Tennessee voters decide federal, state races for November
Tennesseans voted in federal and state elections during the Aug. 1 primaries.
Most federal and state primary elections determined candidates who will appear in the Nov. 5, 2024 general election, but several races in the Tennessee General Assembly were decided by primary voters. Two Tennessee State Senate races and 30 Tennessee State House races were determined by ballots cast in the primary.
FEDERAL
SENATE
Incumbent Republican Marsha Blackburn defeated challenger Tres Wittum to secure the Republican nomination for Senate District. Blackburn earned 367,711 votes to Wittm's 43,228. In November, Blackburn will face Tennessee State Rep. Gloria Johnson, who defeated challengers Marquita Bradshaw, Lola Denise Brown, and Civil-Miller Watkins to earn the Democratic nomination for the seat. Johnson led the vote count with 143,904 to Bradshaw's 44,636, Brown's 10,025, and Miller-Watkins' 6,420.
HOUSE
District 1
Kevin Jenkins defeated Bennett H. Lapides to win the Democratic nomination with Jenkins earning 5,178 votes to Lapides 2,460. Jenkins will face off against incumbent Republican Diana Harshbarger in November.
District 4
Incumbent Scott DesJarlais defeated challengers Thomas E. Davis and Joshua James in the Republican primary. DesJarlais led the vote count with 30,421 to Davis' 7,986 and James 3,531. DesJarlais will face off against Democrat Victoria Isabel Broderick. in the fall.
District 5
Republican Incumbent Andy Ogles defeated challenger Courtney Johnston with Ogles receiving 32,047 votes to Johnston's 24,634. Ogles will face Democrat Maryam Abolfazli in November.
District 6
In the Democratic primary, Lore Bergman defeated challengers Clay Faircloth and Cyril Focht. Bergman led the vote tally with 8,678 followed by Faircloth with 7,468, and Focht with 4,418. Bergman will go on to face incumbent Republican John Rose in November.
District 8
For the Democratic primary Sarah Freeman defeated a field of challengers including Brenda Woods, Leonard Perkins, Lawrence A. Pivnick, and Lynette P. Williams. Freeman received 5,551 votes to Woods' 4,577, Williams 2,886, Perkins 2,160, and Pivnick's 1,278. Freeman will go on to face off against incumbent Republican David Kustoff this fall.
District 9
Incumbent Steve Cohen defeated challengers M. Latroy Alexandria-Williams, Kassandra L. Smith, and Corey Strong in the Democratic primary. Cohen earned 30,040 votes to Strong's 7,257, Alexandria-Williams 1,936, and Smith's 1,522. Cohen will face Republican challenger Charlotte Bergmann.
There were no primary challengers to the incumbent Republicans in House Districts 2 , 3, and 7, though all three candidates will face Democratic challengers in November. In District 2, Tim Burchett will face Democrat Jane George. In District 3, Chuck Fleishmann will face Democrat Jack Allen, and in District 7, Mark Green will face former Nashville mayor Megan Barry.
STATE
In the Supreme Court retention races, voters elected to retain the seats of both Dwight Tarwater and Matthew J. Wilson with Tarwater seeing 72.86% in favor of his retention and Wilson earning 74.06% of the votes in favor of his retention.
SENATE
In races for the Tennessee State Senate, two incumbent Republicans were unchallenged in their primary and will be unchallenged in the general election, meaning their seats were assured: Page Walley in District 26 and Paul W. Rose in District 32.
Meanwhile, in District 24, incumbent John D. Stevens defeated fellow Republican challenger Charles “Charlie” Cooper in the primary. Stevens received 12,486 votes to Cooper's 4,155. Stevens will face no challengers in November and so is assured a seat.
Neither the Republican nor Democratic candidate in District 14, 16, 20, 22, or 28 faced a primary opponent and both will proceed to the November general election. Other results include:
District 2
Republican Tom Hatcher defeated challengers John G. Pullias and Bryan Richey in the primary with Hathcer receiving 12,265 votes, Richey 3,239, and Pullias 1,345. Hatcher will go on to face Democrat Patti Young. The seat was previously held by Republican Art Swann.
District 4
Bobby Harshbarger narrowly defeated incumbent Jon C. Lundberg for the Republican nomination with Harshbarger receiving 11,540 votes to Lundberg's 10,668. Harshbarger will face independent Dalia M. Price in November.
District 6
Republican incumbent Becky Duncan Massey defeated challenger Monica Irvine 10,085-6,792 and will face Democrat Domonica Bryan in the general election.
District 8
Republican challenger Jessie Seal defeated incumbent Frank S. Niceley with Seal earning 10,200 votes to Niceley's 8,132. Seal will face Democrat R.E. Ellison in November.
District 10
Incumbent Republican Todd Gardenhire fended off challenger Edwar LeCompte with 8,765 votes to LeCompte's 2,075. Gardenhire will face Democrat Missy Crutchfield in the general election.
District 12
Incumbent Ken Yager defeated challenger Teena Hedrick in the Republican primary with Yager earning 15,654 votes to Hedrick's 4,587. Yager will face Democrat Curtis Kelly and Independent Charles Hutson II in the fall.
District 18
Republican incumbent Ferrell Haile defeated challenger Chris Spencer with haile earning 9,684 votes to Spencer's 6,683. Haile will go on to face Democrat Walter S. Chandler and independents Laura A. Black and John Gentry in November.
District 30
Democrat Incumbent Sara P. Kyle defeated challenger Erika Stotts Pearson with Kyle earning 6,764 votes to Pearson's 3,156. Kyle will face independent Mitchell Morrison in November.
HOUSE
Of the 99 seats in the Tennessee State House, 30 races were determined either because candidates ran unopposed completely or defeated primary challengers and will face no challenge from the opposing party in November. Candidates who won their races in seven House districts will face no challenger in the fall.
Incumbents in 23 districts did not face incumbents in their primaries and will not face challengers in November. These include John Crawford, R-1; Bud Husley, R-2; Gary W. Hicks, R-9; Rick Eldridge, R-10; Andrew Farmer, R-17; Dave Wright; R-19; Monty Fritts, R-32; Dennis Powers, R-36; Vincent Dixie, D-54; John Ray Clemmons, D-55; Harold Love Jr., D-58; Caleb Hemmer, D-59; Pat Marsh, R-62; Kirk Haston, R-72; Jay Reedy, R-74; Brock Martin, R-79; Debra Moody, R-81; Chris Hurt, R-82; Jesse Chism, D-85; Karen Camper, D-87; Gloria Johnson, D-90; Torrey Harris, D-9; Kevin Vaugh, R-95
Neither the Republican nor Democratic candidate in Districts 3, 6, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 23, 25, 26, 29, 30, 35, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 52, 53, 57, 63, 66, 67, 70, 71, 75, 83, 88, 89, 92, 94, 98, and 99 faced a primary opponent and both will proceed to the November general election. Incumbents in Districts 5, 38, 47, 51, 76, will go on to face independent challengers in November. Other results include:
District 4
Republican Renea Jones defeated fellow newcomer Curt Alexander in the seat previously held by Republican John B. Jones. Jones earned 4,485 votes to Alexander's 2,094. She will face no challenger in November and so is elected to the House.
District 8
Democrat Sue DuBois defeated fellow challenger Mac Pickle in the primary with DuBois earning 1,022 votes to Pickle's 276. DuBois will go on to face Republican incumbent Jerome Moon in November.
District 12
Republican Fred A. Atchley fended off fellow challengers Christian Gerald Brown and Larry Linton in the primary for the seat previously held by Republican Dale Carr. The vote was led by Atchley with 3,401 followed by Linton with 1,167 and Brown with 225. Atchley will face Democrat Leslie P. Braddock in the general election.
District 13
Republican incumbent Robert Stevens defeated Jami K. Averwater by a margin of 2,246 to 1,027. Stevens will face Democrat Johnathan Yancey in November.
District 15
Incumbent Democrat Sam McKenzie defeated challenger Dash Ludny by a margin of 2,585 to 1,399. McKenzie will go on to face Republican Justin Hirst.
District 20
In the Republican primary, Tom Stinnett narrowly defeated challengers Nick Bright and Jason Emert for the nomination. Stinnett earned 2,352 votes to Bright's 2,213 while Emert trailed with 2,130. Stinnett will go on to face Democrat Karen Gertz for the seat previously held by Republican Bryan Richey
District 22
Democrat Anna Grabowski fended off Stan Hurder to obtain her party's nomination. Grabowski obtained 366 votes to Hurder's 241. Grabowski will go on to face incumbent Republican Dan Howell in the fall.
District 24
Republican incumbent Kevin Raper defeated challenger Troy Weathers in the primary with 2,440 votes to 1,796. Raper will face Democrat Andrea Chase in the general election.
District 27
Challenger Michele Reneau defeated Republican incumbent Patsy Hazlewood in a neck-and-neck race for most of the night. Reneau's final vote total was 4,079 to Hazlewood's 3,942. Reneau will go on to face Democrat Kathy Lennon in November.
District 28
Incumbent Yusuf A. Hakeem fended off a challenge from Chattanooga councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod's to obtain the Democratic nomination. Hakeem obtained 3,165 votes to Coonrod's 1,832. Hakeem will face independent Thomas J. Brooks III in general election.
District 31
Republican incumbent Ron Travis defeated Richard W. Smith by a margin of 3,392 to 1,860. Travis will to face both Democrat Brittany Lynn Warfel and independent William “Jay” Jenkins in fall.
District 33
Challenger Rick Scarbrough narrowly defeated incumbent John Ragan for the Republican nomination for the seat with a margin of 2,963 to 2,705. Scarbrough will face Democrat Anne Backus in the general election.
District 34
Incumbent Republican Tim Rudd fended off a challenger from Tucker Marcum to obtain the nomination. Rudd received a total of 2,196 votes to Marcum's 1,233. Rudd will face Democrat Amelia Pant in the fall.
District 43
Incumbent Paul Sherrell defeated challenges from Robert McCormick and Tim Lewis to secure the Republican primary. Sherrell led the vote count with 3,061 followed by McCormick with 2,655 and Lewis at 456. Sherell will face no challengers in the fall and has secured his seat.
District 56
Incumbent Bob Freeman defeated challenger and fellow Democrat Nick Forster-Benson in the primary with a vote count of 4,083 to 902. Freeman will face no challenger in November and has a guaranteed seat.
District 60
Republican Chad Bobo defeated challenger Christopher Huff for his party's nomination, Bob securing 1,951 votes to Huff's 822.
Meanwhile, Democrat Shaundelle Brooks defeated challengers Tyler Brasher and John W. Parrish for her party's nomination. Brooks led the vote count with 2,579 to Brasher's 2,214 and Parrish's 116.
Bobo and Brooks will face off in November for the seat previously held by Democrat Darren Jernigan.
District 61
Democrat Claire Jones defeated Kurt Kosak for her party's nomination with 2,415 votes to 939. Jones will face incumbent Republican Gino Bulson and independent Alana LeBlanc in November.
District 64
Incumbent Scott Cepicky defeated. Ray Jeter for the Republican nomination with a margin of 3,950 to 3,294. In the Democratic race, Eileen H. Longstreet defeated challenger Alex Pierce with 832 votes to 578. Cepicky and Longstreet will face off in November.
District 65
In the Republican primary, Lee Reeves narrowly defeated challengers Brian Beathard and Michelle Freeman. Reeves earned 3,141 votes followed by Beathard with 3,046 and Foreman with 2,178. Reeves will go on to face Democrat LaRhonda Williams for the seat previously held by Republican Sam Whitson
District 68
In the Republican primary, Aron Maberry defeated challengers Carol Duffin, Greg Gilman, and Joe Smith in the seat previously held by Republican Curtis Johnson. Maberry earned 2,568 votes, Smith 2,210, Duffin 726, and Gilman 422. Maberry will go on to face Democrat Garfield Scott.
District 69
Incumbent Republican Joseph M. “Jody” Barrett defeated challenger Ronny George in the primary by 3,672 to 745. Barrett will face no opponent in November.
District 73
Republican incumbent Chris Todd defeated a challenge from Jimmy Harris with 5,130 votes to 2,461. As no other candidates are running in November, Todd will keep his seat.
District 77
Incumbent Republican Rusty Grills defeated challenger James “Bubba” Cobb for his seat by a vote margin of 4,169 to 1,660. Grills will face no challenger in November and is assured of his seat.
District 78
Republican incumbent Mary Littleton fended off a challenge from Justin Spurlock by 3,152 votes to 1,028. Littleton will face Democrat Deborah Castle Doyle in November.
District 80
Incumbent Democrat Johnny W. Shaw fended off challengers Shelia L. Godwin and Jonathan Joy for his party's nomination. Shawn earned 2,494 votes to Godwin's 437 and Joy's 388. He will face Republican Brad Grantham in the fall.
District 84
Democratic incumbent Joe Towns Jr defeated challenger Vernell Williams by a margin of 2,321 to 461. With no opponent in the fall, Towns will retain his seat.
District 86
Incumbent Democrat Justin J. Pearson defeated challenger David Page with 3,783 votes to Page's 267. Pearson will face independent Jeff Johnston in November.
District 93
Democrat incumbent G.A. Hardaway defeated challenger Lashanta Rudd in the primary with Hardaway earning 2,209 votes to Rudd's 703. Hardaway will face Republican Renarda Renee Clariett in the fall.
District 96
Gabby Salinas defeated fellow Democratic candidates Eric Dunn, Telisa Franklin, Orrden Williams and David Winston. Salinas earned 2,168 votes to Franklin's 2,036, Dunn's 397, Winston's 281, and Williams 52. The seat was held by Democrat Dwyane Thompson, and with no challenger in November, Salinas is elected to the seat.
District 97
Republican incumbent John Gillespie fended off a challenge from Christina Oppenhuizen 4,910 to 236. Gillespie will face Democrat Jesse Huseth in November.