2022 Tennessee Senate election

2022 Tennessee State Senate election

← 2020 November 8, 2022 2024 →

17 of the 33 seats in the Tennessee State Senate
17 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Randy McNally Jeff Yarbro
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat 5th district 21st district
Last election 27 seats 6 seats
Seats before 27 6
Seats won 27 6
Seat change Steady Steady
Popular vote 546,264 207,273
Percentage 70.64% 26.81%
Swing Decrease 0.77% Increase 2.38%

Results:
     Republican hold      Democratic hold
     No Election
Vote Share:
     60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
     70–80%      80–90%      >90%

Speaker before election

Randy McNally
Republican

Elected Speaker

Randy McNally
Republican

The 2022 Tennessee State Senate election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect 17 of the 33 seats for the Tennessee's State Senate. The elections coincided with the Governor, U.S. House, and State House elections. The primary elections were held on August 4, 2022.[1]

Following the 2022 elections, no seats changed hands, leaving Tennessee's State Senate delegation at a 27–6 Republican supermajority.

Retirements[edit]

Republicans[edit]

Democrats[edit]

Predictions[edit]

Source Ranking As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[5] Safe R May 19, 2022

Results summary[edit]

Summary of the November 8, 2022 Tennessee Senate election results
Party Candidates Votes Seats
No. % Before Up Won After +/–
Republican 15 546,264 70.64 27 13 13 27 Steady
Democratic 10 207,273 26.81 6 4 4 6 Steady
Independent 3 19,716 2.55 0 0 0 0 Steady
Total 773,253 100.00 33 17 17 33 Steady
Source: [1]
Popular vote
Republican
70.64%
Democratic
26.81%
Independents
2.55%
Senate seats
Republican
81.82%
Democratic
18.18%

Overview[edit]

District Incumbent Results Candidates[6]
Senator Party Electoral history
District 1 Mike Bell
Redistricted from the 9th district
Republican 2010 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
  • Green tickY J. Adam Lowe (Republican)
  • Patricia Waters (Democratic)
District 3 Rusty Crowe Republican 1990 Incumbent re-elected.
District 5 Randy McNally Republican 1986 Incumbent re-elected.
District 7 Richard Briggs Republican 2014 Incumbent re-elected.
District 9 Steve Southerland
Redistricted from the 1st district
Republican 2002 Incumbent re-elected.
District 11 Bo Watson Republican 2006 Incumbent re-elected.
District 13 Dawn White Republican 2018 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Dawn White (Republican)
  • Kelly Northcutt (Democratic)
District 15 Paul Bailey Republican 2014 Incumbent re-elected.
District 17 Mark Pody Republican 2018 Incumbent re-elected.
District 19 Brenda Gilmore Democratic 2018 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.
District 21 Jeff Yarbro Democratic 2014 Incumbent re-elected.
District 23 Kerry Roberts
Redistricted from the 25th district
Republican 2015 Incumbent re-elected.
District 25 Ed Jackson
Redistricted from the 27th district
Republican 2014 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Ed Jackson (Republican)
  • Ronnie Henley (Independent)
District 27 Jack Johnson
Redistricted from the 23rd district
Republican 2006 Incumbent re-elected.
District 29 Raumesh Akbari Democratic 2018 Incumbent re-elected.
District 31 Brian Kelsey Republican 2008 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
  • Green tickY Brent Taylor (Republican)
  • Ruby Powell-Dennis (Democratic)
District 33 London Lamar Democratic 2022 (Appointed) Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY London Lamar (Democratic)
  • Frederick D. Tappan (Republican)
  • Hastina D. Robinson (Independent)

District 1[edit]

The incumbent is Republican Mike Bell, who was redistricted from the 9th district, where he won with 77.7% of the vote against Democrat, Carl Lansden. Bell announced his retirement from the Senate.[2]

2022 Tennessee's 1st Senate district election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
 
Nominee Adam Lowe Patricia Waters
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 38,381 7,828
Percentage 83.06% 16.94%

Results by county
Lowe:      80–90%

Senator before election

Mike Bell
Republican

Elected Senator

Adam Lowe
Republican

Democratic primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]
  • Patricia Waters
Democratic Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Patricia Waters 2,005 100
Total votes 2,005 100

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

Republican Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Hall 8,554 47.24
Republican J. Adam Lowe 9,551 52.75
Total votes 18,105 100

General election[edit]

Tennessee's 1st State Senate District General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican J. Adam Lowe 38,381 83.06%
Democratic Patricia Waters 7,828 16.94%
Total votes 46,209 100%

District 3[edit]

The incumbent is Republican Rusty Crowe, who was re-elected with 100% of the vote in 2018 with no opposition. He is running for re-election.

2022 Tennessee's 3rd Senate district election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
 
Nominee Rusty Crowe Kate Craig
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 39,237 13,099
Percentage 74.97% 25.03%

Results by county
Crowe:      70–80%     80–90%

Senator before election

Rusty Crowe
Republican

Elected Senator

Rusty Crowe
Republican

Democratic primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

  • Kate Craig, First Congressional District Chair for the Tennessee Democratic County Chairs Association (May 2019 – present), former chair of the Washington County Democratic Party (May 2017 - May 2021), and former candidate for Chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party
Democratic Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kate Craig 2,479 100
Total votes 2,479 100

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

Republican Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rusty Crowe 16,039 100
Total votes 16,039 100

General election[edit]

Tennessee's 3rd State Senate District General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rusty Crowe 39,237 74.98%
Democratic Kate Craig 13,099 25.02%
Total votes 52,336 100%

District 5[edit]

The incumbent is Republican Randy McNally, who was re-elected with 71.8% of the vote in 2018. He is running for re-election.

2022 Tennessee's 5th Senate district election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
 
Nominee Randy McNally
Party Republican
Popular vote 43,402
Percentage 99.99%

Senator before election

Randy McNally
Republican

Elected Senator

Randy McNally
Republican

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

Republican Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Randy McNally 12,965 83.7
Republican Earle Segrest 2,520 16.3
Total votes 15,485 100

General election[edit]

Tennessee's 5th State Senate District General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Randy McNally (incumbent) 43,402 99.99%
Independent Hannah Parton (write-in) 6 0.01%
Total votes 43,408 100.0
Republican hold

District 7[edit]

2022 Tennessee's 7th Senate district election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
 
Nominee Richard Briggs Bryan Langan
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 32,925 19,894
Percentage 62.34% 37.66%

Results by precinct
Briggs:      50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80-90%
Langan:      50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80-90%

Senator before election

Rusty Crowe
Republican

Elected Senator

Rusty Crowe
Republican

The incumbent is Republican Richard Briggs, who was re-elected with 55.6% of the vote in 2018. He is running for re-election.

Democratic primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

  • Bryan Langan
Democratic Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bryan Langan 7,395 100
Total votes 7,395 100

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

Republican Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Richard Briggs 8,575 66.1
Republican Kent A. Morrell 4,395 33.9
Total votes 12,970 100

General election[edit]

Tennessee's 7th State Senate District General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Richard Briggs 32,925 62.34%
Democratic Brian Langan 19,894 37.66%
Total votes 52,795 100%

District 9[edit]

2022 Tennessee's 9th Senate district election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
 
Nominee Steve Southerland Sara Thompson
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 39,113 8,061
Percentage 82.91% 17.09%

Senator before election

[Steve Southerland
Republican

Elected Senator

Steve Southerland
Republican

The incumbent is Republican Steve Southerland, who was redistricted from the 1st district to the 9th district, where he won unopposed with 100% of the vote. He is running for re-election.

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Southerland (incumbent) 13,532 100
Total votes 13,532 100

Democratic primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

  • Sara Thompson
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sara Thompson 1,763 100
Total votes 1,763 100

General election[edit]

Tennessee's 9th State Senate District General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Southerland 39,113 82.91%
Democratic Sara Thompson 19,894 17.09%
Total votes 47,174 100%

District 11[edit]

2022 Tennessee's 11th Senate district election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
 
Nominee Bo Watson
Party Republican
Popular vote 43,402
Percentage 100%

Senator before election

Bo Watson
Republican

Elected Senator

Bo Watson
Republican

The incumbent is Republican Bo Watson, who was re-elected with 65.14% of the vote in 2018. He is running for re-election.

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bo Watson (incumbent) 13,532 100
Total votes 13,532 100

General election[edit]

Tennessee's 11th State Senate District General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bo Watson (incumbent) 45,593 100%
Total votes 45,593 100
Republican hold

District 13[edit]

2022 Tennessee's 9th Senate district election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
 
Nominee Dawn White Kelly Northcutt
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 31,936 17,427
Percentage 82.91% 17.09%

Senator before election

Dawn White
Republican

Elected Senator

Dawn White
Republican

The incumbent is Republican Dawn White, who was re-elected with 57.07% of the vote in 2018. She is running for re-election.

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dawn White (incumbent) 11,081 100
Total votes 11,081 100

Democratic primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

  • Kelly Northcutt
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kelly Northcutt 5,151 100
Total votes 5,151 100

General election[edit]

Tennessee's 13th State Senate District General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dawn White 31,936 64.70%
Democratic Kelly Northcutt 17,427 35.30%
Total votes 49,363 100%

District 15[edit]

The incumbent is Republican Paul Bailey, who was re-elected with 73.64% of the vote in 2018. He is running for re-election.

2022 Tennessee's 15th Senate district election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
 
Nominee Paul Bailey
Party Republican
Popular vote 45,978
Percentage 100%

Senator before election

Paul Bailey
Republican

Elected Senator

Paul Bailey
Republican

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Bailey (incumbent) 20,785 100
Total votes 20,785 100

General election[edit]

Tennessee's 15th State Senate District General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Bailey (incumbent) 45,978 100%
Total votes 45,978 100
Republican hold

District 17[edit]

2022 Tennessee's 17th Senate district election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
 
Nominee Mark Pody
Party Republican
Popular vote 39,381
Percentage 100%

Senator before election

Mark Pody
Republican

Elected Senator

Mark Pody
Republican

The incumbent is Republican Mark Pody, who was re-elected with 73.64% of the vote in 2018. He is running for re-election.

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Pody (incumbent) 13,161 100
Total votes 13,161 100

General election[edit]

Tennessee's 17th State Senate District General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Pody (incumbent) 39,381 100%
Total votes 39,381 100
Republican hold

District 19[edit]

2022 Tennessee's 19th Senate district election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
 
Nominee Charlane Oliver Pime Hernandez
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 39,113 8,061
Percentage 82.91% 17.09%

Senator before election

Brenda Gilmore
Democratic

Elected Senator

Charlane Oliver
Democratic

The incumbent is Democratic Brenda Gilmore, who was re-elected with 85.79% of the vote in 2018. Gilmore announced her retirement from the Senate.[9]

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

  • Pime Hernandez
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Pime Hernandez 1,037 100
Total votes 1,037 100

Democratic primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

Declined[edit]

Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charlane Oliver 5,801 43.73%
Democratic Jerry Maynard 5,152 38.84%
Democratic Ludye N. Wallace 1,521 11.47%
Democratic Barry Barlow 454 3.42%
Democratic Rossi Turner 336 2.53%
Total votes 13,264 100

General election[edit]

Tennessee's 19th State Senate District General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charlane Oliver 30,472 83.21%
Republican Pime Hernandez 6,150 16.79%
Total votes 36,622 100%

District 21[edit]

2022 Tennessee's 21st Senate district election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
 
Nominee Jeff Yarbro Rueben Dockery
Party Democratic Independent
Popular vote 33,061 10,038
Percentage 76.71% 23.29%

Senator before election

Jeff Yarbro
Democratic

Elected Senator

Jeff Yarbro
Democratic

The incumbent is Democratic Jeff Yarbro, who was re-elected un-opposed with 100% of the vote in 2018. He is running for re-election.

Democratic primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]
Democratic Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jeff Yarbro (incumbent) 11,496 100
Total votes 11,496 100

Independent primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

  • Rueben Dockery

General election[edit]

Tennessee's 21st State Senate District General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jeff Yarbro 33,061 76.71%
Independent Rueben Dockery 10,038 23.29%
Total votes 46,209 100%

District 23[edit]

2022 Tennessee's 23rd Senate district election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
 
Nominee Kerry Roberts
Party Republican
Popular vote 43,126
Percentage 100%

Senator before election

Kerry Roberts
Republican

Elected Senator

Kerry Roberts
Republican

The incumbent is Republican Kerry Roberts, who was redistricted from the 25th district, re-elected with 71.52% of the vote in 2018. He is running for re-election.

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kerry Roberts (incumbent) 18,736 100
Total votes 18,736 100

General election[edit]

Tennessee's 23rd State Senate District General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kerry Roberts (incumbent) 43,126 100%
Total votes 43,126 100
Republican hold

District 25[edit]

2022 Tennessee's 25th Senate district election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
 
Nominee Ed Jackson Ronnie Henley
Party Republican Independent
Popular vote 35,766 9,278
Percentage 79.4% 20.6%

Senator before election

Ed Jackson
Republican

Elected Senator

Ed Jackson
Republican

The incumbent is Republican Ed Jackson, who was redistricted from the 27th district, re-elected with 65.14% of the vote in 2018. He is running for re-election.

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

Republican Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ed Jackson 16,039 100
Total votes 16,039 100

Independent primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

  • Ronnie Henley

General election[edit]

Tennessee's 25th State Senate District General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ed Jackson 35,766 79.4%
Independent Ronnie Henley 9,278 20.6%
Total votes 45,044 100%

District 27[edit]

2022 Tennessee's 27th Senate district election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
 
Nominee Jack Johnson
Party Republican
Popular vote 39,381
Percentage 100%

Senator before election

Jack Johnson
Republican

Elected Senator

Jack Johnson
Republican

The incumbent is Republican Jack Johnson, who was redistricted from the 23rd district, re-elected with 66.90% of the vote in 2018. He is running for re-election.

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

Republican Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jack Johnson (incumbent) 12,470 51.63
Republican Gary Humble 11,684 48.37
Total votes 24,154 100

General election[edit]

Tennessee's 27th State Senate District General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jack Johnson (incumbent) 55,443 100%
Total votes 55,443 100%
Republican hold

District 29[edit]

2022 Tennessee's 29th Senate district election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
 
Nominee Raumesh Akbari
Party Democratic
Popular vote 30,204
Percentage 100%

Senator before election

Raumesh Akbari
Democratic

Elected Senator

Raumesh Akbari
Democratic

The incumbent is Democratic Raumesh Akbari, who was re-elected with 83.48% of the vote in 2018. She is running for re-election.

Democratic primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]
Democratic Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Raumesh Akbari (incumbent) 21,565 100
Total votes 21,565 100

General election[edit]

Tennessee's 29th State Senate District General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Raumesh Akbari (incumbent) 30,204 100%
Total votes 30,204 100%

District 31[edit]

2022 Tennessee's 31st Senate district election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
 
Nominee Brent Taylor Ruby Powell-Dennis
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 45,289 23,041
Percentage 66.28% 33.72%

Senator before election

Brian Kelsey
Republican

Elected Senator

Brent Taylor
Republican

The incumbent is Republican Brian Kelsey, who was re-elected with 50.89% of the vote in 2018. He is running for re-election.

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

  • Brent Taylor

Declined[edit]

Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brent Taylor 24,854 100
Total votes 24,854 100

Democratic primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

  • Ruby Powell-Dennis
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ruby Powell-Dennis 12,207 100
Total votes 12,207 100

General election[edit]

Tennessee's 31st State Senate District General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brent Taylor 45,289 66.28%
Democratic Ruby Powell-Dennis 23,041 33.72%
Total votes 68,330 100%

District 33[edit]

The incumbent is Democratic London Lamar, who was re-elected with 47.10% of the vote in 2018. She is running for re-election.

2022 Tennessee's 33rd Senate district election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
 
Nominee London Lamar Frederick D. Tappan Hastina D. Robinson
Party Democratic Republican Independent
Popular vote 24,617 5,426 512
Percentage 80.57% 17.76% 1.68%

Senator before election

London Lamar
Democratic

Elected Senator

London Lamar
Democratic

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

  • Frederick D. Tappan
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frederick D. Tappan 2,589 100
Total votes 2,589 100

Democratic primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

  • Marion Latroy Alexandria-Williams Jr
  • Rhonnie Brewer
  • London Lamar, incumbent senator
Democratic Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic London Lamar 12,661 68.54%
Democratic Marion Latroy Alexandria-Williams Jr 3,166 17.14%
Democratic Rhonnie Brewer 2,645 14.32%
Total votes 18,472 100%

Independent primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

  • Hastina D. Robinson
Tennessee's 33rd State Senate District General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic London Lamar 24,617 80.57%
Republican Frederick D. Tappan 5,426 17.76%
Independent Hastina D. Robinson 512 1.68%
Total votes 30,555 100%

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2022 Election Calendar". Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "State Sen Mike Bell announces intent not to run for re-election in 2022". Daily Post Athenian.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Sen. Brian Kelsey not running for reelection". Action News 5. March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  4. ^ "Longtime Nashville lawmaker Brenda Gilmore announces retirement from Tennessee Senate". The Tennessean. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  5. ^ Jacobson, Louis (May 19, 2022). "The Battle for State Legislatures". Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  6. ^ "Petition Information". Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Houk, Robert (December 13, 2021). "Long-serving state senator to seek re-election in 2022". www.johnsoncitypress.com. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Petition List" (PDF). Davidson County Election Commission. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  9. ^ Friedman, Adam. "Longtime Nashville lawmaker Brenda Gilmore announces retirement from Tennessee Senate". The Tennessean. Retrieved April 6, 2024.