2026 Tennessee Senate election

2026 Tennessee Senate election
November 3, 2026
17 of 33 seats in the Tennessee Senate
17 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Randy McNally
(retiring)		 Raumesh Akbari
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat 5th–Oak Ridge 29th–Memphis
Current seats 27 6
Seats needed Steady Increase 11
Seats up 13 4
Map of the incumbents:
     Republican incumbent      Republican incumbent retiring
     Democratic incumbent
     No election
Incumbent Speaker

Randy McNally
Republican


The 2026 Tennessee Senate election is scheduled to be held on November 3, 2026. Seventeen members of the thirty-three member Tennessee Senate, the upper chamber of Tennessee's state legislature, will be elected. The elections will coincide with the governor, U.S. House, and state house elections. The primary elections will be held on August 6, 2026. Tennessee has open primaries, meaning that any voter can choose to vote on either a Republican or Democratic ballot during primary elections.[1]

Partisan background

In the 2024 presidential election in Tennessee, Republican Donald Trump won 27 of the 33 state senate districts, while Democrat Kamala Harris won six. Going into the 2026 elections, Republicans hold 27 seats in the Tennessee State Senate, while Democrats hold six.

After the 2020 redistricting process, which was led by Republicans, most state senate districts strongly favor one party, leaving few districts that are considered competitive.[2][3]

2020 data by House district
2024 presidential data by senate district
  Trump
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  Harris
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%

Retirements

Republicans

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[5] Safe R January 22, 2026

Summary of results

No. Incumbent Party Elected senator Outcome
1st J. Adam Lowe Rep TBD Rep hold
3rd Rusty Crowe Rep TBD Rep hold
5th Randy McNally Rep TBD
7th Richard Briggs Rep TBD
9th Steve Southerland Rep TBD Rep hold
11th Bo Watson Rep TBD
13th Dawn White Rep TBD
15th Paul Bailey Rep Paul Bailey Rep hold
17th Mark Pody Rep TBD
19th Charlane Oliver Dem Charlane Oliver Dem hold
21st Jeff Yarbro Dem Jeff Yarbro Dem hold
23rd Kerry Roberts Rep TBD
25th Ed Jackson Rep Ed Jackson Rep hold
27th Jack Johnson Rep TBD
29th Raumesh Akbari Dem Raumesh Akbari Dem hold
31st Brent Taylor Rep TBD
33rd London Lamar Dem TBD Dem hold

Background

No. Counties 2022 state senate margin
1st Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, Rhea R+66.1
3rd Carter, Johnson, Washington R+49.9
5th Anderson, Knox, Loudon R+99.9
7th Knox R+24.7
9th Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Sevier, Unicoi R+65.8
11th Hamilton R+100
13th Rutherford R+29.4
15th Cumberland, Jackson, Putnam, Smith, Van Buren, White R+100
17th Davidson, Wilson R+100
19th Davidson D+65.8
21st Davidson D+53.4
23rd Cheatham, Dickson, Humphreys, Hickman, Robertson R+100
25th Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Henderson, Lake, Perry, Madison R+58.8
27th Williamson R+100
29th Shelby D+100
31st Shelby R+32.6
33rd Shelby D+62.81

District 1

District 1 election, Republican primary
Election not currently contested by any other political party or independent politician.
 
Nominee J. Adam Lowe Dennis H. Beavers Teresa Congioloso
Party Republican Republican Republican
Incumbent Senator

J. Adam Lowe
Republican


District 1 covers much of rural East Tennessee bordering Hamilton County and Georgia. The district includes all of Rhea, Meigs, and McMinn counties, and part of Bradley County. Communities in the district include Dayton, Decatur, Athens, and Cleveland.[6]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Teresa Congioloso, real estate professional[7]
  • Dennis H. Beavers, disqualified candidate for this district in 2022[7]


Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 1st district (Republican primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican J. Adam Lowe (incumbent) 15,314 65.2
Republican Teresa Congioloso 19.1 4,489
Republican Dennis H. Beavers 3,694 15.7

District 3

District 3 election, Republican primary
Election not currently contested by any other political party or independent politician.
 
Nominee Rusty Crowe Dan Pohlgeers
Party Republican Republican
Incumbent Senator

Rusty Crowe
Republican


District 3 is based in Johnson City, the southernmost Tri-Cities, covering all of Johnson, Washington, and Carter County. Other communities in the district include Elizabethton, Jonesborough, Erwin, Oak Grove, and Unicoi.[8]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Dan Pohlgeers, businessman[7]

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 3rd district (Republican primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rusty Crowe (incumbent) 15,820 59.8
Republican Dan Pohlgeers 10,621 40.2

District 5

District 5 election
 
Nominee Jimmy Matlock David Miller
Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent Senator

Randy McNally
Republican


District 5 covers all of Anderson and Loudon counties, and part of Knox County in the Knoxville metropolitan area, including some of Knoxville proper, as well as the surrounding communities of Clinton, Lenoir City, Loudon, Tellico Village, Oliver Springs, and northern Oak Ridge.[9]

Incumbent Republican Randy McNally announced his retirement on February 26, citing health concerns. McNally has represented District 5 in the Tennessee Senate for 10 terms, having first been elected in 1986. His retirement ends a legislative career spanning 40 years.[10]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Withdrawn or disqualified candidatesy

Declined

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 5th district (Republican primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jimmy Matlock 21,911 100

Democratic primary

Nominee

  • David Miller, teacher[7]

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 5th district (Democratic primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Miller 9,320 100

District 7

District 7 election
 
Nominee Richard Briggs Bryan Langan
Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent Senator

Richard Briggs
Republican


District 7 covers swath of Knox County, including parts of downtown Knoxville, as well as nearby suburbs such as Farragut.[11]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Kent Morrell, candidate for this district in 2022[7]

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 7th district (Republican primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Richard Briggs 13,686 66.3
Republican Kent Morrell 6,948 33.7

Democratic primary

Nominee

  • Bryan Langan, nominee for this district in 2022[7]

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 7th district (Democratic primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bryan Langan 11,876 100

District 9

District 9 election, Republican primary
Election not currently contested by any other political party or independent politician.
 
Nominee Steve Southerland Chad Huntsman
Party Republican Republican
Incumbent Senator

Steve Southerland
Republican


District 9 is located to the northeast of Knoxville, and stretches to areas outside of the Tri-Cities region. It includes parts of the Morristown Metropolitan Area. It covers Sevier, Greene, Hamblen, Cocke, and Unicoi counties. Notable cities in the district include Morristown, Newport, Gatlinburg, and Greeneville.[12]

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 9th district (Republican primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chad Huntsman
Republican Steve Southerland (incumbent)

District 11

District 11 election
 
Nominee Bo Watson
(presumptive)		 TBD
Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent Senator

Bo Watson
Republican


District 11 is based in the northern suburbs of Chattanooga in Hamilton County, including some of the city proper, as well as Soddy-Daisy, Middle Valley, Signal Mountain, Harrison, and part of Collegedale and Red Bank.[13]

Republican primary

Presumptive nominee

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 11th district (Republican primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bo Watson (incumbent)

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared
  • Steven Overheim[7]
  • Tim Roberts, candidate for state representative from the 26th district in 2022[7]

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 11th district (Democratic primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Steven Overheim
Democratic Tim Roberts

District 13

District 13 election
 
Nominee Dawn White
(presumptive)		 Angela Evans
(presumptive)
Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent Senator

Dawn White
Republican


District 13 is based in Murfreesboro, including most of the city proper and part of Smyrna and western Rutherford County.[14]

Republican primary

Presumptive nominee

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 13th district (Republican primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dawn White (incumbent)

Democratic primary

Presumptive nominee

  • Angela Evans[7]

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 13th district (Democratic primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Angela Evans

District 15

District 15 election
 
Nominee Paul Bailey
(presumptive)
Party Republican
Incumbent Senator

Paul Bailey
Republican


District 15 covers much of rural Middle Tennessee, including all of Cumberland, Jackson, Putnam, Smith, Van Buren, and White counties. Communities in the district include Cookeville, Crossville, Sparta, Fairfield Glade, Lake Tansi Village, Algood, Monterey, and Gainesboro.[15]

Republican primary

Presumptive nominee

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 15th district (Republican primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Bailey (incumbent)

District 17

District 17 election
 
Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent Senator

Mark Pody
Republican


District 17 covers rural and suburban and urban Middle Tennessee. It covers all of Wilson and the eastern part of Davidson County. Communities in the district includes Mount Juliet, Lebanon, Green Hill and part of Nashville. The Nashville International Airport is mostly located within the district.[16]

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 17th district (Republican primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Pody (incumbent)
Republican Theodore "Butch" Baker

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared
  • Joni Cochran, nominee for state representative from the 46th district in 2024[7]
  • Lindsey Patrick-Wright, librarian[7]

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 17th district (Democratic primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joni Cochran
Democratic Lindsey Patrick-Wright

District 19

District 19 election
 
Nominee Charlane Oliver
(presumptive)
Party Democratic
Incumbent Senator

Charlane Oliver
Democratic


District 19 is based in downtown Nashville, covering some or all of North Nashville, Antioch, East Nashville, Madison, and Goodlettsville. The district, located in Davidson County, is the only majority-Black Senate district in the state outside of Memphis. A small part of the Nashville International Airport is located in this district.[17]

Democratic primary

Presumptive nominee

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 19th district (Democratic primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charlane Oliver (incumbent)

District 21

District 21 election
 
Nominee Jeff Yarbro
(presumptive)
Party Democratic
Incumbent Senator

Jeff Yarbro
Democratic


District 21 is a convoluted district covering much of central Nashville and its inner suburbs in Davidson County, snaking its way from the Nations and Sylvan Park, down to Berry Hill and Grassmere, eastwards to the border of La Vergne. Vanderbilt University is located within the district.[18]

Democratic primary

Presumptive nominee

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 21st district (Democratic primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jeff Yarbro (incumbent)

District 23

District 23 election
 
Nominee Kerry Roberts
(presumptive)		 David Lee Marcum
Party Republican Independent
Incumbent Senator

Kerry Roberts
Republican


District 23 is based in the rural and suburban areas to the west of Nashville, covering all of Cheatham, Dickson, Hickman, Humphreys, Robertson counties, and part of Montgomery County. Communities in the district include Springfield, Dickson, Ashland City, Waverly, Greenbrier, Coopertown, Centerville, Pleasant View, White Bluff, and parts of White House, Portland, and Millersville.[19]

Republican primary

Presumptive nominee

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 23rd district (Republican primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kerry Roberts (incumbent)

General election

Independent candidates

  • David Lee Marcum[7]

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 23rd district
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent David Lee Marcum
Write-in


District 25

District 25 election
 
Nominee Ed Jackson
(presumptive)
Party Republican
Incumbent Senator

Kerry Roberts
Republican


District 25 spans the state's border along the Mississippi River, also stretching inland to cover the city of Jackson. The district covers all of Crockett, Dyer, Lake, Madison, Henderson, Decatur, and Perry counties; other communities within the district include Dyersburg, Tiptonville, Newbern, and Alamo.[19]

Republican primary

Presumptive nominee

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 25th district (Republican primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ed Jackson (incumbent)

District 27

District 27 election
 
Nominee Jack Johnson
(presumptive)		 David A. Hardy
(presumptive)
Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent Senator

Jack Johnson
Republican


District 27 covers most of Williamson County in the southern suburbs of Nashville, including the communities of Franklin, Brentwood, Fairview, Nolensville. It also includes most of Thompson's Station and part of Spring Hill.[20]

Republican primary

Presumptive nominee

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 27th district (Republican primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jack Johnson (incumbent)

Democratic primary

Presumptive nominee

  • David A. Hardy[7]

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 27th district (Democratic primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David A. Hardy

District 29

District 29 election
 
Nominee Raumesh Akbari
(presumptive)
Party Democratic
Incumbent Senator

Raumesh Akbari
Democratic


District 29 is based in Memphis, following the Mississippi River to cover parts of South and Downtown Memphis, including much of historic Beale Street, as well as Millington and other unincorporated Shelby County suburbs to the north.[21]

Democratic primary

Presumptive nominee

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 29th district (Democratic primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Raumesh Akbari (incumbent)

District 31

District 31 election
 
Nominee Brent Taylor
(presumptive)		 David Weatherspoon
(presumptive)
Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent Senator

Brent Taylor
Republican


District 31 covers parts of Memphis and its immediate suburbs to the east, including Germantown and most of Collierville, and some of unincorporated Shelby County.[22]

Republican primary

Presumptive nominee

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 31st district (Republican primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brent Taylor (incumbent)

Democratic primary

Presumptive nominee

  • David Weatherspoon, candidate for this district in 2018[7]

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 31st district (Democratic primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Weatherspoon

District 33

District 33 election, Democratic primary
Election not contested by any other political party or independent politician.
 
Nominee London Lamar Tamika L. Abrum
Party Democratic Democratic
Incumbent Senator

London Lamar
Democratic


District 33 is based in South and Southwest Memphis, also covering small parts of Collierville and other Shelby County areas.[23]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

2026 Tennessee Senate election, 33rd district (Democratic primary)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tamika L. Abrum
Democratic London Lamar (incumbent)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Leyva, Diani (October 15, 2024). "How to update your political party in Tennessee? What to know before early voting and the presidential election". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  2. ↑ "About the Tennessee Legislature". wapp.capitol.tn.gov. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Legislative Partisan Splits | Stateside Associates". www.stateside.com. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  4. ↑ Keller, Sydney (February 26, 2026). "Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally announces he will not seek re-election in 2026". WZTV. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  5. ↑ Jacobson, Louis (January 22, 2026). "Handicapping The 2026 State Legislative Map: A First Look". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Tennessee District Maps". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 "Petitions Filed for Tennessee Senate as of March 11, 2026" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Tennessee District Maps". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Tennessee District Maps". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  10. ↑ Elliott, Stephen (February 26, 2026). "Lt. Gov. McNally Won't Seek Reelection, Cites Health Concerns". Nashville Banner. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Tennessee District Maps". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Senate District 9 – Sen. Steve Southerland". wapp.capitol.tn.gov. Tennessee General Assembly. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Tennessee District Maps". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Tennessee District Maps". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Tennessee District Maps". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Tennessee District Maps". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Tennessee District Maps". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Tennessee District Maps". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  19. 1 2 "Tennessee District Maps". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Tennessee District Maps". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Tennessee District Maps". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Tennessee District Maps". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Tennessee District Maps". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved July 26, 2020.

Official campaign websites for 1st district candidates

Official campaign websites for 3rd district candidates

Official campaign websites for 5th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 7th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 11th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 15th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 17th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 19th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 23rd district candidates

Official campaign websites for 25th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 27th district candidates

Official campaign websites for 31st district candidates

Official campaign websites for 33rd district candidates

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