# 2012 Tennessee Senate election

The 2012 Tennessee State Senate election was held on November 6, 2012, 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 2, 2012.
Republicans gained 6 seats, getting a supermajority in the Senate chamber.

## Retirements

Five incumbents (4 Democrats and 1 Republican) did not run for re-election in 2012. Those incumbents are:

### Democrats

* District 10: Andy Berke retired to run for mayor of Chattanooga in 2013.
* District 16: Eric Stewart retired to run for Tennessee's 4th congressional district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
* District 20: Joe M. Haynes retired.
* District 24: Roy Herron retired.

### Republicans

* District 18: Kerry Roberts retired.

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

* District 30: Beverly Marrero lost renomination to Jim Kyle.

### In the general election
#### Democrats

* District 22: Tim Barnes lost to Mark Green

## Results summary

| Party | Party | Candidates | Votes | Votes | Seats | Seats | Seats | Seats | Seats |
| Party | Party | Candidates | No. | % | Before | Up | Won | After | +/– |
| | Republican | 15 | 704,393 | 69.94% | 20 | 9 | 15 | 26 | 6 |
| | Democratic | 10 | 302,714 | 30.06% | 13 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,007,107 | 100.00% | 33 | 16 | 16 | 33 | |
| Source: ||||||||||
Popular vote
Republican
69.94%
Democratic
30.06% :
Senate seats
Republican
78.79%
Democratic
21.21% :

### Closest races

Three races were decided by a margin of under 10%:
| District | Winner | Margin |
| District 22 | Republican (gain) | 6.16% |
| District 20 | Republican (gain) | 8.16% |
| District 10 | Republican (gain) | 8.64% |

## Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| Governing | Safe R | October 24, 2012 |

## Detailed results by State Senate District
### District 2

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 2 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Doug Overbey (incumbent) | 11,334 | 61.0 |
| | Republican | Scott Hughes | 7,260 | 39.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,594 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Doug Overbey (incumbent) | 60,517 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 60,517 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 4
#### Republican primary

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ron Ramsey (incumbent) | 12,183 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,183 | 100.00% |

#### General election

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 4 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ron Ramsey (incumbent) | 55,913 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 55,913 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 6
#### Republican primary

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Becky Duncan Massey (incumbent) | 7,260 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,260 | 100.00% |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Evelyn Gill | 1,479 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,479 | 100.00% |

#### General election

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 6 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Becky Duncan Massey (incumbent) | 49,744 | 68.7 |
| | Democratic | Evelyn Gill | 22,691 | 31.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 72,435 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 8

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 8 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frank Niceley | 7,021 | 44.6 |
| | Republican | Cynthia Bundren Jackson | 5,432 | 34.5 |
| | Republican | Jeffrey Brantley | 1,817 | 11.5 |
| | Republican | Hobart Rice | 1,483 | 9.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,753 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Frank Niceley | 43,687 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,687 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 10

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 10 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Andrae McGary | 4,302 | 61.6 |
| | Democratic | David Testerman | 1,705 | 24.4 |
| | Democratic | Quenston Coleman | 979 | 14.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,986 | 100 |
| | Republican | Todd Gardenhire | 8,022 | 50.1 |
| | Republican | Greg Vital | 7,982 | 49.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,004 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Todd Gardenhire | 36,557 | 54.32% |
| | Democratic | Andrae McGary | 30,745 | 45.68% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 67,302 | 100.00% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 12
#### Republican primary

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ken Yager (incumbent) | 18,037 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,037 | 100.00% |

#### General election

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 12 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ken Yager (incumbent) | 51,076 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 51,076 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 14

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 14 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Tracy (incumbent) | 11,174 | 86.7 |
| | Republican | Matt Randolph | 1,707 | 13.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,881 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Jim Tracy (incumbent) | 50,235 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 50,235 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 16

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 16 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Lewis | 2,937 | 27.60 |
| | Democratic | Steve Roller | 2,902 | 27.27 |
| | Democratic | Justin Walling | 2,878 | 27.04 |
| | Democratic | Kevin Lawrence | 1,256 | 11.80 |
| | Democratic | Jeff Bottoms | 670 | 6.30 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,643 | 100.00 |
| | Republican | Janice Bowling | 8,162 | 60.1 |
| | Republican | Ron Stolzfus | 2,280 | 16.8 |
| | Republican | Eric Chance | 2,277 | 16.8 |
| | Republican | Rod McClellan | 866 | 6.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,585 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Janice Bowling | 40,139 | 62.9 |
| | Democratic | Jim Lewis | 23,636 | 37.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 63,775 | 100 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 18

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 18 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ferrell Haile | 8,627 | 48.2 |
| | Republican | Jeff Coker | 7,527 | 42.1 |
| | Republican | J. H. Tony Allers | 1,370 | 7.7 |
| | Republican | Brock Ewell | 367 | 2.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,891 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Ferrell Haile | 49,472 | 69.2 |
| | Democratic | Maria Brewer | 21,970 | 30.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 71,442 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 20

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 20 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Phillip North | 5,148 | 74.3 |
| | Democratic | James Baxter | 1,784 | 25.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,932 | 100 |
| | Republican | Steven Dickerson | 5,378 | 48.5 |
| | Republican | David Hall | 3,325 | 30.0 |
| | Republican | Rob Mortenson | 2,379 | 21.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,082 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Steven Dickerson | 46,254 | 54.08% |
| | Democratic | Phillip North | 39,280 | 45.92% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 85,534 | 100.00% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 22
#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tim Barnes (incumbent) | 3,869 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,869 | 100.00% |

#### Republican primary

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mark Green | 4,849 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,849 | 100.00% |

### General election

Results by county
| County | Green | % | Barnes | % | Total |
| Houston | 1,317 | 45.23% | 1,595 | 54.77% | 2,912 |
| Montgomery | 28,197 | 53.66% | 24,348 | 46.34% | 52,545 |
| Stewart | 2,449 | 51.42% | 2,314 | 48.58% | 4,763 |
2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 22 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mark Green | 31,963 | 53.08% |
| | Democratic | Tim Barnes (incumbent) | 28,257 | 46.92% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 60,220 | 100.00% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 24

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 24 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Stevens | 5,419 | 60.9 |
| | Republican | Danny Jowers | 3,476 | 39.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,895 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | John Stevens | 38,667 | 56.5 |
| | Democratic | Brad Thompson | 29,807 | 43.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 68,474 | 100 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 26
#### Republican primary

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dolores Gresham (incumbent) | 12,179 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,179 | 100.00% |

#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Meryl Rice | 5,073 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,073 | 100.00% |

#### General election

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 26 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dolores Gresham (incumbent) | 42,990 | 60.4 |
| | Democratic | Meryl Rice | 28,131 | 39.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 71,121 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 28

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 28 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Joey Hensley | 12,589 | 76.6 |
| | Republican | Dean Dickey | 3,847 | 23.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,436 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Joey Hensley | 37,361 | 55.2 |
| | Democratic | Tyler Cobb | 30,375 | 44.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 67,736 | 100 |
| | Republican gain from new constituency | Republican gain from new constituency | Republican gain from new constituency | Republican gain from new constituency |

### District 30

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 30 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Kyle (incumbent) | 7,368 | 55.4 |
| | Democratic | Beverly Marrero (incumbent) | 5,931 | 44.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,299 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Jim Kyle (incumbent) | 47,822 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 47,822 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 32

2012 Tennessee Senate election, District 32 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mark Norris (incumbent) | 26,592 | 88.9 |
| | Republican | Woody Degan | 3,319 | 11.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,911 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Mark Norris (incumbent) | 69,818 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 69,818 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |