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2020 Tennessee Senate election

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2020 Tennessee State Senate election
← 2018
November 3, 2020
2022 →
16 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 - Oak Ridge 21st - Nashville
Last election 28 seats 5 seats
Seats before 28 5
Seats won 27 6
Seat change Decrease 1 Increase 1
Popular vote 939,727 321,494
Percentage 71.41% 24.43%
Swing Increase 11.78% Decrease 13.44%

     Democratic gain
     Republican hold      Democratic hold
     No election

     50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      >90%
     50–60%      >90%
Speaker before election

Randy McNally
Republican

 Elected Speaker

Randy McNally
Republican

The 2020 Tennessee State Senate election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect 16 of the 33 seats for the Tennessee's State Senate. The elections coincided with the Presidential, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and State House elections. The primary elections were held on August 6, 2020,[1] with the exception of presidential primaries held on March 3 of that year.[2]

Republicans lost District 20, which includes suburban parts of Nashville in Davidson County.

Retirements

[edit]

One incumbent did not run for re-election in 2020. That incumbent was:

Republicans

[edit]
  1. District 26: Dolores Gresham: Retiring

Incumbents defeated

[edit]

In the general election

[edit]

Republicans

[edit]
  1. District 20: Steven Dickerson lost to Heidi Campbell.

Predictions

[edit]
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[3] Safe R October 21, 2020

Results summary

[edit]
Summary of the November 3, 2020 Tennessee Senate election results
Party Candidates Votes Seats
No. % Before Up Won After +/–
Republican 15 939,727 71.41 28 15 14 27 Decrease 1
Democratic 10 321,494 24.43 5 1 2 6 Increase 1
Independent 3 52,928 4.02 0 0 0 0 Steady
Write-in 2 1,777 0.14 0 0 0 0 Steady
Total 1,315,926 100 33 16 16 33 Steady
Source:
Popular vote
Republican
 
 71.41%
Democratic
 
 24.43%
Other
 
 4.16%
Senate seats
Republican
 
 81.82%
Democratic
 
 18.18%

Close races

[edit]

Two races were decided by a margin of under 10%:

District Winner Margin
District 10 Republican 6.32%
District 20 Democratic (gain) 3.52%

Overview

[edit]
District Incumbent Results Candidates[4]
Senator Party First elected
District 2 Art Swann Republican 2017 (appointed) Incumbent re-elected.
District 4 Jon Lundberg Republican 2016 Incumbent re-elected.
  • ▌Green tickY Jon Lundberg (Republican)
  • ▌ Amber Riddle (Democratic)
District 6 Becky Duncan Massey Republican 2011 (special) Incumbent re-elected.
District 8 Frank S. Niceley Republican 2012 Incumbent re-elected.
District 10 Todd Gardenhire Republican 2012 Incumbent re-elected.
District 12 Ken Yager Republican 2008 Incumbent re-elected.
District 14 Shane Reeves Republican 2018 (special) Incumbent re-elected.
  • ▌Green tickY Shane Reeves (Republican)
  • ▌Chase Clemons (Democratic)
District 16 Janice Bowling Republican 2012 Incumbent re-elected.
District 18 Ferrell Haile Republican 2010
2011 (retired)
2012		 Incumbent re-elected.
District 20 Steven Dickerson Republican 2012 Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
District 22 Bill Powers Republican 2019 (special) Incumbent re-elected.
  • ▌Green tickY Bill Powers (Republican)
  • ▌Ronnie Glynn (Democratic)
District 24 John Stevens Republican 2012 Incumbent re-elected.
  • ▌Green tickY John Stevens (Republican)
  • ▌Yahweh Yahweh (Independent)
District 26 Dolores Gresham Republican 2008 Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.
  • ▌Green tickY Page Walley (Republican)
  • ▌Civil Miller-Watkins (Democratic)
District 28 Joey Hensley Republican 2012 Incumbent re-elected.
District 30 Sara Kyle Democratic 2014 (special) Incumbent re-elected.
District 32 Paul Rose Republican 2019 (special) Incumbent re-elected.
  • ▌Green tickY Paul Rose (Republican)
  • ▌Julie Byrd Ashworth (Democratic)

District 2

[edit]

Following Republican Doug Overbey's appointment as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee in 2017, fellow Republican Art Swann was appointed to replace him.[5]

2020 Tennessee's 2nd Senate district election
← 2018 (special)
November 3, 2020
2024 →
 
Nominee Art Swann
Party Republican
Popular vote 79,674
Percentage 97.82%
Senator before election

Art Swann
Republican

 Elected Senator

Art Swann
Republican

Republican primary

[edit]
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Art Swann (incumbent) 20,675 100
Total votes 20,675 100

General election

[edit]
Tennessee's 2nd State Senate District general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Art Swann (incumbent) 79,674 97.82
Write-in Patti Larimer Young 1,774 2.18
Total votes 81,448 100
Republican hold

District 4

[edit]
2020 Tennessee's 4th Senate district election
← 2016
November 3, 2020
2024 →
 
Nominee Jon Lundberg Amber Riddle
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 65,638 17,381
Percentage 79.06% 20.94%
Senator before election

Jon Lundberg
Republican

 Elected Senator

Jon Lundberg
Republican

Republican primary

[edit]
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jon Lundberg (incumbent) 21,051 100
Total votes 21,051 100

Democratic primary

[edit]
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Amber Riddle 2,967 100
Total votes 2,967 100

General election

[edit]
Tennessee's 4th State Senate District general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jon Lundberg (incumbent) 65,638 79.06
Democratic Amber Riddle 17,381 20.94
Total votes 83,019 100
Republican hold

District 6

[edit]
2020 Tennessee's 6th Senate district election
← 2016
November 3, 2020
2024 →
 
Nominee Becky Duncan Massey Jane George
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 61,286 35,785
Percentage 63.14% 36.87%
Senator before election

Becky Duncan Massey
Republican

 Elected Senator

Becky Duncan Massey
Republican

The 6th Senate district covers a large portion of Knox County. It covers southern and western portions of Knoxville, Seymour, and Strawberry Plains. The district had been represented by Becky Duncan Massey.

Republican primary

[edit]
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Becky Duncan Massey (incumbent) 19,741 100
Total votes 19,741 100

Democratic primary

[edit]
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jane George 7,783 63.96
Democratic Sam Brown 4,386 36.04
Total votes 12,169 100

General election

[edit]
Tennessee's 6th State Senate District general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Becky Duncan Massey (incumbent) 61,286 63.14
Democratic Jane George 35,785 36.87
Total votes 97,071 100
Republican hold

District 8

[edit]
2020 Tennessee's 8th Senate district election
← 2016
November 3, 2020
2024 →
 
Nominee Frank Niceley
Party Republican
Popular vote 59,713
Percentage 100.00%
Senator before election

Frank Niceley
Republican

 Elected Senator

Frank Niceley
Republican

Republican primary

[edit]
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank S. Niceley (incumbent) 18,298 100
Total votes 18,298 100

General election

[edit]
Tennessee's 8th State Senate District general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank S. Niceley (incumbent) 59,713 100
Total votes 59,713 100
Republican hold

District 10

[edit]
2020 Tennessee's 10th Senate district election
← 2016
November 3, 2020
2024 →
 
Nominee Todd Gardenhire Glenn Scruggs
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 45,049 39,688
Percentage 53.16% 46.84%
County results
Gardenhire:      80–90%
Scruggs:      50–60%
Senator before election

Todd Gardenhire
Republican

 Elected Senator

Todd Gardenhire
Republican

The 10th senate district covers part of Bradley County and part of Hamilton County. The district had been represented by Todd Gardenhire.

Todd Gardenhire won re-election by 6.3%, defeating his Democratic opponent Glenn Scruggs.

In the concurrent 2020 presidential race, Donald Trump narrowly carried this district, winning by 3.4%.[6]

Republican primary

[edit]
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Todd Gardenhire (incumbent) 13,720 100
Total votes 13,720 100

Democratic primary

[edit]
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Glenn Scruggs 10,952 100
Total votes 10,952 100

General election

[edit]
Tennessee's 10th State Senate District general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Todd Gardenhire (incumbent) 45,049 53.16
Democratic Glenn Scruggs 39,688 46.84
Total votes 84,737 100
Republican hold

District 12

[edit]
2020 Tennessee's 12th Senate district election
← 2016
November 3, 2020
2024 →
 
Nominee Ken Yager
Party Republican
Popular vote 69,042
Percentage 100.00%
Senator before election

Ken Yager
Republican

 Elected Senator

Ken Yager
Republican

Republican primary

[edit]
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ken Yager (incumbent) 20,408 100
Total votes 20,408 100

General election

[edit]
Tennessee's 12th State Senate District general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ken Yager (incumbent) 69,042 100
Total votes 69,042 100
Republican hold

District 14

[edit]

There was a special election to succeed Jim Tracy In March 2018. Republican Shane Reeves defeated Democrat Gayle Jordan in the general election, with 71.7% of the vote.[7][8]

2020 Tennessee's 14th Senate district election
← 2016
November 3, 2020
2024 →
 
Nominee Shane Reeves Chase Clemons
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 62,351 24,440
Percentage 71.84% 28.16%
Senator before election

Shane Reeves
Republican

 Elected Senator

Shane Reeves
Republican

Reeves won re-election to a full term in 2020, receiving 71.8% of the vote.

Republican primary

[edit]
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Shane Reeves (incumbent) 20,195 100
Total votes 20,195 100

Democratic primary

[edit]
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Chase Clemons 6,475 100
Total votes 6,475 100

General election

[edit]
Tennessee's 14th State Senate District general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Shane Reeves (incumbent) 62,351 71.84
Democratic Chase Clemons 24,440 28.16
Total votes 86,791 100
Republican hold

District 16

[edit]
2020 Tennessee's 16th Senate district election
← 2016
November 3, 2020
2024 →
 
Nominee Janice Bowling Sheila Younglove
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 62,379 19,687
Percentage 76.01% 23.99%
Senator before election

Janice Bowling
Republican

 Elected Senator

Janice Bowling
Republican

Republican primary

[edit]
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Janice Bowling (incumbent) 21,638 100
Total votes 21,638 100

Democratic primary

[edit]
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheila Younglove 6,183 100
Total votes 6,183 100

General election

[edit]
Tennessee's 16th State Senate District general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Janice Bowling (incumbent) 62,379 76.01
Democratic Sheila Younglove 19,687 23.99
Total votes 82,066 100
Republican hold

District 18

[edit]
2020 Tennessee's 18th Senate district election
← 2016
November 3, 2020
2024 →
 
Nominee Ferrell Haile John A. Gentry
Party Republican Independent
Popular vote 68,141 26,261
Percentage 72.18% 27.82%
Senator before election

Ferrell Haile
Republican

 Elected Senator

Ferrell Haile
Republican

The 18th senate district is based in Sumner and Trousdale Counties, and covers parts of eastern Davidson County. The district had been represented by Republican and Senate President Ferrell Haile.

Republican primary

[edit]
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ferrell Haile (incumbent) 18,923 100
Total votes 18,923 100

General election

[edit]
Tennessee's 18th State Senate District general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ferrell Haile (incumbent) 68,141 72.18
Independent John A. Gentry 26,261 27.82
Total votes 94,402 100
Republican hold

District 20

[edit]
2020 Tennessee's 20th Senate district election
← 2016
November 3, 2020
2024 →
 
Nominee Heidi Campbell Steven Dickerson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 58,746 54,755
Percentage 51.76% 48.24%
Precinct results
Campbell:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      >90%
Dickerson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
     No data
Senator before election

Steven Dickerson
Republican

 Elected Senator

Heidi Campbell
Democratic

The 20th senate district was based in Davidson County, and encompassed many of Nashville's wealthy inner suburbs, including Forest Hills, Belle Meade, and parts of Oak Hill and Goodlettsville. The district had been represented by Republican Steven Dickerson, who won re-election in 2016 by 12.5%. The district had been labeled competitive, and Dickerson was considered the most vulnerable incumbent heading into 2020, as the district had been trending leftwards.[9][10]

Incumbent Republican Steven Dickerson narrowly lost re-election to Democratic nominee Heidi Campbell by 3.5%. This was the first time since 2006 that a Democrat was able to flip a Republican held seat.[11]

In the concurrent 2020 presidential race, Democratic nominee Joe Biden comfortably carried this district, winning by 9.2%.[6]

Republican primary

[edit]
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steven Dickerson (incumbent) 14,345 100.00%
Total votes 14,345 100.00%

Democratic primary

[edit]
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Heidi Campbell 13,441 51.37%
Democratic Kimi Abernathy 12,723 48.63%
Total votes 26,164 100.00%

General election

[edit]

Polling

[edit]
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Steve Dickerson (R) Heidi Campbell (D) Undecided
Change Research/Heidi Campbell[12][A] August 31 – September 1, 2020 531 (LV) ± 4.2% 47% 49% 4%
Tennessee's 20th State Senate District general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Heidi Campbell 58,746 51.76%
Republican Steven Dickerson (incumbent) 54,755 48.24%
Total votes 113,501 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

District 22

[edit]
2020 Tennessee's 22nd Senate district election
← 2019 (special)
November 3, 2020
2024 →
 
Nominee Bill Powers Ronnie Glynn
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 49,767 30,383
Percentage 62.09% 37.91%
Powers:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Glynn:      50–60%      60–70%
Senator before election

Bill Powers
Republican

 Elected Senator

Bill Powers
Republican

The 22nd senate district was based in Clarksville, where it covered Montgomery County, as well as Stewart and Houston Counties.

A special election was held on April 23, 2019 due to Senator Mark Green stepping down from his position because he was elected to the U.S. Congress, causing a vacancy.[13] Bill Powers ran as a Republican against Democratic Juanita Charles as well as Independent party members Doyle Clark and David Cutting.[14] Powers won that special election with 53.6% of the vote.

Republican primary

[edit]
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Powers (incumbent) 8,338 52.75
Republican Doug Englen 7,468 47.25
Total votes 15,806 100

Democratic primary

[edit]
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ronnie Glynn 6,724 100
Total votes 6,724 100

General election

[edit]
Tennessee's 22nd State Senate District general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Powers (incumbent) 49,767 62.09
Democratic Ronnie Glynn 30,383 37.91
Total votes 80,150 100
Republican hold

By county[15]

County Powers % Glynn % Total
Houston 2,643 75.51% 857 24.49% 2,969
Montgomery 42,460 59.93% 28,394 40.07% 70,854
Stewart 4,664 80.47% 1,132 19.53% 3,500

District 24

[edit]
2020 Tennessee's 24th Senate district election
← 2016
November 3, 2020
2024 →
 
Nominee John Stevens Yahweh Yahweh
Party Republican Independent
Popular vote 63,532 8,795
Percentage 87.84% 12.16%
Senator before election

John Stevens
Republican

 Elected Senator

John Stevens
Republican

Republican primary

[edit]
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Stevens (incumbent) 13,061 61.24
Republican Casey L. Hood 8,266 38.76
Total votes 21,327 100

General election

[edit]
Tennessee's 24th State Senate District general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Stevens (incumbent) 63,532 87.84
Independent Yahweh Yahweh 8,795 12.16
Total votes 72,327 100
Republican hold

District 26

[edit]
2020 Tennessee's 26th Senate district election
← 2016
November 3, 2020
2024 →
 
Nominee Page Walley Civil Miller-Watkins
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 62,701 19,918
Percentage 75.89% 24.11%
County results
Walley:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Watkins:      50–60%
Senator before election

Dolores Gresham
Republican

 Elected Senator

Page Walley
Republican

Republican primary

[edit]
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Page Walley 12,892 53.23
Republican Jai Templeton 11,328 46.77
Total votes 24,220 100

Democratic primary

[edit]
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Civil Miller-Watkins 5,301 100
Total votes 5,301 100

General election

[edit]
Tennessee's 26th State Senate District general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Page Walley 62,701 75.89
Democratic Civil Miller-Watkins 19,918 24.11
Total votes 82,619 100
Republican hold

District 28

[edit]
2020 Tennessee's 28th Senate district election
← 2020
November 3, 2020
2024 →
 
Nominee Joey Hensley James Anthony Gray
Party Republican Independent
Popular vote 65,050 17,872
Percentage 78.44% 21.55%
Senator before election

Joey Hensley
Republican

 Elected Senator

Joey Hensley
Republican

Republican primary

[edit]
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joey Hensley (incumbent) 21,083 100
Total votes 21,083 100

General election

[edit]
Tennessee's 28th State Senate District general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joey Hensley (incumbent) 65,050 78.44
Independent James Anthony Gray 17,872 21.55
Write-in James R. Trusty 3 0.00
Total votes 82,925 100
Republican hold

District 30

[edit]
2020 Tennessee's 30th Senate district election
← 2016
November 3, 2020
2024 →
 
Nominee Sara Kyle
Party Democratic
Popular vote 43,895
Percentage 100.00%
Senator before election

Sara Kyle
Democratic

 Elected Senator

Sara Kyle
Democratic

Democratic primary

[edit]
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sara Kyle (incumbent) 10,241 70.47
Democratic M. LaTroy Williams 4,292 29.53
Total votes 14,533 100

General election

[edit]
Tennessee's 30th State Senate District general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sara Kyle (incumbent) 43,895 100
Total votes 43,895 100
Democratic hold

District 32

[edit]
2020 Tennessee's 32nd Senate district election
← 2019 (special)
November 3, 2020
2024 →
 
Nominee Paul Rose Julie Byrd Ashworth
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 70,649 31,571
Percentage 69.12% 30.89%
Senator before election

Paul Rose
Republican

 Elected Senator

Paul Rose
Republican

There was a special election to succeed Mark Norris on March 12, 2019. Republican Paul Rose defeated Democrat Eric Coleman in the general election, with 84.0% of the vote.

Republican primary

[edit]
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Rose (incumbent) 17,294 76.40
Republican Scott Throckmorton 5,342 23.60
Total votes 22,636 100

Democratic primary

[edit]
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Julie Byrd Ashworth 7,486 100
Total votes 7,486 100

General election

[edit]
Tennessee's 32nd State Senate District general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Rose (incumbent) 70,649 69.12
Democratic Julie Byrd Ashworth 31,571 30.89
Total votes 102,220 100
Republican hold

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

Partisan clients

  1. ↑ Poll sponsored by Campbell's campaign

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Live: Tennessee Primary Election Results 2020". New York Times. August 7, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  2. ↑ Jonathan Mattise; Kimberlee Kruesi (March 4, 2020). "Biden wins Democratic presidential primary in Tennessee". Associated Press. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  3. ↑ "October Overview: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Petition Information". Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  5. ↑ Vines, Georgiana (December 1, 2017). "Art Swann sworn in as new 2nd District Tennessee state senator". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Tennessee State Senate Elections Presidential Data". Daves Redistricting. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  7. ↑ "State of Tennessee Special State General District 14" (PDF). sos.tn.gov. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Shane Reeves wins Tennessee Senate District 14 special election". DNJ.
  9. ↑ Rau, Nate (July 20, 2020). "Closely contested Democratic primary foreshadows November showdown for Senate District 20 • Tennessee Lookout". Tennessee Lookout. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  10. ↑ Rau, Nate (November 4, 2020). "Campbell unseats incumbent Steve Dickerson to win D20 Senate race • Tennessee Lookout". Tennessee Lookout. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  11. ↑ Hammonds, Rebekah (November 4, 2020). "Heidi Campbell beats incumbent Steve Dickerson for District 20 state senate seat". News Channel 5 Nashville (WTVF). Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  12. ↑ Change Research/Heidi Campbell
  13. ↑ "Businessman Bill Powers announces campaign for State Senate". ClarksvilleNow.com. January 14, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Republican Bill Powers wins District 22 State Senate election". ClarksvilleNow.com. April 23, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Results" (PDF).
[edit]
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