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Tennessee state executive official elections, 2018
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 9
- Early voting: Oct. 17 - Nov. 1
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: No
- Voter ID: Photo ID required
- Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.[2]
2022 →
← 2014
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| Tennessee state executive official elections |
|---|
 |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: April 5, 2018 |
| Primary: August 2, 2018 General: November 6, 2018 |
| How to vote |
| Poll times: Varies by county Voting in Tennessee |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| Federal and state primary competitiveness State executive elections in 2018 Impact of term limits in 2018 State government trifectas and triplexes |
| Other state executive elections |
The following state executive office was up for election in Tennessee in 2018. Click on the following link to learn more about the race:
Candidates and election results
Governor
General election
General election for Governor of Tennessee
The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Tennessee on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Bill Lee (R) | 59.6 | 1,336,106 | |
| Karl Dean (D) | 38.6 | 864,863 | ||
| Sherry Clark (Independent) | 0.2 | 5,198 | ||
| Mark Wright (Independent) | 0.2 | 4,687 | ||
| Patrick Whitlock (Independent) | 0.2 | 3,631 | ||
| Yvonne Neubert (Independent) | 0.1 | 3,070 | ||
| Heather Scott (Independent) | 0.1 | 2,969 | ||
| Mark Brown (Independent) | 0.1 | 2,841 | ||
| Joe Wilmoth (Independent) | 0.1 | 2,444 | ||
| George Blackwell Smith IV (Independent) | 0.1 | 1,550 | ||
| Cory King (Independent) | 0.1 | 1,502 | ||
| Tracy Yaste Tisdale (Independent) | 0.1 | 1,396 | ||
| Justin Cornett (Independent) | 0.1 | 1,217 | ||
| Chad Riden (Independent) | 0.0 | 1,096 | ||
| Robert Sawyers Sr. (Independent) | 0.0 | 1,059 | ||
| Vinnie Vineyard (Independent) | 0.0 | 1,012 | ||
| Rick Tyler (Independent) | 0.0 | 981 | ||
| Gabriel Fancher (Independent) | 0.0 | 869 | ||
| Sean Fleming (Independent) | 0.0 | 814 | ||
| Alfred Rapoza (Independent) | 0.0 | 800 | ||
| Jessie McDonald (Independent) | 0.0 | 755 | ||
| Toney Mitchell (Independent) | 0.0 | 739 | ||
| Mike Toews (Independent) | 0.0 | 726 | ||
| Matthew Koch (Independent) | 0.0 | 652 | ||
| Jeremy Allen Stephenson (Independent) | 0.0 | 613 | ||
| Tommy McAnally (Independent) | 0.0 | 609 | ||
| Jaron Weidner (Independent) | 0.0 | 588 | ||
| William Helmstetter (Independent) | 0.0 | 496 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 11 | ||
| Total votes: 2,243,294 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Tennessee
Karl Dean defeated Craig Fitzhugh and Mezianne Vale Payne in the Democratic primary for Governor of Tennessee on August 2, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Karl Dean | 75.1 | 279,324 | |
| Craig Fitzhugh | 19.4 | 72,263 | ||
| Mezianne Vale Payne | 5.4 | 20,253 | ||
| Total votes: 371,840 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Tennessee
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Tennessee on August 2, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Bill Lee | 36.7 | 289,699 | |
| Randy Boyd | 24.3 | 191,940 | ||
| Diane Black | 23.0 | 181,719 | ||
| Beth Harwell | 15.3 | 120,910 | ||
| Kay White | 0.4 | 3,181 | ||
| Basil Marceaux | 0.2 | 1,270 | ||
| Total votes: 788,719 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Context of the 2018 election
Party control in Tennessee
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. Republicans in Tennessee gained a state government trifecta as a result of the 2010 elections by taking control of the governorship.
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 |
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.[3]
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.[4][5]
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.[6]
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.[6]
Automatic registration
- See also: Automatic voter registration
Tennessee does not practice automatic voter registration.[7]
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.[8]
Residency requirements
To register to vote in Tennessee, you must be a resident of the state.[6] 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."[9]
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.[10] |
” |
| —Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-2-141[11] | ||
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.[12] 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.[13]
Voters can present the following forms of identification, even if expired:[14]
- 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:[14]
- 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:[14]
- 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.[13]
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.[15]
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:[16]
| “ |
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.[10] |
” |
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.[16]
Impact of term limits
One state executive seat in Tennessee was up for election in 2018. In the 2018 elections, one official was ineligible to run because of term limits. The following state official was term-limited in 2018:
Republican (1):
- Governor: Bill Haslam
Of the 283 state executives offices on the ballot in 2018, 131 of them were represented by incumbents who were subject to term limits. Of the 36 gubernatorial seats up for election in 2018, 13 governors—two Democrats and 11 Republicans—were term-limited and therefore unable to run for re-election. Of the 31 states with term limits that held state executives elections in 2018, some incumbents in 18 of the states were term-limited.
A total of 49 state executive officials were ineligible to run in the 2018 elections because of term limits. This represented 17 percent of the 283 total seats up for election in 2018.[17] Republicans had more than six times as many state executive officials term-limited in 2018 than Democrats. A total of seven Democrats were term-limited, while 40 Republicans were term-limited. The other two term-limited officials were nonpartisan.
Past elections
2016
There were no state executive elections in Tennessee in 2016.
2014
The following elections took place in 2014.
2012
There were no state executive elections in Tennessee in 2012.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Tennessee state executive election 2018. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
State profile
| Demographic data for Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 6,595,056 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 41,235 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 77.8% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 16.8% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 1.6% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 4.9% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 85.5% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 24.9% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $45,219 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 21.4% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Tennessee. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Tennessee
Tennessee voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Pivot Counties (2016)
Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, one is located in Tennessee, accounting for 0.5 percent of the total pivot counties.[18]
Pivot Counties (2020)
In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Tennessee had one Retained Pivot County, 0.55 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.
More Tennessee coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Tennessee
- United States congressional delegations from Tennessee
- Public policy in Tennessee
- Endorsers in Tennessee
- Tennessee fact checks
- More...
See also
| Tennessee | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ In Tennessee, most polling places were open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. All precincts closed at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and 7:00 p.m. Central.
- ↑ In Tennessee, most polling places were open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. All precincts closed at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and 7:00 p.m. Central.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 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
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 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."
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Tennessee Secretary of State, "What ID is required when voting?" accessed July 16, 2025
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 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
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Guide to Absentee Voting," accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ Some of the 49 state executive officials in 2018 may have resigned before their term ended. These state executive officials were still counted in the total number of term-limited state executives in 2018.
- ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
