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Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 2 Democratic primary)

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Governor of Tennessee
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: April 5, 2018
Primary: August 2, 2018
General: November 6, 2018
Pre-election incumbent(s):
Bill Haslam (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: Varies by county
Voting in Tennessee
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Likely Republican
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Inside Elections: Solid Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness
State executive elections in 2018
Impact of term limits in 2018
State government trifectas
State government triplexes
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
Tennessee
executive elections
Governor

A Democratic Party primary election took place on August 2, 2018, in Tennessee to determine which candidate would run as the party's nominee in the state's November 6, 2018, gubernatorial election.


For more information about gubernatorial elections in 2018, click here.

SETTING THE STAGE
  • Heading into the 2018 election, the sitting governor was Bill Haslam (R), who was first elected in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014. Haslam was prevented from seeking a third term in 2018 due to term limits.
  • In 2018, Tennessee was a Republican trifecta. It had held this status since Haslam took office in 2011. Tennessee was a Republican triplex.
  • Tennessee was won by the Republican candidate in each of the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016. The widest margin of victory was Donald Trump's 26 percent margin in 2016 while the narrowest was George W. Bush's four percent margin in 2000.

    • Tennessee was one of 36 states that held an election for governor in 2018. Democrats gained seven previously Republican-held seats, and Republicans gained one previously independent-held seat. Heading into the 2018 elections, there were 16 Democratic governors, 33 Republican governors, and one independent governor. In 2018, 26 of the 33 states with a Republican governor held a gubernatorial election, while nine out of the 16 states with a Democratic governor held a gubernatorial election. Seventeen of the 36 seats up for election were open seats (four Democratic, 12 Republican, and one independent), meaning that the sitting governor was not seeking re-election. Click here for more information on other 2018 gubernatorial elections.


    Candidates and election results

    See also: Statistics on gubernatorial candidates, 2018

    Karl Dean defeated Craig Fitzhugh and Mezianne Vale Payne in the Democratic primary for Governor of Tennessee on August 2, 2018.

    Democratic primary election
    Democratic primary for Governor of Tennessee

    Candidate
    %
    Votes
    ✔
    Image of Karl Dean
    		Karl Dean
     
    75.1
     
    		279,324
    Image of Craig Fitzhugh
    		Craig Fitzhugh
     
    19.4
     
    		72,263
    Image of Mezianne Vale Payne
    		Mezianne Vale Payne Candidate Connection
     
    5.4
     
    		20,253

    There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

    		Total votes: 371,840
    Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
    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

    Past elections

    2014

    See also: Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2014

    In the 2014 Democratic primary, Charles V. "Charlie" Brown defeated William H. "John" McKamey, Kennedy Spellman Johnson, and Ron Noonan by a 15.7 percent margin.[3]

    Tennessee Gubernatorial Democratic Primary, 2014
    Candidate Vote % Votes
    Green check mark transparent.pngCharles V. "Charlie" Brown 41.7% 95,114
    William H. "John" McKamey 26% 59,200
    Kennedy Spellman Johnson 24.4% 55,718
    Ron Noonan 7.9% 17,993
    Total Votes 228,025
    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.[4]

    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.[5][6]

    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.[7]

    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.[7]

    Automatic registration

    See also: Automatic voter registration

    Tennessee does not practice automatic voter registration.[8]

    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.[9]

    Residency requirements

    To register to vote in Tennessee, you must be a resident of the state.[7] Click here for more information about determining residency in Tennessee.

    Verification of citizenship

    See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

    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."[10]

    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.[11]

    		”
    —Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-2-141[12]

    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.[13] 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.[14]

    Voters can present the following forms of identification, even if expired:[15]

    • 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:[15]

    • 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:[15]

    • 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.[14]

    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.[16]

    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:[17]

    “

    You can vote absentee by-mail if you fall under one of the following categories:

    • You are sixty (60) years of age or older.
    • You will be outside the county where you are registered during the early voting period and all day on Election Day.
    • You are hospitalized, ill or physically disabled and unable to appear at your polling place to vote. A physician’s statement is not required to check this box.
    • You are the caretaker of a person who is hospitalized, ill, or disabled. A physician’s statement is not required to check this box.
    • You or your spouse are a full-time student in an accredited college or university outside the county where you are registered.
    • You reside in a nursing home, assisted living facility or home for the aged outside your county of residence.
    • You are a candidate for office in the election.
    • You are observing a religious holiday that prevents you from voting in person during the early voting period and on Election Day.
    • You serve as an Election Day official or as a member or employee of the election commission.
    • You will be unable to vote in-person due to jury duty.
    • You have a physical disability and an inaccessible polling place.
    • You or your spouse possess a valid commercial drivers license (CDL) or Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card and you will be working outside the state or county of registration during the open hours of early voting and Election Day and have no specific out-of-county or out-of-state address to which mail may be sent or received during such time.
    • You are a member of the military or are an overseas citizen.
    • You are on the permanent absentee list.

    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.[11]

    		”

    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.[17]


    State overview

    Partisan control

    This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Tennessee heading into the 2018 elections.

    Congressional delegation

    State executives

    State legislature

    • Republicans controlled both chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly. They had a 25-69 majority in the state House and a 4-26 majority in the state Senate.

    Trifecta status

    See also: State government trifectas

    2018 elections

    See also: Tennessee elections, 2018

    Tennessee held elections for the following positions in 2018:

    Demographics

    Demographic data for Tennessee
     TennesseeU.S.
    Total population:6,595,056316,515,021
    Land area (sq mi):41,2353,531,905
    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.

    As of July 2016, Tennessee's three largest cities were Nashville-Davidson (pop. est. 667,885), Memphis (pop. est. 652,236), and Knoxville (pop. est. 187,347).[18]

    State election history

    This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Tennessee from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Tennessee Secretary of State.[19]

    Historical elections

    Presidential elections

    Election results (President of the United States), Tennessee 2000-2016
    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2016 Republican Party Donald Trump 60.7% Democratic Party Hillary Clinton 34.7% 26.0%
    2012 Republican Party Mitt Romney 59.5% Democratic PartyBarack Obama 39.1% 20.4%
    2008 Republican Party John McCain 56.9% Democratic Party Barack Obama 41.8% 15.1%
    2004 Republican Party George W. Bush 56.8% Democratic Party John Kerry 42.5% 14.3%
    2000 Republican Party George W. Bush 51.2% Democratic Party Al Gore 47.3% 3.9%

    U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2014

    This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Tennessee from 2000 to 2014. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.

    Election results (U.S. Senator), Tennessee 2000-2014
    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2014 Republican Party Lamar Alexander 61.9% Democratic Party Gordon Ball 31.9% 30.0%
    2012 Republican Party Bob Corker 64.9% Democratic Party Mark Clayton 30.4% 34.5%
    2008 Republican Party Lamar Alexander 65.1% Democratic Party Bob Tuke 31.6% 33.5%
    2006 Republican Party Bob Corker 50.7% Democratic Party Harold Ford, Jr. 48.0% 2.7%
    2002 Republican Party Lamar Alexander 54.3% Democratic Party Bob Clement 44.3% 10.0%
    2000 Republican Party Bill Frist 65.1% Democratic Party Jeff Clark 32.2% 32.9%

    Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Tennessee.

    Election results (Governor), Tennessee 2000-2016
    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2014 Republican Party Bill Haslam 70.3% Democratic Party Charles Brown 22.8% 47.5%
    2010 Republican Party Bill Haslam 65.0% Democratic Party Mike McWherter 33.1% 31.9%
    2006 Democratic Party Phil Bredesen 68.6% Republican Party Jim Bryson 29.7% 38.9%
    2002 Democratic Party Phil Bredesen 50.7% Republican Party Van Hilleary 47.6% 3.1%

    Congressional delegation, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Tennessee in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.

    Congressional delegation, Tennessee 2000-2016
    Year Republicans Republicans (%) Democrats Democrats (%) Balance of power
    2016 Republican Party 7 77.8% Democratic Party 2 22.2% R+5
    2014 Republican Party 7 77.8% Democratic Party 2 22.2% R+5
    2012 Republican Party 7 77.8% Democratic Party 2 22.2% R+5
    2010 Republican Party 4 44.4% Democratic Party 5 55.6% D+1
    2008 Republican Party 4 44.4% Democratic Party 5 55.6% D+1
    2006 Republican Party 4 44.4% Democratic Party 5 55.6% D+1
    2004 Republican Party 4 44.4% Democratic Party 5 55.6% D+1
    2002 Republican Party 5 55.6% Democratic Party 4 44.4% R+1
    2000 Republican Party 5 55.6% Democratic Party 4 44.4% R+1

    Trifectas, 1992-2017

    A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.

    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


    Pivot Counties

    See also: Pivot Counties by state

    One of 95 Tennessee counties—1 percent—is a Pivot County. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

    Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
    County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
    Hardeman County, Tennessee 7.92% 5.91% 6.18%

    In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Tennessee with 60.7 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 34.7 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Tennessee cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 76.7 percent of the time. In that same time frame, Tennessee supported Democratic candidates for president and Republican candidates equally. The state, however, favored Republicans in every presidential election between 2000 and 2016.

    Presidential results by legislative district

    The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Tennessee. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns show the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns show the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[20][21]

    In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 20 out of 99 state House districts in Tennessee with an average margin of victory of 50.7 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 22 out of 99 state House districts in Tennessee with an average margin of victory of 46.5 points. Clinton won one district controlled by a Republican heading into the 2018 elections.
    In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 79 out of 99 state House districts in Tennessee with an average margin of victory of 36.8 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 77 out of 99 state House districts in Tennessee with an average margin of victory of 43.8 points. Trump won four districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.

    Recent news

    The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Tennessee governor Democratic primary 2018. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

    Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 2 Democratic primary) - Google News

    See also

    Tennessee government:

    Elections:

    Ballotpedia exclusives:

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ 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.
    2. ↑ 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.
    3. ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "August 7, 2014, Republican Primary Results," accessed September 19, 2017
    4. ↑ LexisNexis, "Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-7-115," accessed July 16, 2025
    5. ↑ LexisNexis, "Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-3-201," accessed July 15, 2025
    6. ↑ LexisNexis, "Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-7-127," accessed July 15, 2025
    7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Register to Vote," accessed July 15, 2025
    8. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Automatic Voter Registration," accessed July 15, 2025
    9. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Same-Day Voter Registration," accessed July 15, 2025
    10. ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "Tennessee Mail-In Application For Voter Registration," accessed July 15, 2025
    11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    12. ↑ LexisNexis, “Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-2-141,” accessed July 15, 2025
    13. ↑ 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."
    14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Tennessee Secretary of State, "What ID is required when voting?" accessed July 16, 2025
    15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Guide on ID Requirements when voting," accessed July 16, 2025
    16. ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "How to Early Vote - In Person," accessed July 16, 2025
    17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Tennessee Secretary of State, "Guide to Absentee Voting," accessed July 15, 2025
    18. ↑ Tennessee Demographics, "Tennessee Cities by Population" accessed September 7, 2018
    19. ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "Election Results," accessed September 7, 2018
    20. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
    21. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
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