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Tennessee, State Senate, District 7

Tennessee State Senate District 7
Current incumbentRichard Briggs Republican Party

Tennessee's seventh state senate district is represented by Republican Senator Richard Briggs.

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 7

Incumbent Richard Briggs (R) defeated Jamie Ballinger (D) in the general election for Tennessee State Senate District 7 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Richard Briggs (R)
55.6
38,558

Jamie Ballinger (D)
44.4
30,826

Total votes: 69,384
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Tennessee State Senate District 7

Jamie Ballinger advanced from the Democratic primary for Tennessee State Senate District 7 on August 2, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Jamie Ballinger (D)
100
9,319

Total votes: 9,319
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Tennessee State Senate District 7

Incumbent Richard Briggs advanced from the Republican primary for Tennessee State Senate District 7 on August 2, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Richard Briggs (R)
100
19,166

Total votes: 19,166


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. Cheri Siler was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Richard Briggs defeated incumbent Stacey Campfield and Mike Alford in the Republican primary. Briggs defeated Siler in the general election.

Tennessee State Senate District 7, General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngRichard Briggs 65.3% 27,942
Democratic Cheri K. Siler 34.7% 14,880
Total Votes 42,822

Tennessee State Senate, District 7 Republican Primary, 2014

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngRichard Briggs 69.8% 14,056
Stacey Campfield 24.2% 4,864
Mike Alford 6% 1,204
Total Votes 20,124

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. Stacey Campfield (R) defeated Randy Walker (D) and Chuck Williams (I) in the general election and defeated Steve Hill, Nicholas Ciparro and Ron Leadbetter in the Republican primary. Walker was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Tennessee State Senate, District 7, General Election, 2010

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngStacey Campfield 57.2% 22,661
Democratic Randy Walker 36.6% 14,514
Independent Chuck Williams 6.2% 2,470
Total Votes 39,645

Tennessee State Senate, District 7 Republican Primary, 2010

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2014, candidates for Tennessee State Senate District 7 raised a total of $1,311,659. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $81,979 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Tennessee State Senate District 7

Year Amount Candidates Average
2014 $704,972 4 $176,243
2012 $31,400 1 $31,400
2010 $293,913 5 $58,783
2008 $30,650 1 $30,650
2006 $97,770 1 $97,770
2002 $152,954 4 $38,239
Total $1,311,659 16 $81,979