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Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2020
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| 2020 Tennessee House Elections | |
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| General | November 3, 2020 |
| Primary | August 6, 2020 |
| Past Election Results |
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| 2020 Elections | |
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The partisan balance of the Tennessee House of Representatives did not change after the 2020 elections, with Republicans preserving their supermajority. All 99 seats in the chamber were up for election in 2020. Heading into the election, Republicans held 73 seats and Democrats held 26. Neither party lost or gained seats, meaning Republicans maintained their 73-26 supermajority.
The Tennessee House of Representatives was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. All 99 House seats were up for election in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections.
Tennessee's 2020 state legislative elections affected partisan control of redistricting following the 2020 census. In Tennessee, the state legislature is responsible for drafting both congressional and state legislative district plans. District plans are subject to gubernatorial veto.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Tennessee modified its absentee/mail-in voting procedures and voter identification rules for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Absentee/mail-in voting: Individuals "with a special vulnerability to COVID-19" and "caretakers for individuals with a special vulnerability to COVID-19" were deemed to meet the existing statutory criteria for absentee voting eligibility. A law requiring first-time voters to vote in person was temporarily suspended.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Party control
| Tennessee House of Representatives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 26 | 26 | |
| Republican Party | 73 | 73 | |
| Total | 99 | 99 | |
Candidates
General election
Primary election
Tennessee House of Representatives primary election |
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| Office | Other | ||
| District 1 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 2 |
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| District 3 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 4 |
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| District 5 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 6 |
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| District 7 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 8 |
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| District 9 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 10 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 11 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 12 |
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| District 13 |
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| District 14 |
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| District 15 |
Rick Staples (i) Did not make the ballot: |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 16 |
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| District 17 |
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| District 18 |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 19 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 20 |
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| District 21 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 22 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 23 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 24 |
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| District 25 |
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| District 26 |
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| District 27 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 28 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 29 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 30 |
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| District 31 |
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| District 32 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 33 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 34 |
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| District 35 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 36 |
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| District 37 |
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| District 38 |
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| District 39 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 40 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 41 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 42 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 43 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 44 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 45 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 46 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 47 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 48 |
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| District 49 |
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| District 50 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 51 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 52 |
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| District 53 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 54 |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 55 |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 56 |
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| District 57 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 58 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 59 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 60 |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 61 |
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| District 62 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 63 |
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| District 64 |
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| District 65 |
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| District 66 |
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| District 67 |
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| District 68 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 69 |
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| District 70 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 71 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 72 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 73 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 74 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 75 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 76 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 77 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 78 |
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| District 79 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 80 |
Did not make the ballot: |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 81 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 82 |
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| District 83 |
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| District 84 |
Did not make the ballot: |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 85 |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 86 |
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| District 87 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 88 |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 89 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 90 |
Did not make the ballot: |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 91 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 92 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 93 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 94 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 95 |
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| District 96 |
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| District 97 |
Allan Creasy |
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| District 98 |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 99 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in the general election
One incumbent lost in the Nov. 3 general election. That incumbents was:
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| John DeBerry Jr. | House District 90 |
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
Four incumbents lost in the Aug. 6 primaries. Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Current Office |
|---|---|---|
| James Van Huss | House District 6 | |
| Matthew Hill | House District 7 | |
| Rick Staples | House District 15 | |
| Thomas R. Tillis | House District 92 |
Retiring incumbents
There were six open seats where the incumbent legislator did not file for re-election in 2020.[2] Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Timothy Hill | House District 3 | |
| Bill Dunn | House District 16 | |
| Martin Daniel | House District 18 | |
| Andrew Holt | House District 76 | |
| Jim Coley | House District 97 |
The five seats left open in 2020 represented a decrease from the decade-high 23 open seats in 2018. The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2010 and 2020.
| Open Seats in Tennessee House of Representatives elections: 2010 - 2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for re-election |
| 2020 | 99 | 5 (5 percent) | 94 (94 percent) |
| 2018 | 99 | 23 (23 percent) | 76 (77 percent) |
| 2016 | 99 | 5 (5 percent) | 94 (95 percent) |
| 2014 | 99 | 9 (9 percent) | 90 (91 percent) |
| 2012 | 99 | 11 (11 percent) | 88 (89 percent) |
| 2010 | 99 | 8 (8 percent) | 91 (92 percent) |
Process to become a candidate
See statutes: Chapter 2-5 and Chapter 2-7 of the Tennessee Code
State legislative candidates
A candidate running for the state legislature, whether partisan or independent, must adhere to the same ballot access requirements, which are detailed below.
- The candidate must obtain a nominating petition from a county election commission office or the office of the state coordinator of elections.[3][4]
- The nominating petition must be signed by the candidate and at least 25 voters who are registered in the candidate's district.[3][4]
- The signer of a petition must include the address shown on his or her voter registration card in order for his or her signature to be counted.[4]
- The candidate must file the original nominating petition in the office of the county election commission by the first Thursday of April in his or her county of residence. The candidate must also file a certified duplicate in the county election commission office in each county wholly or partially within the candidate's district. This requirement applies to both political party candidates running in the primary and independent candidates running in the general election.[3][4]
- There are no filing fees.
Federal and statewide office
A partisan or independent candidate for governor, United States Representative, or United States Senator must obtain a nominating petition from a county election commission office or the office of the state coordinator of elections.[5][6]
- The nominating petition must be signed by at least 25 voters who are registered anywhere in Tennessee.[5][7]
- The signer of a petition must include the address shown on his or her voter registration card in order for the signature to be counted.[4]
- The candidate must file the nominating petition no later than noon on the first Thursday of April.[5][7]
- The candidate must file the original nominating petition in the office of the Tennessee State Election Commission. The candidate must also file a certified duplicate in the office of the state coordinator of elections. Both of these must be received by the qualifying deadline.[5][7]
- There are no filing fees.
For write-in candidates
In order to have his or her votes tallied, a write-in candidate must file a certificate of write-in candidacy no later than noon on the 50th day before the general election in each county that makes up the district of the listed office. For the offices of governor, United States Senator, and United States Representative, this form must be filed with the Tennessee Coordinator of Elections.[8][9]
2020 ballot access requirements
The table below details filing requirements for Tennessee House of Representatives candidates in the 2020 election cycle.
| Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Tennessee House of Representatives | All candidates | 25 | N/A | 4/2/2020 | Source |
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve in the Tennessee House of Representatives, a candidate must be:[10]
- A U.S. citizen
- 21 years old before the general election
- A three-year resident of Tennessee before the general election
- A county 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 and per diem
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[11] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $28,405.96/year | $326.47/day. Legislators living within 50 miles of the Capitol receive a reduced amount of $47 per day. |
When sworn in
Tennessee legislators assume office on the day they are elected in the general election.[12]
Tennessee political history
Trifectas
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.
Tennessee Party Control: 1992-2024
Five years of Democratic trifectas • Fourteen years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| 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 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | 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 | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Presidential politics in Tennessee
2016 Presidential election results
| U.S. presidential election, Tennessee, 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine | 34.7% | 870,695 | 0 | |
| Republican |  Donald Trump/Mike Pence |
60.7% | 1,522,925 | 11 | |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Bill Weld | 2.8% | 70,397 | 0 | |
| Green | Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka | 0.6% | 15,993 | 0 | |
| Independent | Rocky De La Fuente/Michael Steinberg | 0.2% | 4,075 | 0 | |
| Independent | Alyson Kennedy/Osborne Hart | 0.1% | 2,877 | 0 | |
| Independent | Mike Smith/Daniel White | 0.3% | 7,276 | 0 | |
| - | Write-in votes | 0.5% | 13,789 | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 2,508,027 | 11 | |||
| Election results via: Tennessee Secretary of State | |||||
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Tennessee utilizes a closed primary process; a voter must either be registered with a political party or must declare his or affiliation with the party at the polls on primary election day in order to vote in that party's primary.[13]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
Each county election commission must determine the opening time for polling places in the county at least 15 days before an election, with certain requirements based on county population. All polling places close at 7 p.m. CST (8 p.m. EST). The polls must be open for a minimum of 10 consecutive hours, but not more than 13 hours. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[14][15]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To register to vote in Tennessee, an applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Tennessee, and at least 18 years old by the day of the next election.[16]
Prospective voters can register online, by mailing a voter registration application to the county election commission, or in person at a variety of locations including the county clerk’s office, the county election commission office, public libraries, and numerous state agencies. Registration must be completed 30 days before an election.[16]
Automatic registration
- See also: Automatic voter registration
Tennessee does not practice automatic voter registration.[17]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Tennessee has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
- See also: Same-day voter registration
Tennessee does not allow same-day voter registration.[18]
Residency requirements
To register to vote in Tennessee, you must be a resident of the state.[16] Click here for more information about determining residency in Tennessee.
Verification of citizenship
Tennessee does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, providing false information on an application "is a felony punishable by not less than two (2) years nor more than twelve (12) years imprisonment or a fine of $5,000 or both."[19]
Tennessee law requires election officials to conduct check of voter registration applicants' citizenship status. Section 2-2-141 of the Tennessee Code states the following:
| “ |
‘’’2-2-141. Proof of citizenship for registering to vote.’’’ (a) The coordinator of elections shall compare the statewide voter registration database with the department of safety database to ensure non-United States citizens are not registered to vote in this state. The coordinator of elections is authorized to compare the statewide voter registration database with relevant federal and state agencies and county records for the same purpose. If evidence exists that a particular registered voter is not a citizen of the United States, the coordinator of elections shall notify the county election commission where the person registered to vote that the registered voter may not be a citizen of the United States. (b) After receiving such notice, the county election commission shall send a notice to the registered voter inquiring whether the individual is eligible to be registered to vote. Any registered voter who receives the notice shall, within thirty (30) days of the receipt of such notice, provide proof of citizenship to the county election commission.[20] |
” |
| —Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-2-141[21] | ||
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[22] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The Tennessee secretary of state’s office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.
Voter ID requirements
Tennessee requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[23]
Voters can present the following forms of identification, even if expired:[24]
- Tennessee driver’s license with photo
- United States passport
- Photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
- Photo ID issued by the federal or Tennessee state government
- United States Military photo ID
- Tennessee handgun carry permit with photo
First time voters who register by mail or online can not use an expired ID. If they do not have a currently valid ID, they may use the following to vote at the polls:[24]
- A copy of a current utility bill
- Bank statement,
- Government check,
- Paycheck
- Other government document that shows the voter’s name and address.
The following voters are exempt from the photo ID requirements:[24]
- Voters who vote absentee by mail
- Voters who are residents of a licensed nursing home or assisted living center and who vote at the facility
- Voters who are hospitalized
- Voters with a religious objection to being photographed
- Voters who are indigent and unable to obtain a photo ID without paying a fee
Voters can obtain a free photo ID from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security at any participating driver service center. In order to receive an ID, a voter must bring proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate) and two proofs of Tennessee residency (such as a voter registration card, a utility bill, vehicle registration or title, or bank statement). Visit the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security's Voter Photo ID page for more information.[23]
Early voting
Tennessee permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting begins 20 days before an election and ends five days before an election, except for presidential primaries, when early voting closes seven days before the primary. Early voting is held at county election commission offices and satellite voting locations.[25]
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
Only certain voters may vote absentee by-mail in Tennessee. According to the Tennessee secretary of state's office:[26]
| “ |
You can vote absentee by-mail if you fall under one of the following categories:
NOTE: If you reside in a licensed nursing home, assisted living facility, home for the aged, or an independent living facility on the same property as a licensed nursing home, assisted living facility, or home for the aged inside your county of residence, you may not vote absentee by-mail. Election officials will come to the facility to vote eligible residents, or you may vote during early voting or on Election Day.[20] |
” |
Absentee ballot applications may not be submitted more than 90 days before an election and must be received by the county election commission no later than 10 days before an election. The completed ballot must be returned by mail and received by the county election commission by the close of polls on Election Day.[26]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ DeBerry was disqualified from the Democratic primary. He ran as an independent in the general election and was defeated.
- ↑ Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Tennessee Department of Elections, "Qualifying Procedures for Candidates for Tennessee House of Representatives," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Tennessee Code, "Chapter 2-5-101," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Tennessee Department of Elections, "Qualifying Procedures for Candidates for Governor," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ Tennessee Code, "Chapter 2-5-103," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Qualifying Procedures for United States Senate Tennessee Candidates for United States Senate," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ Tennessee Department of Elections, "Write-In Candidacy Form," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ Tennessee Code, "Chapter 2-7-133," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "Qualifications for elected offices in Tennessee," accessed December 18, 2013
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Tennessee Constitution, "Article II, Section 3," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ LexisNexis, "Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-7-115," accessed July 16, 2025
- ↑ LexisNexis, "Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-3-201," accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ LexisNexis, "Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-7-127," accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Register to Vote," accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Automatic Voter Registration," accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Same-Day Voter Registration," accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "Tennessee Mail-In Application For Voter Registration," accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ LexisNexis, “Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-2-141,” accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Tennessee Secretary of State, "What ID is required when voting?" accessed July 16, 2025
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Guide on ID Requirements when voting," accessed July 16, 2025
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "How to Early Vote - In Person," accessed July 16, 2025
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Guide to Absentee Voting," accessed July 15, 2025
