# 2014 Tennessee Senate election

The 2014 Tennessee State Senate election was held on November 4, 2014, 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 7, 2014.
Republicans gained 2 seats, expanding their Senate Supermajority.

## Retirements

Three incumbents (3 Democrats) did not run for re-election in 2014. Those incumbents are:
* District 15: Charlotte Burks retired.
* District 21: Douglas Henry retired.
* District 27: Lowe Finney retired.

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

* District 29: Ophelia Ford lost renomination to Lee Harris.

#### Republicans

* District 7: Stacey Campfield lost renomination to Richard Briggs.
* District 25: Jim Summerville lost renomination to Kerry Roberts

## Results summary

| Party | Party | Candidates | Votes | Votes | Seats | Seats | Seats | Seats | Seats |
| Party | Party | Candidates | No. | % | Before | Up | Won | After | +/– |
| | Republican | 17 | 463,829 | 71.20% | 26 | 11 | 13 | 28 | 2 |
| | Democratic | 9 | 170,534 | 26.18% | 7 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| | Green | 1 | 9,366 | 1.44% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| | Constitution | 1 | 1,139 | 0.17% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| | Independent | 4 | 6,558 | 1.01% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| | Write-in | 1 | 38 | 0.01% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | Total | Total | 651,464 | 100.00% | 33 | | | 33 | |
| Source: ||||||||||
Popular vote
Republican
71.20%
Democratic
26.18%
Other
2.62% :
Senate seats
Republican
84.85%
Democratic
15.15% :

### Closest race

Many of the senators running in this election ran unopposed or had an uncompetitive election. This race was the closest in the Senate election:
| District | Winner | Margin |
| District 27 | Republican | 25.3% |

## Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| Governing | Safe R | October 20, 2014 |

## Detailed results by State Senate District

Source:

### District 1
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Steve Southerland (incumbent) | 19,911 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,911 | 100 |

#### General election

2014 Tennessee Senate election, District 1 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Steve Southerland (incumbent) | 29,698 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,698 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 3
#### Republican primary

Republican Primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rusty Crowe (incumbent) | 23,205 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,205 | 100 |

#### General election

2014 Tennessee Senate election, District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rusty Crowe (incumbent) | 32,508 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,508 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 5
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Randy McNally (incumbent) | 19,393 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,393 | 100 |

#### General election

2014 Tennessee Senate election, District 5 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Randy McNally (incumbent) | 37,302 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 37,302 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 7

2014 Tennessee Senate election, District 7 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Richard Briggs | 14,056 | 69.8 |
| | Republican | Stacey Campfield (incumbent) | 4,864 | 24.2 |
| | Republican | Mike Alford | 1,204 | 6.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,124 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Richard Briggs | 27,942 | 65.3 |
| | Democratic | Cheri Siler | 14,880 | 34.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 42,822 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 9
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Bell (incumbent) | 20,368 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,368 | 100 |

#### General election

2014 Tennessee Senate election, District 9 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Bell (incumbent) | 31,748 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 31,748 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 11
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bo Watson (incumbent) | 21,336 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,336 | 100 |

#### General election

2014 Tennessee Senate election, District 11 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bo Watson (incumbent) | 37,386 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 37,386 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 13
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bill Ketron (incumbent) | 12,495 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,495 | 100 |

#### General election

2014 Tennessee Senate election, District 13 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bill Ketron (incumbent) | 29,489 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,489 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 15

2014 Tennessee Senate election, District 15 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Paul Bailey | 13,141 | 48.4 |
| | Republican | Matt Swallows | 12,577 | 46.3 |
| | Republican | Gary Steakley | 1,453 | 5.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 27,171 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Paul Bailey | 33,674 | 73.3 |
| | Democratic | Betty Vaudt | 10,263 | 22.3 |
| | Independent | William Draper | 2,022 | 4.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 45,959 | 100 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 17

2014 Tennessee Senate election, District 17 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mae Beavers (incumbent) | 16,177 | 59.3 |
| | Republican | Clark Boyd | 11,104 | 40.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 27,281 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Mae Beavers (incumbent) | 35,454 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 35,454 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 19

2014 Tennessee Senate election, District 19 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Thelma Harper (incumbent) | 10,520 | 86.2 |
| | Democratic | Brandon Puttbrese | 1,685 | 13.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,205 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Thelma Harper (incumbent) | 23,235 | 75.3 |
| | Republican | Sterlina Inez Brady | 4,701 | 15.2 |
| | Independent | George Thomas | 2,899 | 9.4 |
| | Write in | Rueben (Dock) Dockery | 38 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,873 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 21

2014 Tennessee Senate election, District 21 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jeff Yarbro | 6,830 | 56.7 |
| | Democratic | Mary Mancini | 5,217 | 43.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,047 | 100 |
| | Republican | Diana Cuellar | 2,960 | 61.3 |
| | Republican | Quincy McKnight | 1,523 | 31.5 |
| | Republican | Mwafaq Aljabbary | 346 | 7.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,829 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Jeff Yarbro | 25,402 | 66.6 |
| | Republican | Diana Cuellar | 12,714 | 33.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 38,116 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 23
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jack Johnson (incumbent) | 18,985 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,985 | 100 |

#### General election

2014 Tennessee Senate election, District 23 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jack Johnson (incumbent) | 45,732 | 83.0 |
| | Green | Amy Balderrama | 9,366 | 17.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 55,098 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 25

2014 Tennessee Senate election, District 25 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kerry Roberts | 9,832 | 42.2 |
| | Republican | Joshua Evans | 8,819 | 37.8 |
| | Republican | Jim Summerville (incumbent) | 3,701 | 15.9 |
| | Republican | Wayne White | 968 | 4.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,320 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Kerry Roberts | 29,337 | 70.4 |
| | Democratic | Tony Gross | 12,316 | 29.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,653 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 27

2014 Tennessee Senate election, District 27 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ed Jackson | 11,136 | 58.9 |
| | Republican | Brandon Dodds | 7,763 | 41.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,899 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Ed Jackson | 23,331 | 60.2 |
| | Democratic | Randy Lamb | 13,515 | 34.9 |
| | Constitution | Tim York | 1,139 | 2.9 |
| | Independent | James Baxter | 779 | 2.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 38,764 | 100 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 29

2014 Tennessee Senate election, District 29 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lee Harris | 10,517 | 42.5 |
| | Democratic | Ricky Dixon | 6,882 | 27.8 |
| | Democratic | Ophelia Ford (incumbent) | 6,756 | 27.3 |
| | Democratic | Herman Sawyer | 611 | 2.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,766 | 100 |
| | Republican | Jim Finney | 3,111 | 82.0 |
| | Republican | Anthony Herron, Jr. | 682 | 18.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,793 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Lee Harris | 27,707 | 81.9 |
| | Republican | Jim Finney | 6,123 | 18.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 33,830 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 30 (special)

A special election was called for November 4, 2014, following the resignation of Jim Kyle, who was elected as a Shelby County Chancery Court judge. Sara Kyle defeated George Flinn Jr. in the election. Kyle was elected to serve the remaining two years of Kyle's four-year term

#### General special election

2014 Tennessee Senate special election, District 30 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sara Kyle | 18,377 | 69.9 |
| | Republican | George Shea Finn | 7,044 | 26.8 |
| | Independent | David Vinciarelli | 858 | 3.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,279 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 31
#### Republican primary

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Brian Kelsey (incumbent) | 23,703 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,703 | 100 |

#### General election

2014 Tennessee Senate election, District 31 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Brian Kelsey (incumbent) | 39,646 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,646 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 33
#### Democratic primary

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Reginald Tate (incumbent) | 16,037 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,037 | 100 |

#### General election

2014 Tennessee Senate election, District 33 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Reginald Tate (incumbent) | 24,839 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,839 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |