2016 Tennessee Senate election

For related races, see 2016 United States state legislative elections.

The 2016 Tennessee State Senate election was held on November 8, 2016, to elect 16 of the 33 seats for the Tennessee's State Senate. The elections coincided with the Presidential, U.S. House, and State House elections. The primary elections were held on August 4, 2016.^[1][2]

2016 Tennessee Senate election

← 2014 November 8, 2016 2018 →
16 of the 33 seats in the Tennessee State Senate 17 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Ron Ramsey (retired) Lee Harris Party Republican Democratic Leader's seat 4th district 29th district Seats before 28 5 Seats won 28 5 Seat change Popular vote 802,362 172,753 Percentage 80.82% 17.40% Swing 9.62% 8.78%
Results by gains and holds Results by winning party vote share Results:      Republican hold      Democratic hold      No Election Vote Share:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      >90%      >90%
Speaker before election Ron Ramsey Republican Elected Speaker Randy McNally Republican

Retirements

Republicans

• District 4: Ron Ramsey, lieutenant governor of Tennessee.^[3]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Governing[4]	Safe R	May 18, 2016

Results summary

Party		Candidates	Votes		Seats
			No.	%	Before	Up	Won	After	+/–
	Republican	15	802,362	80.82	28	15	15	28
	Democratic	6	172,753	17.40	5	1	1	5
	Independent	1	17,640	1.78	0	0	0	0
	Write-in	1	1	0.00	0	0	0	0
Total			992,756	100	33	18	18	33
Source:

Popular vote Republican   80.82% Democratic   17.40% Other   1.77%

Senate seats Republican   84.85% Democratic   15.15%

Closest race

Many of the senators running in this election ran unopposed. However, this race was the closest in the Senate election:

District	Winner	Margin
District 10	Republican	11.74%

District 2

2016 Tennessee's 2nd Senate district election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Doug Overbey (Uncontested) Party Republican Popular vote 66,262 Percentage 100.00%

Senator before election Doug Overbey Republican Elected Senator Doug Overbey Republican

Republican primary

Candidates

• Doug Overbey, incumbent senator^[2]
• Scott Williams, veteran and small business owner^[2]

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Doug Overbey (incumbent)	8,126	61.19%
	Republican	Scott Williams	5,155	38.81%
Total votes			13,281	100.00%

General election

General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Doug Overbey (incumbent)	66,262	100.00%
Total votes			66,262	100.00%

District 4

2016 Tennessee's 4th Senate district election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Jon Lundberg (Uncontested) Party Republican Popular vote 60,516 Percentage 100.00%

Senator before election Ron Ramsey Republican Elected Senator Jon Lundberg Republican

Republican primary

Candidates

• John Paul Blevins^[2]
• Neal Kerney, veteran and small business owner^[5]
• Jon Lundberg, state representative for the 1st district^[1]
• Tony Shipley, state representative for the 2nd district^[2]

Declined

• Ron Ramsey, incumbent senator and Speaker of the Senate (retiring)^[3]

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jon Lundberg	7,019	55.21%
	Republican	Tony Shipley	2,684	21.11%
	Republican	Neal Kerney	2,629	20.68%
	Republican	John Paul Blevins	381	3.00%
Total votes			12,713	100.00%

General election

General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jon Lundberg	60,516	100.00%
Total votes			60,516	100.00%

District 6

2016 Tennessee's 6th Senate district election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Becky Duncan Massey (Uncontested) Party Republican Popular vote 62,688 Percentage 100.00%

Senator before election Becky Duncan Massey Republican Elected Senator Becky Duncan Massey Republican

Republican primary

Candidates

• Becky Duncan Massey, incumbent senator^[2]

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Becky Duncan Massey (incumbent)	5,563	100.00%
Total votes			5,563	100.00%

General election

General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Becky Duncan Massey (incumbent)	62,688	100.00%
Total votes			62,688	100.00%

District 8

2016 Tennessee's 8th Senate district election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Frank Niceley (Uncontested) Party Republican Popular vote 49,440 Percentage 100.00%

Senator before election Frank Niceley Republican Elected Senator Frank Niceley Republican

Republican primary

• Frank Niceley, incumbent senator^[2]

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Frank Niceley (incumbent)	11,114	100.00%
Total votes			11,114	100.00%

General election

General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Frank Niceley (incumbent)	49,440	100.00%
Total votes			49,440	100.00%

District 10

2016 Tennessee's 10th Senate district election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Todd Gardenhire Khristy Wilkinson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 39,308 31,043 Percentage 55.87% 44.13%

Results by county Gardenhire:      80–90% Wilkinson:      50–60%

Senator before election Todd Gardenhire Republican Elected Senator Todd Gardenhire Republican

Republican primary

Candidates

• Todd Gardenhire, incumbent senator

  Republican primary results

  Party		Candidate	Votes	%
  	Republican	Todd Gardenhire (incumbent)	6,058	100.00%
  Total votes			6,058	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Ty O'Grady, entrepreneur and college professor^[6]
• Khristy Wilkinson^[7]
• Nick Wilkinson, director of the Chattanooga Office of Economic Development^[8]

  Democratic primary results

  Party		Candidate	Votes	%
  	Democratic	Khristy Wilkinson	2,662	43.58%
  	Democratic	Nick Wilkinson	2,111	34.56%
  	Democratic	Ty O'Grady	1,335	21.86%
  Total votes			6,108	100.00%

General election

General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Todd Gardenhire (incumbent)	39,308	55.87%
	Democratic	Khristy Wilkinson	31,043	44.13%
Total votes			70,351	100.00%

District 12

2016 Tennessee's 12th Senate district election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Ken Yager (Uncontested) Party Republican Popular vote 55,219 Percentage 100.00%

Senator before election Ken Yager Republican Elected Senator Ken Yager Republican

Republican primary

Candidates

• Ken Yager, incumbent senator^[2]

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ken Yager (incumbent)	12,860	100.00%
Total votes			12,860	100.00%

General election

General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ken Yager (incumbent)	55,219	100.00%
Total votes			55,219	100.00%

District 14

2016 Tennessee's 14th Senate district election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Jim Tracy Gayle Jordan Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 53,082 18,259 Percentage 74.41% 25.59%

Results by county Tracy:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Senator before election Jim Tracy Republican Elected Senator Jim Tracy Republican

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jim Tracy, incumbent senator^[2]
• Matt Randolph, retail manager^[2]
• Steve Lane, teacher^[9][2]

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Tracy (incumbent)	10,817	81.63%
	Republican	Steve Lane	1,681	12.68%
	Republican	Matt Randolph	754	5.69%
Total votes			13,252	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Gayle Jordan, attorney

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gayle Jordan	2,767	100.00%
Total votes			2,767	100.00%

General election

General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Tracy (incumbent)	53,082	74.41%
	Democratic	Gayle Jordan	18,259	25.59%
Total votes			71,341	100.00%

District 16

2016 Tennessee's 16th Senate district election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Janice Bowling Mike Winton Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 46,846 22,205 Percentage 67.84% 32.16%

Results by county Bowling:      60–70%      70–80% Winton:      50–60%

Senator before election Janice Bowling Republican Elected Senator Janice Bowling Republican

Republican primary

Candidates

• Janice Bowling, incumbent senator^[2]
• Michael Shane Wilcher, member of the Warren County Commission from the 3rd district^[10]

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Janice Bowling (incumbent)	10,235	81.74%
	Republican	Scott Williams	2,287	18.26%
Total votes			12,522	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Mike Winton, businessman^[11][2]
• Alice Demetreon, retired corrections officer

Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mike Winton	3,342	70.27%
	Democratic	Alice Demetreon	1,414	29.73%
Total votes			4,756	100.00%

General election

General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Janice Bowling (incumbent)	46,846	67.84%
	Democratic	Mike Winton	22,205	32.16%
Total votes			69,051	100.00%

District 18

2016 Tennessee's 18th Senate district election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Ferrell Haile (Uncontested) Party Republican Popular vote 64,220 Percentage 100.00%

Senator before election Ferrell Haile Republican Elected Senator Ferrell Haile Republican

Republican primary

Candidates

• Ferrell Haile, incumbent senator^[2]

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ferrell Haile (incumbent)	10,326	100.00%
Total votes			10,326	100.00%

General election

General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ferrell Haile (incumbent)	64,220	100.00%
Total votes			64,220	100.00%

District 20

2016 Tennessee's 20th Senate district election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Steven Dickerson Erin Coleman Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 52,966 41,172 Percentage 56.26% 43.74%

Senator before election Steven Dickerson Republican Elected Senator Steven Dickerson Republican

Republican primary

Candidates

• Steven Dickerson, incumbent senator^[2]
• Ron McDow, Tennessee delegate at the 2016 Republican National Convention^[12]

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Steven Dickerson (incumbent)	5,222	59.94%
	Republican	Ron McDow	3,490	40.06%
Total votes			8,712	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Erin Coleman, attorney^[2]

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Erin Coleman	8,788	100.00%
Total votes			8,788	100.00%

General election

General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Steven Dickerson (incumbent)	52,966	56.26%
	Democratic	Erin Coleman	41,172	43.74%
	Write-in	Joseph H. Johnston (write-in)	1	0.00%
Total votes			54,287	100.00%

District 22

2016 Tennessee's 22nd Senate district election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Mark Green David L. Cutting Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 41,497 20,406 Percentage 67.04% 32.96%

Results by county Green:      60–70%      70–80%

Senator before election Mark Green Republican Elected Senator Mark Green Republican

Republican primary

Candidates

• Mark Green, incumbent senator^[13]
• Lori L. Smith, small business owner, Clarksville fencing^[14]

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mark Green (incumbent)	6,183	84.17%
	Republican	Lori L. Smith	1,163	15.83%
Total votes			7,346	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• David L. Cutting, retired architectural engineer and small business owner^[15]

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David L. Cutting	2,692	100.00%
Total votes			2,692	100.00%

General election

General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mark Green (incumbent)	41,497	67.04%
	Democratic	Mike Winton	20,406	32.96%
Total votes			61,903	100.00%

District 24

2016 Tennessee's 24th Senate district election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee John Stevens (Uncontested) Party Republican Popular vote 46,945 Percentage 100.00%

Senator before election John Stevens Republican Elected Senator John Stevens Republican

Republican primary

Candidates

• John Stevens, incumbent senator^[16]

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Stevens (incumbent)	9,474	100.00%
Total votes			9,474	100.00%

General election

General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Stevens (incumbent)	46,945	100.00%
Total votes			46,945	100.00%

District 26

2016 Tennessee's 26th Senate district election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Dolores Gresham (Uncontested) Party Republican Popular vote 54,210 Percentage 100.00%

Senator before election Dolores Gresham Republican Elected Senator Dolores Gresham Republican

Republican primary

Candidates

• Dolores Gresham, incumbent senator^[17]
• Bob Shutt, mayor of Savannah, Tennessee^[18]

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dolores Gresham (incumbent)	9,938	52.79%
	Republican	Bob Shutt	8,889	47.21%
Total votes			18,827	100.00%

General election

General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dolores Gresham (incumbent)	54,210	100.00%
Total votes			54,210	100.00%

District 28

2016 Tennessee's 28th Senate district election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Joey Hensley Joey Norman Party Republican Independent Popular vote 51,251 17,460 Percentage 74.59% 25.41%

Senator before election Joey Hensley Republican Elected Senator Joey Hensley Republican

Republican primary

Candidates

• Joey Hensley, incumbent senator^[19]

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joey Hensley (incumbent)	9,260	100%
Total votes			9,260	100%

Independent candidate

• Joey Norman, firefighter^[20]

General election

General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joey Hensley (incumbent)	51,251	74.59%
	Independent	Joey Norman	17,460	25.41%
Total votes			68,711	100.00%

District 30

2016 Tennessee's 30th Senate district election

← 2014 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Sara Kyle (Uncontested) Party Democratic Popular vote 39,668 Percentage 100.00%

Senator before election Sara Kyle Democratic Elected Senator Sara Kyle Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Sara Kyle, incumbent senator^[21]
• Beverly Marrero, former 30th district senator^[22]

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sara Kyle	7,607	75.42%
	Democratic	Beverly Marrero	2,479	24.58%
Total votes			10,086	100.00%

General election

General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sara Kyle (incumbent)	39,668	100.00%
Total votes			39,668	100.00%

District 32

2016 Tennessee's 32nd Senate district election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Mark Norris (Uncontested) Party Republican Popular vote 57,912 Percentage 100.00%

Senator before election Mark Norris Republican Elected Senator Mark Norris Republican

Republican primary

Candidates

• Mark Norris, incumbent senator^[23]

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mark Norris (incumbent)	15,273	100.00%
Total votes			15,273	100.00%

General election

General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mark Norris (incumbent)	57,912	100.00%
Total votes			57,912	100.00%

See also

• 2016 Tennessee elections
• 2016 Tennessee House of Representatives election