in 1825. Re-elected in 1827. Re-elected in 1829. Re-elected in 1831. Redistricted to the 5th district and lost re-election. | 1823–1833 [data missing] |
| Jacob C. Isacks (Winchester) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1833 | 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd | Elected in 1823. Re-elected in 1825. Re-elected in 1827. Re-elected in 1829. Re-elected in 1831. Redistricted to the 5th district and lost re-election. | 1823–1833 [data missing] |
| James I. Standifer (Mount Airy) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1835 | 23rd 24th 25th | Redistricted from the 3rd district and re-elected in 1833. Re-elected in 1835. Re-elected in 1837. Died. | 1833–1843 [data missing] |
| James I. Standifer (Mount Airy) | Anti-Jacksonian | March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837 | 23rd 24th 25th | Redistricted from the 3rd district and re-elected in 1833. Re-elected in 1835. Re-elected in 1837. Died. | 1833–1843 [data missing] |
| James I. Standifer (Mount Airy) | Whig | March 4, 1837 – August 20, 1837 | 23rd 24th 25th | Redistricted from the 3rd district and re-elected in 1833. Re-elected in 1835. Re-elected in 1837. Died. | 1833–1843 [data missing] |
| Vacant | Vacant | August 20, 1837 – September 14, 1837 | 25th | | 1833–1843 [data missing] |
| William Stone (Delphi) | Whig | September 14, 1837 – March 3, 1839 | 25th | Elected September 14, 1837, to finish Standifer's term and seated October 6, 1837. Lost re-election. | 1833–1843 [data missing] |
| Julius W. Blackwell (Athens) | Democratic | March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1841 | 26th | Elected in 1839. Lost re-election. | 1833–1843 [data missing] |
| Thomas J. Campbell (Athens) | Whig | March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843 | 27th | Elected in 1841. Redistricted to the 3rd district and lost re-election. | 1833–1843 [data missing] |
| Alvan Cullom (Livingston) | Democratic | March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1847 | 28th 29th | Elected in 1843. Re-elected in 1845. Retired. | 1843–1853 [data missing] |
| Hugh Hill (Irving College) | Democratic | March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849 | 30th | Elected in 1847. Retired. | 1843–1853 [data missing] |
| John H. Savage (Smithville) | Democratic | March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853 | 31st 32nd | Elected in 1849. Re-elected in 1851. Retired. | 1843–1853 [data missing] |
| William Cullom (Carthage) | Whig | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855 | 33rd | Redistricted from the 8th district and re-elected in 1853. Lost re-election. | 1853–1863 [data missing] |
| John H. Savage (Smithville) | Democratic | March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1859 | 34th 35th | Elected in 1855. Re-elected in 1857. Lost re-election. | 1853–1863 [data missing] |
| William B. Stokes (Alexandria) | Opposition | March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861 | 36th | Elected in 1859. Redistricted to the 3rd district. | 1853–1863 [data missing] |
| Andrew J. Clements (Lafayette) | Union | March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863 | 37th | Elected in 1861. Could not seek re-election, as state was under Confederate occupation. | 1853–1863 [data missing] |
| District inactive | District inactive | March 3, 1863 – July 24, 1866 | 38th 39th | Civil War and Reconstruction | Civil War and Reconstruction |
| Edmund Cooper (Shelbyville) | Union | July 24, 1866 – March 3, 1867 | 39th | Elected in 1865. Lost re-election. | 1866–1873 [data missing] |
| James Mullins (Shelbyville) | Republican | March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1869 | 40th | Elected in 1867. Retired. | 1866–1873 [data missing] |
| Lewis Tillman (Shelbyville) | Republican | March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871 | 41st | Elected in 1868. Retired. | 1866–1873 [data missing] |
| John M. Bright (Fayetteville) | Democratic | March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1875 | 42nd 43rd | Elected in 1870. Re-elected in 1872. Redistricted to the 5th district. | 1866–1873 [data missing] |
| John M. Bright (Fayetteville) | Democratic | March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1875 | 42nd 43rd | Elected in 1870. Re-elected in 1872. Redistricted to the 5th district. | 1873–1883 [data missing] |
| Samuel M. Fite (Carthage) | Democratic | March 4, 1875 – October 23, 1875 | 44th | Elected to begin representative-elect John W. Head's term. Died. | 1873–1883 [data missing] |
| Vacant | Vacant | October 23, 1875 – December 14, 1875 | 44th | | 1873–1883 [data missing] |
| Haywood Y. Riddle (Lebanon) | Democratic | December 14, 1875 – March 3, 1879 | 44th 45th | Elected to finish Fite's term. Re-elected in 1876. Retired. | 1873–1883 [data missing] |
| Benton McMillin (Carthage) | Democratic | March 4, 1879 – January 6, 1899 | 46th 47th 48th 49th 50th 51st 52nd 53rd 54th 55th | Elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Re-elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Retired to run for Governor of Tennessee and resigned when elected. | 1873–1883 [data missing] |
| Benton McMillin (Carthage) | Democratic | March 4, 1879 – January 6, 1899 | 46th 47th 48th 49th 50th 51st 52nd 53rd 54th 55th | Elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Re-elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Retired to run for Governor of Tennessee and resigned when elected. | 1883–1893 [data missing] |
| Benton McMillin (Carthage) | Democratic | March 4, 1879 – January 6, 1899 | 46th 47th 48th 49th 50th 51st 52nd 53rd 54th 55th | Elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Re-elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Retired to run for Governor of Tennessee and resigned when elected. | 1893–1903 [data missing] |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 6, 1899 – March 3, 1899 | 55th | | 1893–1903 [data missing] |
| Charles E. Snodgrass (Crossville) | Democratic | March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1903 | 56th 57th | Elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Lost renomination. | 1893–1903 [data missing] |
| Morgan C. Fitzpatrick (Hartsville) | Democratic | March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1905 | 58th | Elected in 1902. Retired. | 1903–1913 [data missing] |
| Mounce G. Butler (Gainesboro) | Democratic | March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1907 | 59th | Elected in 1904. Lost renomination. | 1903–1913 [data missing] |
| Cordell Hull (Carthage) | Democratic | March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1921 | 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th 65th 66th | Elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Lost re-election. | 1903–1913 [data missing] |
| Cordell Hull (Carthage) | Democratic | March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1921 | 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th 65th 66th | Elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Lost re-election. | 1913–1933 [data missing] |
| Wynne F. Clouse (Cookeville) | Republican | March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1923 | 67th | Elected in 1920. Lost re-election. | 1913–1933 [data missing] |
| Cordell Hull (Carthage) | Democratic | March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1931 | 68th 69th 70th 71st | Elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | 1913–1933 [data missing] |
| John R. Mitchell (Cookeville) | Democratic | March 4, 1931 – January 3, 1939 | 72nd 73rd 74th 75th | Elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | 1913–1933 [data missing] |
| John R. Mitchell (Cookeville) | Democratic | March 4, 1931 – January 3, 1939 | 72nd 73rd 74th 75th | Elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | 1933–1943 [data missing] |
| Albert Gore Sr. (Carthage) | Democratic | January 3, 1939 – December 4, 1944 | 76th 77th 78th | Elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944 but resigned until next term began to enter U.S. Army for fact-finding training. | 1933–1943 [data missing] |
| Albert Gore Sr. (Carthage) | Democratic | January 3, 1939 – December 4, 1944 | 76th 77th 78th | Elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944 but resigned until next term began to enter U.S. Army for fact-finding training. | 1943–1953 [data missing] |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 4, 1944 – January 3, 1945 | 78th | | 1943–1953 [data missing] |
| Albert Gore Sr. (Carthage) | Democratic | January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1953 | 79th 80th 81st 82nd | Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | 1943–1953 [data missing] |
| Joe L. Evins (Smithville) | Democratic | January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1977 | 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th | Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Retired. | 1953–1963 [data missing] |
| Joe L. Evins (Smithville) | Democratic | January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1977 | 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th | Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Retired. | 1963–1973 [data missing] |
| Joe L. Evins (Smithville) | Democratic | January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1977 | 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th | Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Retired. | 1973–1983 [data missing] |
| Al Gore (Carthage) | Democratic | January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1983 | 95th 96th 97th | Elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Redistricted to the 6th district. | 1973–1983 [data missing] |
| Jim Cooper (Shelbyville) | Democratic | January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1995 | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd | Elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | 1983–1993 [data missing] |
| Jim Cooper (Shelbyville) | Democratic | January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1995 | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd | Elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | 1993–2003 [data missing] |
| Van Hilleary (Spring City) | Republican | January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2003 | 104th 105th 106th 107th | Elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Retired to run for Governor of Tennessee. | 1993–2003 [data missing] |
| Lincoln Davis (Pall Mall) | Democratic | January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2011 | 108th 109th 110th 111th | Elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Lost re-election. | 2003–2013 |
| Scott DesJarlais (Sherwood) | Republican | January 3, 2011 – present | 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2003–2013 |
| Scott DesJarlais (Sherwood) | Republican | January 3, 2011 – present | 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2013–2023 |
| Scott DesJarlais (Sherwood) | Republican | January 3, 2011 – present | 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2023–present |