Share on WeChat
https://www.powervoter.us:443/office/tn_2018_general_election_governor
Copy the link and open WeChat to share.
 Share on WeChat
Copy the link and open WeChat to share.
 Share on WeChat
Scan QRCode using WeChat,and then click the icon at the top-right corner of your screen.
 Share on WeChat
Scan QRCode using WeChat,and then click the icon at the top-right corner of your screen.

Tennessee, Governor

Tennessee held an election for governor on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was April 5, 2018.

SETTING THE STAGE
  • Heading into the 2018 election, the sitting governor was Bill Haslam (R), who was first elected in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014. Haslam was prevented from seeking a third term in 2018 due to term limits.
  • Heading into the election, Tennessee was a Republican trifecta. It had held this status since Haslam took office in 2011. Tennessee was also a Republican triplex.
  • Tennessee was won by the Republican candidate in each of the previous five presidential elections. The widest margin of victory was Donald Trump's 26 percent margin in 2016 while the narrowest was George W. Bush's four percent margin in 2000.
  • Tennessee was one of 36 states that held an election for governor in 2018. Democrats gained seven previously Republican-held seats, and Republicans gained one previously independent-held seat. Heading into the 2018 elections, there were 16 Democratic governors, 33 Republican governors, and one independent governor. In 2018, 26 of the 33 states with a Republican governor held a gubernatorial election, while nine out of the 16 states with a Democratic governor held a gubernatorial election. Seventeen of the 36 seats up for election were open seats (four Democratic, 12 Republican, and one independent), meaning that the sitting governor was not seeking re-election.

    Race rating

    Race ratings: Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2018

    Race trackerRace ratings
    November 5, 2018October 30, 2018October 23, 2018October 16, 2018
    The Cook Political ReportLikely RepublicanLikely RepublicanLikely RepublicanLikely Republican
    Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesSolid RepublicanLikely RepublicanLikely RepublicanLikely Republican
    Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallSafe RepublicanSafe RepublicanSafe RepublicanSafe Republican

    State election history

    This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Tennessee from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Tennessee Secretary of State.

    Historical elections

    Presidential elections

    Election results (President of the United States), Tennessee 2000-2016

    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2016 Republican Party Donald Trump 60.7% Democratic Party Hillary Clinton 34.7% 26.0%
    2012 Republican Party Mitt Romney 59.5% Democratic PartyBarack Obama 39.1% 20.4%
    2008 Republican Party John McCain 56.9% Democratic Party Barack Obama 41.8% 15.1%
    2004 Republican Party George W. Bush 56.8% Democratic Party John Kerry 42.5% 14.3%
    2000 Republican Party George W. Bush 51.2% Democratic Party Al Gore 47.3% 3.9%

    U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2014

    This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Tennessee from 2000 to 2014. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.

    Election results (U.S. Senator), Tennessee 2000-2014

    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2014 Republican Party Lamar Alexander 61.9% Democratic Party Gordon Ball 31.9% 30.0%
    2012 Republican Party Bob Corker 64.9% Democratic Party Mark Clayton 30.4% 34.5%
    2008 Republican Party Lamar Alexander 65.1% Democratic Party Bob Tuke 31.6% 33.5%
    2006 Republican Party Bob Corker 50.7% Democratic Party Harold Ford, Jr. 48.0% 2.7%
    2002 Republican Party Lamar Alexander 54.3% Democratic Party Bob Clement 44.3% 10.0%
    2000 Republican Party Bill Frist 65.1% Democratic Party Jeff Clark 32.2% 32.9%

    Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Tennessee.

    Election results (Governor), Tennessee 2000-2016

    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2014 Republican Party Bill Haslam 70.3% Democratic Party Charles Brown 22.8% 47.5%
    2010 Republican Party Bill Haslam 65.0% Democratic Party Mike McWherter 33.1% 31.9%
    2006 Democratic Party Phil Bredesen 68.6% Republican Party Jim Bryson 29.7% 38.9%
    2002 Democratic Party Phil Bredesen 50.7% Republican Party Van Hilleary 47.6% 3.1%

    Congressional delegation, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Tennessee in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.

    Congressional delegation, Tennessee 2000-2016

    Year Republicans Republicans (%) Democrats Democrats (%) Balance of power
    2016 Republican Party 7 77.8% Democratic Party 2 22.2% R+5
    2014 Republican Party 7 77.8% Democratic Party 2 22.2% R+5
    2012 Republican Party 7 77.8% Democratic Party 2 22.2% R+5
    2010 Republican Party 4 44.4% Democratic Party 5 55.6% D+1
    2008 Republican Party 4 44.4% Democratic Party 5 55.6% D+1
    2006 Republican Party 4 44.4% Democratic Party 5 55.6% D+1
    2004 Republican Party 4 44.4% Democratic Party 5 55.6% D+1
    2002 Republican Party 5 55.6% Democratic Party 4 44.4% R+1
    2000 Republican Party 5 55.6% Democratic Party 4 44.4% R+1

    Trifectas, 1992-2017

    A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.

    Tennessee Party Control: 1992-2019
    Five years of Democratic trifectas • Nine years of Republican trifectas

    Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
    Governor D D D R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R
    Senate D D D D R D D D D D D D D R R S S R R R R R R R R R R R
    House D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R


    Demographics

    Demographic data for Tennessee

    TennesseeU.S.
    Total population:6,595,056316,515,021
    Land area (sq mi):41,2353,531,905
    Gender
    Female:51.3%50.8%
    Race and ethnicity**
    White:77.8%73.6%
    Black/African American:16.8%12.6%
    Asian:1.6%5.1%
    Native American:0.3%0.8%
    Pacific Islander:0.1%0.2%
    Two or more:2%3%
    Hispanic/Latino:4.9%17.1%
    Education
    High school graduation rate:85.5%86.7%
    College graduation rate:24.9%29.8%
    Income
    Median household income:$45,219$53,889
    Persons below poverty level:21.4%11.3%
    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
    for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Tennessee.

    As of July 2016, Tennessee's three largest cities were Nashville-Davidson (pop. est. 667,885), Memphis (pop. est. 652,236), and Knoxville (pop. est. 187,347).