2022 Tennessee elections

2022 Tennessee elections

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Tennessee state elections in 2022 were held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Primary elections for the United States House of Representatives, governorship, Tennessee Senate, and Tennessee House of Representatives, as well as various judicial retention elections, including elections for all five Tennessee Supreme Court justices as well as general local elections, were held on August 4, 2022. There were also four constitutional amendments to the Constitution of Tennessee on the November 8 ballot.

United States Congress[edit]

House of Representatives[edit]

District results
District results:
  Republican
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  Democratic
  •   70–80%

Tennessee elected nine U.S. Representatives, each representing one of Tennessee's nine Congressional Districts.

Results[edit]

District Republican Democratic Others Total Result
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
District 1 147,241 78.32% 37,049 19.71% 3,713 1.97% 188,003 100.0% Republican hold
District 2 141,089 67.91% 66,673 32.09% 0 0.00% 207,762 100.0% Republican hold
District 3 136,639 68.38% 60,334 30.19% 2,857 1.43% 199,830 100.0% Republican hold
District 4 122,401 70.57% 44,648 25.74% 6,388 3.68% 173,437 100.0% Republican hold
District 5 123,558 55.84% 93,648 42.32% 4,069 1.84% 221,275 100.0% Republican gain
District 6 129,388 66.33% 65,675 33.67% 0 0.00% 195,063 100.0% Republican hold
District 7 108,421 59.96% 68,973 38.14% 3,428 1.90% 180,822 100.0% Republican hold
District 8 155,602 73.99% 51,102 24.30% 3,611 1.72% 210,315 100.0% Republican hold
District 9 35,123 26.23% 93,800 70.04% 4,995 3.73% 133,918 100.0% Democratic hold
Total 1,099,462 64.28% 581,902 34.02% 29,061 1.70% 1,710,425 100.0%
Popular vote
Republican
64.28%
Democratic
34.02%
Other
1.70%
House seats
Republican
88.89%
Democratic
11.11%

Gubernatorial[edit]

Final results by county
Final results by county:
  Lee
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  Martin
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%

Incumbent Republican Governor Bill Lee was re-elected to a second term with almost 65% of the vote, improving on his performance from 2018.

The Tennessee primaries took place on August 4, 2022, with Lee and Democrat Jason Martin winning their respective parties' nominations.[1][2]

Lee was sworn in on January 21, 2023.

Results[edit]

2022 Tennessee gubernatorial election [3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Bill Lee (incumbent) 1,129,390 64.91% +5.55
Democratic Jason Martin 572,818 32.92% −5.63
Independent John Gentry 15,395 0.89% N/A
Independent Constance Every 10,277 0.59% N/A
Independent Deborah Rouse 3,772 0.22% N/A
Independent Rick Tyler 2,380 0.14% N/A
Independent Charles Van Morgan 1,862 0.11% N/A
Independent Basil Marceaux 1,568 0.09% N/A
Independent Alfred O'Neil 1,216 0.07% N/A
Independent Michael Scantland 815 0.05% N/A
Write-In Lemichael D. Wilson 386 0.02% N/A
Write-In Charles Carney 2 0.00% N/A
Write-In Stephen C. Maxwell 1 0.00% N/A
Write-In Kameron Parker Scott 0 0.00% N/A
Total votes 1,739,882 100.00%
Turnout 1,739,882 38.57% -15.89%
Registered electors 4,550,026[4]
Republican hold

August 4, 2022, primary results

Results by county:
  Martin
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  Smiley
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  Atwater
  •   30–40%
Democratic primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jason Martin 101,552 39.39
Democratic J.B. Smiley Jr. 100,062 38.81
Democratic Carnita Atwater 56,227 21.81
Total votes 257,841 100.00
Republican primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Lee (incumbent) 494,362 100.00
Total votes 494,362 100.00

State legislature[edit]

State senate[edit]

Results by senate districts

Elections for 17 of the 33 seats in Tennessee's State Senate were held on November 8, 2022. There were 3 open seats and 14 incumbents that ran for re-election.

Following the 2022 elections, no seats flipped.

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%

State House of Representatives[edit]

Results by state house districts

Winners:

  Republican hold
  Republican gain
  Democratic hold

The election of all 99 seats in the Tennessee House of Representatives occurred on November 8, 2022.

Republicans gained two seats, expanding their supermajority in the state house even more. John Windle lost his re-election bid after registering as an Independent.

Summary of the November 8, 2022 Tennessee House election results
Party Candidates Votes Seats
No. % No. +/–
Republican 81 1,077,324 70.48 75 Increase 2
Democratic 54 410,589 26.86 24 Decrease 1
Independent 12 39,777 2.60 0 Decrease 1
Write-in 804 0.05 0 Steady
Total 1,528,494 100.00 99 Steady
Source: [2]
Popular vote
Republican
70.48%
Democratic
26.86%
Independent
2.60%
Write-ins
0.05%
House seats
Republican
75.76%
Democratic
24.24%

Close races[edit]

Four races were decided by a margin of 10% or less:

District Winner Margin
District 67 Democratic 1.34%
District 59 Democratic 4.76%
District 41 Republican (flip) 5.1%
District 18 Republican 8.22%

Ballot measures[edit]

Amendment 1[edit]

Amendment 1
Shall Article XI of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by adding the following language as a new section? "It is unlawful for any person, corporation, association, or this state or its political subdivisions to deny or attempt to deny employment to any person by reason of the person's membership in, affiliation with, resignation from, or refusal to join or affiliate with any labor union or employee organization."
Results
Choice
Votes %
Yes 1,141,941 69.79%
No 494,239 30.21%
Valid votes 1,636,180 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 0 0.00%
Total votes 1,636,180 100.00%

Yes
  70–80%
  60–70%
  50–60%
Source: Tennessee Secretary of State[7]

This is an approved legislatively referred constitutional amendment to the Constitution of Tennessee. The amendment adds language to the constitution to prohibit workplaces from requiring mandatory labor union membership for employees as a condition for employment.[8] The U.S. state of Tennessee has been a right-to-work state by statute since 1947. However, this referendum will make the law a right and amendment written into the state's constitution.[9]

Amendment 2[edit]

Amendment 2
Shall Article III, Section 12 of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by adding the following language immediately following the current language in the Section? "Whenever the Governor transmits to the Secretary of State, the Speaker of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, a written, signed declaration that the Governor is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office, the powers and duties of the office of Governor shall be temporarily discharged by the Speaker of the Senate as Acting Governor, or if that office is unoccupied, then by the Speaker of the House of Representatives as Acting Governor, until the Governor transmits to the same officials a written, signed declaration that the Governor is able to discharge the powers and duties of the office. Whenever a majority of the commissioners of administrative departments of the Executive Department transmits to the Secretary of State, the Speaker of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written, signed declaration that the Governor is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office, the Speaker of the Senate shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting Governor, or if that office is unoccupied, then the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting Governor, until the Governor transmits to the same officials a written, signed declaration that the Governor is able to discharge the powers and duties of the office. Whenever a Speaker is temporarily discharging the powers and duties of the office of Governor as Acting Governor, such Speaker shall not be required to resign the Speaker’s position as the Speaker or to resign as a member of the general assembly and shall retain the Speaker’s salary and not receive the Governor’s salary, but such Speaker shall not preside as Speaker or vote as a member of the general assembly during the time the Speaker is Acting Governor."

and

Shall Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by adding the following language immediately before the period at the end of the Section? "except as provided in Article III, Section 12 with regard to the Speaker of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives temporarily discharging the powers and duties of the office of Governor as Acting Governor"

and

Shall Article II, Section 26 of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by adding the following language at the end of the Section? "This section shall not apply with regard to the Speaker of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives temporarily discharging the powers and duties of the office of Governor as Acting Governor under Article III, Section 12."
Results
Choice
Votes %
Yes 1,176,297 74.62%
No 400,109 25.38%
Valid votes 1,576,406 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 0 0.00%
Total votes 1,576,406 100.00%
Source: Tennessee Secretary of State[7]

This amendment would add to article III, section 12 of the Tennessee Constitution a process for the temporary exercise of the powers and duties of the governor by the Speaker of the Senate—or the Speaker of the House if there is no Speaker of the Senate in office—when the governor is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office of governor. While a Speaker is temporarily discharging the powers and duties of the governor, the Speaker would not be required to resign as Speaker or to resign as a member of the legislature; but the Speaker would not be able to preside as Speaker or vote as a member of the legislature. A Speaker who is temporarily discharging the powers and duties of the governor would not get the governor’s salary but would get the Speaker’s salary. The amendment would also exempt a Speaker who is temporarily discharging the powers and duties of the governor from provisions in the Constitution that would otherwise prohibit the Speaker from exercising the powers of the governor and from simultaneously holding more than one state office.[10]

Amendment 3[edit]

Amendment 3
Shall Article I, Section 33 of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by deleting the section and substituting instead the following? "Section 33. Slavery and involuntary servitude are forever prohibited. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an inmate from working when the inmate has been duly convicted of a crime."
Results
Choice
Votes %
Yes 1,294,296 79.53%
No 333,071 20.47%
Valid votes 1,627,367 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 0 0.00%
Total votes 1,627,367 100.00%

Yes
  80–90%
  70–80%
  60–70%
Source: Tennessee Secretary of State[7]

This amendment would change the current language in article I, section 33 of the Tennessee Constitution, which says that slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a person who has been duly convicted of crime, are forever prohibited in this State. The amendment would delete this current language and replace it with the following language: “Slavery and involuntary servitude are forever prohibited. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an inmate from working when the inmate has been duly convicted of a crime."[10]

Amendment 4[edit]

Amendment 4
Shall Article IX, Section 1 of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by deleting the section?
Results
Choice
Votes %
Yes 1,020,981 63.24%
No 593,461 36.76%
Valid votes 1,614,442 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 0 0.00%
Total votes 1,614,442 100.00%
Source: Tennessee Secretary of State[7]

This amendment would delete article IX, section 1 of the Tennessee Constitution, which prohibits ministers of the gospel and priests of any denomination from holding a seat in either House of the legislature.[10]

Supreme Court[edit]

Retention elections (August 4, 2022)[edit]

All incumbent Tennessee Supreme Court Justices won their retention elections.

Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice, Roger A. Page retention election[11]
Choice Votes %
Referendum passed Yes 450,681 72.11
No 174,269 27.89
Total votes 624,950 100.00
Tennessee Supreme Court Associate Justice, Sharon G. Lee retention election[11]
Choice Votes %
Referendum passed Yes 463,799 72.98
No 171,522 27.02
Total votes 635,321 100.00
Tennessee Supreme Court Associate Justice, Jeffrey S. Bivins retention election[11]
Choice Votes %
Referendum passed Yes 462,036 71.53
No 183,853 28.47
Total votes 645,889 100.00
Tennessee Supreme Court Associate Justice, Holly M. Kirby retention election[11]
Choice Votes %
Referendum passed Yes 468,351 73.81
No 166,200 26.19
Total votes 634,551 100.00
Tennessee Supreme Court Associate Justice, Sarah K. Campbell retention election[11]
Choice Votes %
Referendum passed Yes 466,860 72.93
No 173,306 27.07
Total votes 640,166 100.00

Local elections[edit]

County mayoral elections[edit]

Hamilton County[edit]

Final results by county
Final results by precinct:
  Wamp
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  Adams
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%

Republican Candidate Weston Wamp, son of former U.S. Representative Zach Wamp, won with 57.9% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Matt Adams.[12][13] Incumbent Republican Mayor Jim Coppinger, who was appointed county mayor in 2011, chose not to run for a fourth term.[14]

Results[edit]

August 4, 2022 General election results[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Weston Wamp 28,199 57.89%
Democratic Matt Adams 20,512 42.11%
Total votes 48,711 100.00%

May 3, 2022, primary results

Democratic primary results[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Matt Adams 5,876 100.00%
Total votes 5,876 100.00%
Republican primary results[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Weston Wamp 14,428 35.44%
Republican Sabrena D. Smedley 14,110 34.66%
Republican Matt Hullander 12,171 29.90%
Total votes 40,709 100.00%

Knox County[edit]

Final results by county
Final results by precinct:
  Jacobs
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  Helsley
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  •   >90%

Incumbent Republican mayor Glenn Jacobs won re-election with 55.3% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Debbie Helsley.

Results[edit]

General election results[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Glenn Jacobs 30,306 55.28%
Democratic Debbie Helsley 24,520 44.72%
Write-in Tracy A. Clough (write-in) 1 0.00%
Total votes 54,287 100.00%

May 3, 2022, primary results

Democratic primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Debbie Helsley 5,921 74.20%
Democratic Tyler Givens 1,397 17.51%
Democratic Bob Fischer 662 8.30%
Total votes 7,980 100.00%
Republican primary results[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Glenn Jacobs (incumbent) 24,687 100.00%
Total votes 24,687 100.00%

Shelby County[edit]

Final results by county
Final results by precinct:
  Harris
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  •   >90%
  Morgan
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%

Incumbent Democratic Mayor Lee Harris won re-election with 58.0% of the vote, defeating Republican nominee Worth Morgan.[20][21]

Results[edit]

August 4, 2022 General election results[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lee Harris (Incumbent) 78,606 57.98%
Republican Worth Morgan 56,809 41.90%
Write-in Write-in 256 0.12%
Total votes 135,571 100.00%

May 3, 2022, primary results

Democratic primary results[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lee Harris (Incumbent) 33,759 70.06%
Democratic Kenneth Moody 14,372 29.83%
Write-in Write-in 56 0.12%
Total votes 48,187 100.00%
Republican primary results[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Worth Morgan 14,259 99.19%
Write-in Write-in 117 0.81%
Total votes 14,376 100.00%

City mayoral elections[edit]

Clarksville[edit]

Incumbent Democratic mayor Joe Pitts ran for re-election and won a second term in office in a 3-way race.[25]

November 8, 2022 Clarksville Mayor Election[26]
Candidate Votes %
Joe Pitts (I) 14,095 54.54%
David Allen 8,715 33.72%
A.C. "Big Sarge" Lopez 2,846 11.01%
Write-ins 189 0.73%
Total 25,845 100%

Murfreesboro[edit]

Incumbent Republican mayor Shane McFarland ran for re-election and won a third term in office in a 3-way race.[27]

August 4, 2022 Murfreesboro Mayor Election[28]
Candidate Votes %
Shane McFarland (I) 8,446 66.45%
Tony Lehew 2,103 16.55%
Nathan Bennett 2,100 16.52%
Write-ins 61 0.48%
Total 12,710 100%

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2022 Midterm Election Events Calendar". www.cnn.com. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  2. ^ "Doctor critical of lax COVID rules wins Tenn. Dem gov race". AP NEWS. August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  3. ^ State of Tennessee General Election Results Governor, November 8, 2022, Results By Office (PDF) (Report). Secretary of State of Tennessee. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  4. ^ McCullough, Erin (November 11, 2022). "Less than 40% of registered voters in Tennessee turned out for the 2022 midterms". WKRN News 2. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "August 4, 2022 Democratic Primary Governor" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  6. ^ "August 4, 2022 Republican Primary Governor" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d "Tennessee Amendment Election Results". Tennessee Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 13, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  8. ^ "Tennessee Senate - SJR0648" (PDF). capitol.tn.gov. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  9. ^ Gay, Barrett (November 16, 2020). "Digging into the history of "Right-to-Work" as Tennessee considers new amendment". WBIR. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  10. ^ a b c "2022 Proposed Constitutional Amendments". Tennessee Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 13, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  11. ^ a b c d e State of Tennessee General Election Results, August 4, 2022, Results By Office (Report). Secretary of State of Tennessee. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  12. ^ "Weston Wamp Headed To County Mayor Post; Adams Offers His Congratulations". www.chattanoogan.com. August 5, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  13. ^ "DECISION 2022: Weston Wamp wins race for Hamilton County Mayor". Local3News.com. August 5, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  14. ^ A. O. L. Staff (October 20, 2021). "Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger announces he won't seek re-election". www.timesfreepress.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  15. ^ "Election Commission for Hamilton County, TN > Election Archives > 2022". elect.hamiltontn.gov. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  16. ^ "Election Commission for Hamilton County, TN > Election Archives > 2022". elect.hamiltontn.gov. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  17. ^ "Election Commission for Hamilton County, TN > Election Archives > 2022". elect.hamiltontn.gov. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  18. ^ "August 4, 2022 General election" (PDF). Knox County Election Commission. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  19. ^ "May 3rd Republican Primary Mayor" (PDF). Knox County Election Commission. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  20. ^ Burgess, Katherine. "Four more years: Lee Harris reelected as mayor of Shelby County in extension of blue wave". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  21. ^ "Past Elections | Shelby County Election Commission, TN". www.electionsshelbytn.gov. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  22. ^ "Past Elections | Shelby County Election Commission, TN". www.electionsshelbytn.gov. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  23. ^ "Lee Harris". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  24. ^ "Lee Harris". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  25. ^ "Joe Pitts re-elected as Clarksville mayor". Yahoo. November 9, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  26. ^ "MoCo Election Results". election.mcgtn.org. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  27. ^ "Shane McFarland remains Murfreesboro mayor; Scales-Harris retains council seat". Yahoo Sports. August 5, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  28. ^ "May 3rd, 2022 - Rutherford County Election Results". secured.rutherfordcountytn.gov. Retrieved December 22, 2023.