# 2023 Nashville mayoral election

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vte :
The 2023 Nashville mayoral election took place on August 3, 2023, to elect the next mayor of Nashville, Tennessee. Incumbent Democratic Mayor John Cooper did not seek re-election to a second term in office. A wide field of candidates ran to succeed Cooper, with Democratic metro councilmember Freddie O'Connell and Republican political consultant Alice Rolli advancing to the runoff because no candidate surpassed 50% of the vote. In the runoff election, O'Connell was elected with 63.9% of the vote, defeating Rolli and becoming the 10th mayor of metro Nashville.
O'Connell was considered one of the more progressive figures in Nashville politics and is known for his vocal opposition to the use of public funds to build the Nissan Stadium. Rolli is a businesswoman who has worked for numerous prominent Tennessee Republicans in the past, including governor Bill Haslam and U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander.
Rolli was considered an underdog in the runoff due to her status as a Republican in a heavily Democratic city. In the 60 years since the city of Nashville was consolidated with Davidson County in 1963, it has never elected a Republican mayor. Democrat Joe Biden won the city with 64.5% of the vote in the 2020 presidential election.
All Nashville municipal elections are required to be non-partisan, but candidates can be affiliated with a political party.

## Candidates
### Advanced to runoff

| Candidate | Experience | Party Affiliation | Announced | Ref |
| Freddie O'Connell | Metro councilmember from the 19th district since 2015 | Democratic | April 28, 2022 Website | |
| Alice Rolli | Former aide to governor Bill Haslam and U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander | Republican | February 24, 2023 Website | |

### Eliminated in first round

| Candidate | Experience | Party Affiliation | Announced |
| Natisha Brooks | Educator Candidate for Tennessee's 5th congressional district in 2022 | Republican | February 20, 2023 Website |
| Fran Bush | Former member of the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Board (2018–2022) | Independent | February 17, 2023 Website |
| Heidi Campbell | State senator from the 20th district since 2021 Nominee for Tennessee's 5th congressional district in 2022 | Democratic | April 5, 2023 Website |
| Bernie Cox | Business owner Candidate for mayor in 2019 | Republican | Website |
| Sharon Hurt | At-Large metro councilmember since 2015 | Democratic | December 5, 2022 Website |
| Stephanie Johnson | Business owner | Independent | May 1, 2023 Website |
| Vivian Wilhoite | Davidson County Property Assessor since 2016 | Democratic | May 2, 2023 Website |
| Matt Wiltshire | Former Nashville Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency chief strategy officer | Democratic | July 13, 2022 Website |
| Jeff Yarbro | Former Minority Leader of the Tennessee Senate (2019–2023) State senator from the 21st district since 2015 | Democratic | February 17, 2023 Website |

### Withdrew after the filing deadline

| Candidate | Experience | Party Affiliation | Announced | Withdrew | Ref |
| Jim Gingrich | Former AllianceBernstein chief operating officer | Democratic | February 8, 2023 Website | July 17, 2023 | |

### Withdrew before the filing deadline

* Gilbert Ramirez, business owner and former police officer (running for Metro Council at-large)
* Lorenzo Short Jr. real estate broker

### Disqualified

* William Domann, musician
* Zerit Teklay, author

### Declined

* Megan Barry, former mayor (2015–2018) (Party affiliation: Democratic)
* Hal Cato, former nonprofit executive
* John Cooper, incumbent mayor (Party affiliation: Democratic)
* David A. Fox, candidate for mayor in 2015 (endorsed Rolli)
* Bob Freeman, state representative for the 56th district (2018–present) (Party affiliation: Democratic) (endorsed Campbell)
* Odessa Kelly, community activist and nominee for Tennessee's 7th congressional district in 2022 (Party affiliation: Democratic)
* Bob Mendes, metro councilmember (endorsed O'Connell)
* Tara Scarlett, education nonprofit CEO
* Jim Shulman, vice mayor of Nashville (ran for re-election)
* Carol Swain, retired Vanderbilt University professor and candidate for mayor in 2018 and 2019 (Party affiliation: Republican)

## First round
### First round endorsements

Labor unions
* International Association of Fire Fighters Local 140
* Nashville Fraternal Order of Police
State senators
* Sara Kyle, state senator from the 30th district (2015–present)
State representatives
* John Ray Clemmons, state representative from the 55th district (2015–present)
* Bob Freeman, state representative from the 56th district (2019–present)
* Gloria Johnson, state representative from the 90th district (2013–2015, 2019–present)
* Bo Mitchell, state representative from the 50th district (2013–present)
Local officials
* Cheryl Mayes, Metro Nashville School Board member from the 6th district (2022–present)
Organizations
* Planned Parenthood (co-endorsement with O'Connell, Wilhoite, and Yarbro)
* Sunrise Movement Nashville (co-endorsement with O'Connell)
Labor unions
* Ironworkers Local 492
Individuals
* Lucinda Williams, American singer-songwriter
* Kesha, American singer-songwriter
State legislators
* Brenda Gilmore, former state senator from the 19th district (2019–2023)
Local officials
* Erica Gilmore, Davidson County Trustee
* Michael Hancock, outgoing mayor of Denver, Colorado (2011–2023)
* Charlie Tygard, metro councilmember at-large (2007–2015) and for District 35 (2002–2007) (co-endorsement with O'Connell and Wiltshire)
* Brenda Wynn, Davidson County Clerk
State legislators
* Jason Powell, state representative from the 53rd district (2013–present)
Metro councilmembers
* Erin Evans, District 12 (2019–present)
* Jacob Kleinfelter, District 34 (1995–1999)
* Kristine Lalonde, District 18, (2007–2011)
* Bob Mendes, at-large (2015–present)
* Sean Parker, District 5 (2019–present)
* Dave Rosenberg, District 35 (2015–present)
* Sandra Sepulveda, District 30 (2019–present)
* Charlie Tygard, at-large (2007–2015) and District 35 (2002–2007) (co-endorsement with Hurt and Wiltshire)
* Lynn Williams, District 34 (1999–2007)
Local officials
* Jim Speering, former Metro Nashville School Board member from the 3rd district (2012–2020)
Organizations
* Planned Parenthood (co-endorsement with Campbell, Wilhoite, and Yarbro)
* Sunrise Movement Nashville (co-endorsement with Campbell)
* Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition
Labor unions
* Amalgamated Transit Union Local 235 (co-endorsement with Wilhoite)
Local officials
* David A. Fox, former Metro Nashville School Board chair and candidate for mayor in 2015
* Pearl Sims, former Davidson County planning commission member
Organizations
* Americans for Tax Reform
* Community Leaders of America
* Davidson County GOP
Individuals
* Grover Norquist, political activist and founder of Americans for Tax Reform
* J.C. Bowman, executive and CEO of Professional Educators of Tennessee
* John D. Richardson, Tennessee Republican Party state executive
State officials
* Carol Solomon, former Twentieth Circuit Court Division VIII judge (1998–2014)
Local officials
* Glenn Funk, Davidson County District Attorney General (2014–present)
* Nick Leonardo, former Davidson County General Sessions Court Division III judge (2018) and metro councilmember from the 1st district (2016–2018)
Organizations
* Planned Parenthood (co-endorsement with Campbell, O'Connell, and Yarbro)
Labor unions
* Amalgamated Transit Union Local 235 (co-endorsement with O'Connell)
State legislators
* Jason Potts, former state representative from the 59th district (2019–2023) and metro councilmember from the 30th district (2011–2019)
Metro councilmembers
* George Armistead, at-large (1987–1999)
* Phil Claiborne, District 15 (2007–2015)
* Stewart Clifton, District 18 (1987–1999)
* Jacobia Dowell, District 32 (2011–2019)
* Jamie Isabell, District 2 (2003–2007)
* Sean McGuire, District 25 (2007–2015)
* Robert Nash, District 27 (2019–present)
* Doug Pardue, District 10 (2011–2019)
* Phil Ponder, District 12 (1995–2003)
* Bill Pridemore, District 9 (2011–2019)
* John Rutherford, District 31 (2019–present)
* Carter Todd, District 34 (2007–2015)
* Charlie Tygard, at-large (2007–2015) and District 35 (2002–2007) (co-endorsement with Hurt and O'Connell)
* Nancy VanReece, District 8 (2015–present)
* Chris Whitson, District 23 (2003–2005)
Local officials
* Claudia Bonnyman, Davidson County Chancery Court judge
* Daron Hall, former Davidson County Sheriff (2002–present)
Organizations
* Nashville Fraternal Order of Police
U.S. Representatives
* Jim Cooper, TN-05 (2003–2023), TN-04 (1983–1985)
State legislators
* Raumesh Akbari, Minority Leader of the Tennessee Senate (2023–present) from the 29th district (2019–present)
* Darren Jernigan, state representative from the 60th district (2013–present) and metro councilmember from the 11th district (2011–2015)
Metro councilmembers
* Larry Hagar, District 11 (2015–present)
Organizations
* Planned Parenthood (co-endorsement with Campbell, O'Connell, and Wilhoite)
Labor unions
* United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1995

### First round polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Fran Bush | Heidi Campbell | Jim Gingrich | Sharon Hurt | Freddie O'Connell | Alice Rolli | Vivian Wilhoite | Matt Wiltshire | Jeff Yarbro | Other/ Undecided |
| VictoryPhones (R) | July 25–27, 2023 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 0.8% | 5.9% | – | 3.6% | 25.4% | 18.8% | 3.4% | 14.6% | 13.1% | 14.5% |
| GBAO Strategies (D) | July 17–19, 2023 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | – | 8% | – | 6% | 21% | 13% | 4% | 10% | 12% | 25% |
| | July 17 | Gingrich withdraws from the race | Gingrich withdraws from the race | Gingrich withdraws from the race | Gingrich withdraws from the race | Gingrich withdraws from the race | Gingrich withdraws from the race | Gingrich withdraws from the race | Gingrich withdraws from the race | Gingrich withdraws from the race | Gingrich withdraws from the race | Gingrich withdraws from the race | Gingrich withdraws from the race |
| Music City Research | July 5–6, 2023 | 502 (LV) | ± 4.2% | – | 7% | 4% | 3% | 20% | 13% | 3% | 15% | 6% | 30% |
| Public Policy Polling (D) | June 2–4, 2023 | 400 (LV) | ± 4.2% | – | 8% | 3% | 7% | 10% | 4% | – | 8% | 9% | 51% |
| VictoryPhones (R) | May 2–4, 2023 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 2% | 21.9% | 4.2% | 6.7% | 15.6% | 4% | 3.2% | 6.6% | 17% | 18.8% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Hal Cato | John Cooper | Matt Wiltshire | Undecided |
| Impact Research | April 6–11, 2022 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 38% | 28% | 13% | 21% |

### First round results

2023 Nashville mayoral election results (first round) :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Freddie O'Connell | Freddie O'Connell | 27,503 | 27.14 |
| Alice Rolli | Alice Rolli | 20,472 | 20.20 |
| Matthew Wiltshire | Matthew Wiltshire | 17,193 | 16.97 |
| Jeff Yarbro | Jeff Yarbro | 12,356 | 12.19 |
| Heidi Campbell | Heidi Campbell | 8,337 | 8.23 |
| Sharon Hurt | Sharon Hurt | 6,104 | 6.02 |
| Vivian Willhoite | Vivian Willhoite | 4,758 | 4.70 |
| Jim Gingrich | Jim Gingrich | 1,668 | 1.65 |
| Natisha Brooks | Natisha Brooks | 1,458 | 1.44 |
| Stephanie Johnson | Stephanie Johnson | 581 | 0.57 |
| Fran Bush | Fran Bush | 503 | 0.50 |
| Bernie Cox | Bernie Cox | 322 | 0.32 |
| Write-in | Write-in | 80 | 0.07 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 101,335 | 100.00 |

## Runoff
### Runoff endorsements

Endorsements in bold were made after the first round.
State senators
* Heidi Campbell, state senator from the 20th district (2021–present) and 2023 mayoral candidate
* Jeff Yarbro, state senator from the 21st district (2015–present) and 2023 mayoral candidate
State representatives
* Jason Powell, state representative from the 53rd district (2013–present)
Metro councilmembers
* Erin Evans, District 12 (2019–present)
* Jacob Kleinfelter, District 34 (1995–1999)
* Kristine Lalonde, District 18, (2007–2011)
* Bob Mendes, at-large (2015–present)
* Sean Parker, District 5 (2019–present)
* Dave Rosenberg, District 35 (2015–present)
* Sandra Sepulveda, District 30 (2019–present)
* Charlie Tygard, at-large (2007–2015) and District 35 (2002–2007)
* Lynn Williams, District 34 (1999–2007)
Local officials
* Jim Speering, former Metro Nashville School Board member from the 3rd district (2012–2020)
* Matt Wiltshire, Former Nashville Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency chief strategy officer and 2023 Mayoral Candidate
Individuals
* Jim Gingrich, former AllianceBernstein COO and 2023 mayoral candidate
Organizations
* Equity Alliance
* Nashville Business Coalition
* Nashville Justice League
* Planned Parenthood
* Sunrise Movement Nashville
* Tennessee Democratic Party
* Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition
Labor unions
* Amalgamated Transit Union Local 235
* Central Labor Council of Nashville and Middle Tennessee
* International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 46
* International Association of Fire Fighters Local 140
Local officials
* Fran Bush, former member of the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Board (2018–2022) and 2023 mayoral candidate
* David A. Fox, former Metro Nashville School Board chair and candidate for mayor in and candidate for mayor in 2015
* Pearl Sims, former Davidson County planning commission member
Organizations
* Americans for Tax Reform
* Community Leaders of America
* Davidson County GOP
Individuals
* Grover Norquist, political activist and founder of Americans for Tax Reform
* J.C. Bowman, executive and CEO of Professional Educators of Tennessee
* John D. Richardson, Tennessee Republican Party state executive

### Runoff polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Freddie O'Connell | Alice Rolli | Other/ Undecided |
| Show Me Victories (D) | August 11–16, 2023 | 430 (RV) | ± 3.8% | 58% | 40% | 2% |

### Runoff results

2023 Nashville mayoral election results (runoff) :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Freddie O'Connell | Freddie O'Connell | 72,989 | 63.85 |
| Alice Rolli | Alice Rolli | 41,205 | 36.04 |
| Write-in | Write-in | 123 | 0.11 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 114,317 | 100.00 |