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]
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17 of the 33 seats in the Tennessee State Senate 17 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Results: Republican hold Democratic hold No election Vote share: 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% 70–80% 80–90% >90% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Following the 2022 elections, no seats changed hands, leaving Tennessee's State Senate delegation at a 27–6 Republican supermajority.
Retirements
editRepublicans
edit- District 9: Mike Bell retired.[2]
- District 31: Brian Kelsey retired.[3]
Democrats
edit- District 19: Brenda Gilmore retired.[4]
Predictions
edit| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[5] | Safe R | May 19, 2022 |
Results summary
edit| Party | Candidates | Votes | Seats | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | Before | Up | Won | After | +/– | |||
| Republican | 15 | 546,264 | 70.64 | 27 | 13 | 13 | 27 | 
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| Democratic | 10 | 207,273 | 26.81 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
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| Independent | 3 | 19,716 | 2.55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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| Total | 773,253 | 100.00 | 33 | 17 | 17 | 33 |
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| Source: [1] | |||||||||
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. |
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| District 3 | Rusty Crowe | Republican | 1990 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| District 5 | Randy McNally | Republican | 1986 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| District 7 | Richard Briggs | Republican | 2014 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| District 9 | Steve Southerland Redistricted from the 1st district |
Republican | 2002 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| District 11 | Bo Watson | Republican | 2006 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| District 13 | Dawn White | Republican | 2018 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| District 15 | Paul Bailey | Republican | 2014 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| District 17 | Mark Pody | Republican | 2018 | Incumbent re-elected. | |
| District 19 | Brenda Gilmore | Democratic | 2018 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold. |
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| District 21 | Jeff Yarbro | Democratic | 2014 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| District 23 | Kerry Roberts Redistricted from the 25th district |
Republican | 2015 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| District 25 | Ed Jackson Redistricted from the 27th district |
Republican | 2014 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| District 27 | Jack Johnson Redistricted from the 23rd district |
Republican | 2006 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| District 29 | Raumesh Akbari | Democratic | 2018 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| District 31 | Brian Kelsey | Republican | 2008 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Republican hold. |
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| District 33 | London Lamar | Democratic | 2022 (Appointed) | Incumbent re-elected. |
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District 1
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 Results by county Lowe: 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Republican Mike Bell was redistricted from the 9th district, where he won with 77.7% of the vote against Democrat Carl Lansden in 2018. Bell announced his retirement from the Senate.[9] Republican Adam Lowe won the general election, succeeding Bell.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Patricia Waters
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Patricia Waters | 2,005 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 2,005 | 100 | ||
Republican primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Mark Hall, member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for the 24th district
- J. Adam Lowe, conservative talk radio host, candidate for Tennessee Senate in 2014, candidate for Tennessee House of Representatives in 2014, Vice Chairman of the Bradley County Commission
Declined
- Mike Bell, incumbent senator
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mark Hall | 8,554 | 47.24 | |
| Republican | J. Adam Lowe | 9,551 | 52.75 | |
| Total votes | 18,105 | 100 | ||
Lowe
- 50-60%
Hall
- 50-60%
General election
edit| 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
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 Results by county Crowe: 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Republican Rusty Crowe was re-elected with 100% of the vote in 2018 with no opposition. He ran for re-election and won.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
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
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kate Craig | 2,479 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 2,479 | 100 | ||
Republican primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Rusty Crowe, incumbent senator (1990–present)[7]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Rusty Crowe | 16,039 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 16,039 | 100 | ||
General election
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Rusty Crowe | 39,237 | 74.98% | |
| Democratic | Kate Craig | 13,099 | 25.02% | |
| Total votes | 52,336 | 100% | ||
District 5
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Incumbent Republican Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally was re-elected with 71.8% of the vote in 2018. He ran for re-election and won.
Republican primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Randy McNally, incumbent senator (1987–present)
- Earle Segrest
| 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| 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
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 Results by precinct Briggs: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Langan: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Republican Richard Briggs was re-elected with 55.6% of the vote in 2018. He is ran for re-election and won.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Bryan Langan
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Bryan Langan | 7,395 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 7,395 | 100 | ||
Republican primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Richard Briggs, incumbent senator (2015–present)
- Kent A. Morrell
| 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| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Richard Briggs | 32,925 | 62.34% | |
| Democratic | Brian Langan | 19,894 | 37.66% | |
| Total votes | 52,795 | 100% | ||
District 9
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Incumbent Republican Steve Southerland was redistricted from the 1st district to the 9th district, where he won unopposed with 100% of the vote. He ran for re-election and won.
Republican primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Steve Southerland, incumbent senator
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Steve Southerland (incumbent) | 13,532 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 13,532 | 100 | ||
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Sara Thompson
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sara Thompson | 1,763 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 1,763 | 100 | ||
General election
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Steve Southerland | 39,113 | 82.91% | |
| Democratic | Sara Thompson | 19,894 | 17.09% | |
| Total votes | 47,174 | 100% | ||
District 11
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Incumbent Republican Bo Watson was re-elected with 65.14% of the vote in 2018. He ran re-election and won.
Republican primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Bo Watson, incumbent senator
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bo Watson (incumbent) | 13,532 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 13,532 | 100 | ||
General election
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bo Watson (incumbent) | 45,593 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 45,593 | 100 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 13
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Incumbent Republican Dawn White was re-elected with 57.07% of the vote in 2018. She ran for re-election and won.
Republican primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Dawn White, incumbent senator
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dawn White (incumbent) | 11,081 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 11,081 | 100 | ||
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Kelly Northcutt
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kelly Northcutt | 5,151 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 5,151 | 100 | ||
General election
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dawn White | 31,936 | 64.70% | |
| Democratic | Kelly Northcutt | 17,427 | 35.30% | |
| Total votes | 49,363 | 100.00% | ||
District 15
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Incumbent Republican Paul Bailey was re-elected with 73.64% of the vote in 2018. He ran for re-election and won.
Republican primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Paul Bailey, incumbent senator
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Paul Bailey (incumbent) | 20,785 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 20,785 | 100 | ||
General election
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Paul Bailey (incumbent) | 45,978 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 45,978 | 100 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 17
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Incumbent Republican Mark Pody was re-elected with 73.64% of the vote in 2018. He ran for re-election and won.
Republican primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Mark Pody, incumbent senator
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mark Pody (incumbent) | 13,161 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 13,161 | 100 | ||
General election
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mark Pody (incumbent) | 39,381 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 39,381 | 100 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 19
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Incumbent Democrat Brenda Gilmore was re-elected with 85.79% of the vote in 2018. Gilmore announced her retirement from the Senate.[10] Democrat Charlane Oliver won the general election, succeeding Gilmore.
Republican primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Pime Hernandez
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Pime Hernandez | 1,037 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 1,037 | 100 | ||
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Barry Barlow
- Jerry Maynard
- Charlane Oliver
- Rossi Turner
- Ludye N. Wallace
Declined
edit- Brenda Gilmore, incumbent senator
| 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| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charlane Oliver | 30,472 | 83.21% | |
| Republican | Pime Hernandez | 6,150 | 16.79% | |
| Total votes | 36,622 | 100% | ||
District 21
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Incumbent Democratic Jeff Yarbro, was re-elected un-opposed with 100% of the vote in 2018. He is ran for re-election and won.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Jeff Yarbro, incumbent senator
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jeff Yarbro (incumbent) | 11,496 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 11,496 | 100 | ||
Independent primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Rueben Dockery
General election
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jeff Yarbro | 33,061 | 76.71% | |
| Independent | Rueben Dockery | 10,038 | 23.29% | |
| Total votes | 46,209 | 100% | ||
District 23
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Incumbent Republican Kerry Roberts was redistricted from the 25th district, re-elected with 71.52% of the vote in 2018. He ran for re-election and won.
Republican primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Kerry Roberts, incumbent senator
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kerry Roberts (incumbent) | 18,736 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 18,736 | 100.00% | ||
General election
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kerry Roberts (incumbent) | 43,126 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 43,126 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 25
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Incumbent Republican Ed Jackson was redistricted from the 27th district, re-elected with 65.14% of the vote in 2018. He ran for re-election and won.
Republican primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Ed Jackson, incumbent senator
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ed Jackson | 16,039 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 16,039 | 100 | ||
Independent primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Ronnie Henley
General election
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ed Jackson | 35,766 | 79.4% | |
| Independent | Ronnie Henley | 9,278 | 20.6% | |
| Total votes | 45,044 | 100% | ||
District 27
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Incumbent Republican Jack Johnson was redistricted from the 23rd district, re-elected with 66.90% of the vote in 2018. He ran for re-election and won.
Republican primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Jack Johnson, incumbent senator
| 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| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jack Johnson (incumbent) | 55,443 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 55,443 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 29
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Incumbent Democrat Raumesh Akbari was re-elected with 83.48% of the vote in 2018. She ran for re-election and won.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Raumesh Akbari, incumbent senator
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Raumesh Akbari (incumbent) | 21,565 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 21,565 | 100 | ||
General election
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Raumesh Akbari (incumbent) | 30,204 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 30,204 | 100% | ||
District 31
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Incumbent Republican Brian Kelsey was re-elected with 50.89% of the vote in 2018. He ran for re-election and won.
Republican primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Brent Taylor
Declined
edit- Brian Kelsey, incumbent senator
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Brent Taylor | 24,854 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 24,854 | 100 | ||
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Ruby Powell-Dennis
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ruby Powell-Dennis | 12,207 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 12,207 | 100 | ||
General election
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Brent Taylor | 45,289 | 66.28% | |
| Democratic | Ruby Powell-Dennis | 23,041 | 33.72% | |
| Total votes | 68,330 | 100.00% | ||
District 33
editFormer incumbent Democrat Katrina Robinson was elected with 100% of the vote in 2018. In 2022, Robinson was expelled due to her indictment on charges of wire fraud. Democrat London Lamar was appointed to the Tennessee Senate in March 2022 by the Shelby County Commission. Lamar was sworn in on March 8, 2022, and effectively resigned her house seat.[11]
Lamar ran for a full term and won.
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Republican primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Frederick D. Tappan
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frederick D. Tappan | 2,589 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 2,589 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Marion Latroy Alexandria-Williams Jr
- Rhonnie Brewer
- London Lamar, incumbent senator
| 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 | 100.00% | ||
Independent primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- Hastina D. Robinson
| 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 | 100.00% | ||
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ "2022 Election Calendar". Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ "State Sen Mike Bell announces intent not to run for re-election in 2022". Daily Post Athenian.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Sen. Brian Kelsey is not running for reelection". Action News 5. March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ "Longtime Nashville lawmaker Brenda Gilmore announces retirement from Tennessee Senate". The Tennessean. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ Jacobson, Louis (May 19, 2022). "The Battle for State Legislatures". Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ "Petition Information". Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ a b Houk, Robert (December 13, 2021). "Long-serving state senator to seek re-election in 2022". www.johnsoncitypress.com. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
- ^ a b "Petition List" (PDF). Davidson County Election Commission. Retrieved March 9, 2022.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "State Sen Mike Bell announces intent not to run for re-election in 2022". Daily Post Athenian.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Friedman, Adam. "Longtime Nashville lawmaker Brenda Gilmore announces retirement from Tennessee Senate". The Tennessean. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- ^ "London Lamar appointed interim state senator, Dist. 33". News Channel 3 - Memphis, TN. March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2022.