Notes on Next Month's State Elections

In Tennessee every two years each state representative and half of the state senators are up for re-election. It's easy to forget that sometimes, especially this year as the presidential election fills just about every newscast and newspaper. This year's state legislative races aren't likely to significantly tip the party breakdown in either the state house or state senate, but that doesn't mean legislators, candidates and political parties aren't working. While there are many seats that have a Democrat, Republican and sometimes an Independent on the ballot, we'll look at the few that appear to be competitive. Co-sponsors of TMEPA's municipal electric broadband expansion legislation can be found here, and other broadband expansion legislation TMEPA supported and its co-sponsors can be found here.

District 10 - Sen. Todd Gardenhire (R) is running for a second term for this senate seat in Hamilton and Bradley counties against Khristy Wilkinson (D). This seat is considered one of the two tightest races this year in the state senate, but Sen. Gardenhire is anticipated to win re-election. Sen. Gardenhire was a co-sponsor of TMEPA's municipal electric broadband expansion legislation.

District 16 - Sen. Janice Bowling (R) is seating re-election against Mike Winton (D) in the Tullahoma and Manchester area senate seat. Sen. Bowling is favored to win, and it is mostly mentioned here because she has been such a friend to TMEPA and municipal electric broadband expansion.

District  20 - This Nashville-Davidson County seat is perhaps the most competitive in the state senate this year. Sen. Steve Dickerson (R) is seeking re-electon against Erin Coleman (D). Depending on who you talk to this seat is lean Republican, lean Democratic or a toss-up, but no matter which it is both candidates are hot on the campaign trail.


Seats with no incumbent but Republican favored:
District 34 - Tim Rudd (R) and Laura Bohling (D)
District 65 - Sam Whitson (R) and Holly McCall (D)
District 92 - Thomas Tillis (R) and Tamra King (D)
District 94 - Ron Gant (R) and Daniel Harris (D)

Seats with no incumbent but Democrat favored:
District 15 - Rick Staples (D) and Pete Drew (I)

Races to watch with Republican incumbent:
District 22 - Rep. Dan Howell (R) and Anna Miller Grabowski (D)
District 23 - Rep. John Forgety (R) and Daniel Lee Housley (D)
District 30 - Rep. Marc Gravitt (R), Katie Cowley (D), and Patrick Hickey (I)
District 32 - Rep. Kent Calfee (R), Corey Stafford (D), and Tyler Overstreet (I)
District 40 - Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver (R) and Gayla Colvert Hendrix (D)
District 56 - Speaker Beth Harwell (R) and Chris Moth (D)
District 74 - Rep. Jay Reedy (R) and Andy Porch (D)
District 76 - Rep. Andy Holt (R), Angela Callis (D), and Bennie Castleman (I)
District 81 - Rep. Debra Moody and Deborah Reed (D)
 
Races to watch with Democratic incumbent:
District 43 - Rep. Kevin Dunlap (D) and Paul Sherrell (R)
District 50 - Rep. Bo Mitchell (D) and Nathan Massey (D)
District 60 - Rep. Darren Jernigan (D) and Steve Glover (R)
District 67 - Rep. Joe Pitts (D) and Mike Warner (R)

For more information on elections in Tennessee, including a list of everyone on the ballot across the state, visit the Tennessee Secretary of State's website.