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Tennessee, State Senate, District 15

Tennessee State Senate District 15
Current incumbentPaul Bailey Republican Party

Tennessee's fifteenth state senate district is represented by Republican Senator Paul Bailey.

Tennessee state senators represent an average of 192,306 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 172,403 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Tennessee State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Tennessee legislators assume office the 15th of January following the election.

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the Tennessee State Senate, a candidate must be:

  • A U.S. citizen
  • 30 years old before the general election
  • A three-year resident of Tennessee before the general election
  • A district resident for 1 year prior to the general election
  • A qualified voter
  • The following situations would eliminate a candidate from qualifying for office:
    • Those who have been convicted of offering or giving a bribe, or of larceny, or any other offense declared infamous by law, unless restored to citizenship in the mode pointed out by law;
    • Those against whom there is a judgment unpaid for any moneys received by them, in any official capacity, due to the United States, to this state, or any county thereof;
    • Those who are defaulters to the treasury at the time of the election, and the election of any such person shall be void;
    • Soldiers, seamen, marines, or airmen in the regular army or navy or air force of the United States; and
    • Members of congress, and persons holding any office of profit or trust under any foreign power, other state of the union, or under the United States.

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$22,667/year$229/day

Vacancies

In Tennessee, there are two ways a vacancy can be filled in the senate. When twelve months or more remain in a unfilled term, a special election must be held within the allowable time frame set by law. If less than twelve months remain in the term, the current members of the senate must vote on a replacement.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Tennessee State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for August 6, 2020. The filing deadline is April 2, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for Tennessee State Senate District 15

Incumbent Paul Bailey (R) defeated Angela Hedgecough (D) in the general election for Tennessee State Senate District 15 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Paul Bailey (R)
73.6
48,919

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Angela Hedgecough (D)
26.4
17,512

Total votes: 66,431
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Tennessee State Senate District 15

Angela Hedgecough advanced from the Democratic primary for Tennessee State Senate District 15 on August 2, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Angela Hedgecough (D)
100
7,636

Total votes: 7,636
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Tennessee State Senate District 15

Incumbent Paul Bailey advanced from the Republican primary for Tennessee State Senate District 15 on August 2, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Paul Bailey (R)
100
25,808

Total votes: 25,808


2014

Elections for 18 seats in the Tennessee State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 7, 2014. A general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 3, 2014. Betty Vaudt was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Paul Bailey defeated Gary Steakley and Matt Swallows in the Republican primary. William Draper ran as an independent candidate. Bailey defeated Vaudt and Draper in the general election.

Tennessee State Senate District 15, General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngPaul Bailey 73.3% 33,674
Democratic Betty Vaudt 22.3% 10,263
Independent William L. Draper 4.4% 2,022
Total Votes 45,959

Tennessee State Senate, District 15 Republican Primary, 2014

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngPaul Bailey 48.4% 13,141
Matt Swallows 46.3% 12,577
Gary Steakley 5.3% 1,453
Total Votes 27,171

2010

Elections for the office of Tennessee State Senate consisted of a primary election on August 5, 2010, and a general election on November 2, 2010. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 1, 2010. Incumbent Charlotte Burks (D) defeated Gary Steakley (R) and Joe Wilmoth (I) in the general election. Burks and Steakley were unopposed in their respective primaries.

Tennessee State Senate, District 15, General Election, 2010

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngCharlotte Burks Incumbent 42.1% 22,800
Republican Gary Steakley 41.7% 22,615
Independent Joe Wilmoth 16.2% 8,779
Total Votes 54,194

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2014, candidates for Tennessee State Senate District 15 raised a total of $842,506. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $60,179 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Tennessee State Senate District 15

Year Amount Candidates Average
2014 $493,010 5 $98,602
2012 $18,883 1 $18,883
2010 $152,007 3 $50,669
2008 $6,741 1 $6,741
2006 $77,267 2 $38,634
2002 $94,598 2 $47,299
Total $842,506 14 $60,179