2018 Tennessee State Senate election|
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 Republican hold Democratic hold No Election
Results by gains and holds  50–60% 60–70% 70–80% >90% 80–90% >90%
Results by winning party vote share |
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The 2018 Tennessee State Senate election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect 18 of the 33 seats for the Tennessee's State Senate. The elections coincided with the Governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and State House elections. The primary elections were held on August 2, 2018.[1]
Following the 2018 elections, no seats changed hands, leaving Tennessee's State Senate delegation at a 28–5 Republican supermajority.
Retirements
Three incumbents (2 Democrats and 1 Republican) did not run for re-election in 2018. Those incumbents are:
Results summary
Summary of the November 6, 2018 Tennessee Senate election results
| Party |
Candidates |
Votes |
Seats |
| No. |
% |
Before |
Up |
Won |
After |
+/– |
|
Republican |
16 |
671,278 |
58.86 |
28 |
14 |
14 |
28 |
 |
|
Democratic |
15 |
459,033 |
40.25 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
|
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Independent |
2 |
9,756 |
0.86 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
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Write-in |
2 |
421 |
0.04 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Total |
1,140,488 |
100 |
33 |
18 |
18 |
33 |
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| Source: |
Popular vote
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| Republican |
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58.86% |
| Democratic |
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40.25% |
| Other |
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0.90% |
Senate seats
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| Republican |
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84.85% |
| Democratic |
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15.15% |
Closest race
This race was decided by a margin of under 10%:
| District |
Winner |
Margin |
|---|
| District 31 |
Republican |
1.78% |
District 1
2018 Tennessee's 1st Senate district election|
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District 2 (special)
2018 Tennessee's 2nd Senate district special election|
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Democratic primary
Democratic primary[5]
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
|
Democratic |
J. Nathan Higdon (write-in) |
314 |
100 |
| Total votes |
314 |
100 |
District 3
2018 Tennessee's 3rd Senate district election|
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Republican primary
Republican primary
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
|
Republican |
Rusty Crowe (incumbent) |
22,481 |
100 |
| Total votes |
22,481 |
100 |
District 5
2018 Tennessee's 5th Senate district election|
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Democratic primary
Democratic primary
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
|
Democratic |
Stuart Starr |
6,303 |
100 |
| Total votes |
6,303 |
100 |
District 7
2018 Tennessee's 7th Senate district election|
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Democratic primary
Democratic primary
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
|
Democratic |
Jamie Ballinger |
9,319 |
100 |
| Total votes |
9,319 |
100 |
District 9
2018 Tennessee's 9th Senate district election|
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Republican primary
Republican primary
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
|
Republican |
Mike Bell (incumbent) |
24,548 |
100 |
| Total votes |
24,548 |
100 |
Democratic primary
Democratic primary
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
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Democratic |
Carl Lansden |
4,775 |
100 |
| Total votes |
4,775 |
100 |
District 11
2018 Tennessee's 11th Senate district election|
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Republican primary
Republican primary
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
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Republican |
Bo Watson (incumbent) |
20,257 |
100 |
| Total votes |
20,257 |
100 |
Democratic primary
Democratic primary
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
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Democratic |
Randall "Randy" Price |
8,152 |
100 |
| Total votes |
8,152 |
100 |
District 13
2018 Tennessee's 13th Senate district election|
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Republican primary
Republican primary
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
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Republican |
Dawn White (incumbent) |
10,639 |
58.22 |
|
Republican |
Ernest G. Burgess |
7,635 |
41.78 |
| Total votes |
18,274 |
100 |
Democratic primary
Democratic primary
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
|
Democratic |
Kelly Northcutt |
8,217 |
100 |
| Total votes |
8,217 |
100 |
District 15
2018 Tennessee's 15th Senate district election|
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Republican primary
Republican primary
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
|
Republican |
Paul Bailey (incumbent) |
25,808 |
100 |
| Total votes |
25,808 |
100 |
District 17
2018 Tennessee's 17th Senate district election|
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Background
In September 2017, Tennessee state senator Mae Beavers resigned her seat to run for governor. This resignation required a special election to fill the seat for the remaining year of her term. Republican Mark Pody ran unopposed in the Republican primary, and he defeated Democrat Mary Alice Carfi in the special election, 5,995 to 5,688.[6][7]
Republican primary
Republican primary
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
|
Republican |
Mark Pody (incumbent) |
31,437 |
100 |
| Total votes |
31,437 |
100 |
Democratic primary
Democratic primary
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
|
Democratic |
Mary Alice Carfi |
10,460 |
100 |
| Total votes |
10,460 |
100 |
District 19
2018 Tennessee's 19th Senate district election|
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District 21
2018 Tennessee's 21st Senate district election|
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Democratic primary
Democratic primary
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
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Democratic |
Jeff Yarbro (incumbent) |
19,402 |
100 |
| Total votes |
19,402 |
100 |
District 23
2018 Tennessee's 23rd Senate district election|
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Republican primary
Republican primary
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
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Republican |
Jack Johnson (incumbent) |
26,893 |
100 |
| Total votes |
26,893 |
100 |
District 25
2018 Tennessee's 25th Senate district election|
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 County results
Roberts: 60–70% 70–80% |
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District 27
2018 Tennessee's 27th Senate district election|
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Democratic primary
Democratic primary
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
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Democratic |
Savannah Williamson |
3,692 |
42.99 |
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Democratic |
Jackie Williams |
3,637 |
42.35 |
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Democratic |
John H. York Jr. |
1,259 |
14.66 |
| Total votes |
8,588 |
100 |
District 29
2018 Tennessee's 29th Senate district election|
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Incumbent Lee Harris retired to successfully run for Shelby County Mayor.
Republican primary
Republican primary
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
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Republican |
Tom Stephens |
3,873 |
100 |
| Total votes |
3,873 |
100 |
District 31
2018 Tennessee's 31st Senate district election|
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 Precinct results
Kelsey: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
Salinas: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% |
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The 31th senate district was based in Shelby County, and encompassed parts of East Memphis and some of Memphis's suburbs, including Cordova and Germantown. The district had been represented by Republican Brian Kelsey, who won re-election in 2014 unopposed. The district had been labeled competitive, and Kelsey was considered the most vulnerable incumbent heading into 2018, as the district had been trending leftwards due to changing demographics.[8]
Incumbent Brian Kelsey narrowly won re-election by 1.8%, defeating his Democratic opponent Gabby Salinas.[9]
In the concurrent gubernatorial and senate elections, the district voted for Republican gubernatorial nominee Bill Lee by 3.5% and Democratic senate nominee Phil Bredesen by 7.5%.[10]
Republican primary
Republican primary
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
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Republican |
Brian Kelsey (incumbent) |
22,767 |
100.00% |
| Total votes |
22,767 |
100.00% |
District 33
2018 Tennessee's 33rd Senate district election|
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On January 29, 2018, Robinson announced that she would run in the Democratic primary. She defeated incumbent Senator Reginald Tate in the Democratic primary and faced no opposition in the general election. Tate had been censured by the Shelby County Democratic Party and Robinson was endorsed by United States Representative Steve Cohen and Senate Minority Leader Sara Kyle.
References
- "Tennessee Primaries: What to Watch For". New York Times. August 2, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
- Jacobson, Louis (October 8, 2018). "A Month Before Election Day, Democrats Poised for Legislative gains". Governing. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- "August 2, 2018 Republican Primary" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
- "November 6, 2018 State General" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
- "August 2, 2018 Democratic Primary" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
- "Sen. Mae Beavers to resign post to run full time, raise money in Tennessee governor's race". wbir.com. August 23, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
- "Mark Pody narrowly wins Mae Beavers vacant District 17 state Senate seat". The Tennessean. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
- Connolly, Daniel. "Gabby Salinas asks for provisional ballot count in close senate race against state Sen. Brian Kelsey". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
- "The Latest: GOP Sen. Brian Kelsey defeats Gabby Salinas". AP News. November 7, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
- "Tennessee State Senate Elections Data". Daves Redistricting. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
- "November 6, 2018 State General" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
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