1920 United States presidential election in Tennessee explained

See main article: 1920 United States presidential election.

Election Name:	1920 United States presidential election in Tennessee
Country:	Tennessee
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Votes For Election:	All 12 Tennessee votes to the Electoral College
Previous Election:	1916 United States presidential election in Tennessee
Previous Year:	1916
Next Election:	1924 United States presidential election in Tennessee
Next Year:	1924
Election Date:	November 2, 1920
Image1:	Warren G Harding-Harris & Ewing crop.jpg
Nominee1:	Warren G. Harding
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Home State1:	Ohio
Running Mate1:	Calvin Coolidge
Electoral Vote1:	12
Popular Vote1:	219,829
Percentage1:	51.29%
Nominee2:	James M. Cox
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Home State2:	Ohio
Running Mate2:	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Electoral Vote2:	0
Popular Vote2:	206,558
Percentage2:	48.19%
Map Size:	350px
President
Before Election:	Woodrow Wilson
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Warren G. Harding
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

The 1920 United States presidential election in Tennessee took place on November 2, 1920, as part of the 1920 United States presidential election. Tennessee voters chose 12 representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

For over a century after the Civil War, Tennessee was divided according to political loyalties established in that war. Unionist regions covering almost all of East Tennessee, Kentucky Pennyroyal-allied Macon County, and the five West Tennessee Highland Rim counties of Carroll, Henderson, McNairy, Hardin and Wayne^[1] voted Republican – generally by landslide margins – as they saw the Democratic Party as the “war party” who had forced them into a war they did not wish to fight.^[2] Contrariwise, the rest of Middle and West Tennessee who had supported and driven the state’s secession was equally fiercely Democratic as it associated the Republicans with Reconstruction.^[3] After the disfranchisement of the state’s African-American population by a poll tax was largely complete in the 1890s,^[4] the Democratic Party was certain of winning statewide elections if united,^[5] although unlike the Deep South Republicans would almost always gain thirty to forty percent of the statewide vote from mountain and Highland Rim support. When the Democratic Party was bitterly divided, the Republicans did win the governorship in 1910 and 1912, but did not gain at other levels.

During the period before the 1920 presidential election, Tennessee was the center of bitter debate over the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, which the state – with its Democratic Party still seriously divided^[6] – ultimately passed by a very close margin, 50 to 46, in the House of Representatives.^[7]

Although most of the Republicans in the state legislature had supported the Nineteenth Amendment,^[7] outgoing Democratic President Woodrow Wilson’s League of Nations was deeply unpopular in the isolationist and fundamentalist^[8] Appalachian regions,^[9] and the President was thus stigmatized for his advocacy of that organization. Democratic nominee James M. Cox also supported American participation in the League,^[10] whereas his rival Warren Harding was largely opposed to the League and was helped in the South by racial and labor unrest elsewhere in the country.^[11]

At the end of October, opinions were divided on whether Harding could break the “Solid South” in Tennessee – which had had the strongest Republican Party in the region ever since Reconstruction was overthrown – with some suggesting he could make a challenge in North Carolina^[12] whose poll tax was being abolished at this time. Claims continued to be divisive until even after the polls in Tennessee had closed.^[13]

Ultimately a late swing to Harding ensured the “Solid South” was broken for the first time since 1876, and Harding became only the second Republican to carry Tennessee after Ulysses S. Grant in 1868. Harding’s victory did not see a major change in partisan alignments, but was due to gains in normally Democratic rural white counties of Middle Tennessee^[14] – where he was the only Republican to carry Perry County between Ulysses S. Grant in 1868 and John McCain in 2008^[15] and the solitary GOP victor in Jackson County until Mitt Romney in 2012^[15] – plus abnormally high voter turnout amongst isolationist mountaineers in rock-ribbed Republican East Tennessee.^[9] Harding also gained important help through overwhelming support from the few blacks able to vote – all residing within the state’s largest cities – due to his public support for civil rights for African-Americans.^[14]

Results

Presidential Candidate	Running Mate	Party	Electoral Vote (EV)	Popular Vote (PV)
Warren G. Harding of Ohio	Calvin Coolidge	Republican	12^[16]	219,829	51.29%
James M. Cox	Franklin D. Roosevelt	Democratic	0	206,558	48.19%
Eugene Debs	Seymour Stedman	Socialist	0	2,239	0.52%

Results by county

1920 United States presidential election in Tennessee by county
County	Warren Gamaliel Harding Republican		James Middleton Cox Democratic		Eugene Victor Debs Socialist		Margin		Total votes cast
	data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%	data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%		data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%	data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%
	Anderson		3,127		80.30%		748		19.21%		19		0.49%		2,379		61.09%		3,894
	Bedford		2,056		48.51%		2,182		51.49%		0		0.00%		-126		-2.97%		4,238
	Benton		1,514		44.04%		1,914		55.67%		10		0.29%		-400		-11.63%		3,438
	Bledsoe		1,198		71.31%		482		28.69%		0		0.00%		716		42.62%		1,680
	Blount		5,540		78.09%		1,550		21.85%		4		0.06%		3,990		56.24%		7,094
	Bradley		2,255		67.33%		1,058		31.59%		36		1.07%		1,197		35.74%		3,349
	Campbell		3,368		83.82%		650		16.18%		0		0.00%		2,718		67.65%		4,018
	Cannon		687		47.15%		770		52.85%		0		0.00%		-83		-5.70%		1,457
	Carroll		4,141		56.29%		3,215		43.71%		0		0.00%		926		12.59%		7,356
	Carter		6,059		89.99%		674		10.01%		0		0.00%		5,385		79.98%		6,733
	Cheatham		569		31.77%		1,219		68.06%		3		0.17%		-650		-36.29%		1,791
	Chester		1,088		48.81%		1,105		49.57%		36		1.62%		-17		-0.76%		2,229
	Claiborne		2,612		67.88%		1,236		32.12%		0		0.00%		1,376		35.76%		3,848
	Clay		1,044		57.14%		772		42.26%		11		0.60%		272		14.89%		1,827
	Cocke		3,283		77.36%		929		21.89%		32		0.75%		2,354		55.47%		4,244
	Coffee		822		28.69%		2,043		71.31%		0		0.00%		-1,221		-42.62%		2,865
	Crockett		2,326		50.81%		2,252		49.19%		0		0.00%		74		1.62%		4,578
	Cumberland		1,485		72.69%		557		27.26%		1		0.05%		928		45.42%		2,043
	Davidson		6,811		33.48%		13,354		65.63%		181		0.89%		-6,543		-32.16%		20,346
	Decatur		1,608		57.84%		1,149		41.33%		23		0.83%		459		16.51%		2,780
	DeKalb		2,572		56.47%		1,983		43.53%		0		0.00%		589		12.93%		4,555
	Dickson		1,412		39.70%		2,145		60.30%		0		0.00%		-733		-20.61%		3,557
	Dyer		1,166		26.76%		3,181		73.01%		10		0.23%		-2,015		-46.25%		4,357
	Fayette		346		13.11%		2,294		86.89%		0		0.00%		-1,948		-73.79%		2,640
	Fentress		1,808		71.66%		694		27.51%		21		0.83%		1,114		44.15%		2,523
	Franklin		1,558		30.77%		3,504		69.19%		2		0.04%		-1,946		-38.43%		5,064
	Gibson		3,209		34.99%		5,942		64.80%		19		0.21%		-2,733		-29.80%		9,170
	Giles		2,224		41.50%		3,129		58.39%		6		0.11%		-905		-16.89%		5,359
	Grainger		2,158		70.66%		895		29.31%		1		0.03%		1,263		41.36%		3,054
	Greene		5,677		65.97%		2,924		33.98%		5		0.06%		2,753		31.99%		8,606
	Grundy		447		32.99%		745		54.98%		163		12.03%		-298		-21.99%		1,355
	Hamblen		1,571		53.86%		1,301		44.60%		45		1.54%		270		9.26%		2,917
	Hamilton		10,793		51.30%		9,910		47.11%		334		1.59%		883		4.20%		21,037
	Hancock		1,740		81.92%		384		18.08%		0		0.00%		1,356		63.84%		2,124
	Hardeman		895		28.59%		2,212		70.67%		23		0.73%		-1,317		-42.08%		3,130
	Hardin		3,077		68.58%		1,398		31.16%		12		0.27%		1,679		37.42%		4,487
	Hawkins		2,650		65.11%		1,381		33.93%		39		0.96%		1,269		31.18%		4,070
	Haywood		101		4.64%		2,068		95.04%		7		0.32%		-1,967		-90.40%		2,176
	Henderson		3,112		71.61%		1,217		28.00%		17		0.39%		1,895		43.60%		4,346
	Henry		1,957		29.50%		4,613		69.55%		63		0.95%		-2,656		-40.04%		6,633
	Hickman		1,470		51.63%		1,362		47.84%		15		0.53%		108		3.79%		2,847
	Houston		385		32.27%		790		66.22%		18		1.51%		-405		-33.95%		1,193
	Humphreys		674		30.21%		1,534		68.76%		23		1.03%		-860		-38.55%		2,231
	Jackson		1,187		51.97%		1,097		48.03%		0		0.00%		90		3.94%		2,284
	Jefferson		3,583		81.58%		741		16.87%		68		1.55%		2,842		64.71%		4,392
	Johnson		3,627		92.57%		291		7.43%		0		0.00%		3,336		85.15%		3,918
	Knox		12,005		63.41%		6,801		35.93%		125		0.66%		5,204		27.49%		18,931
	Lake		352		22.68%		1,192		76.80%		8		0.52%		-840		-54.12%		1,552
	Lauderdale		1,190		33.97%		2,313		66.03%		0		0.00%		-1,123		-32.06%		3,503
	Lawrence		3,843		59.55%		2,610		40.45%		0		0.00%		1,233		19.11%		6,453
	Lewis		446		52.29%		403		47.25%		4		0.47%		43		5.04%		853
	Lincoln		1,091		30.65%		2,463		69.19%		6		0.17%		-1,372		-38.54%		3,560
	Loudon		1,872		72.70%		686		26.64%		17		0.66%		1,186		46.06%		2,575
	Macon		3,208		75.02%		1,066		24.93%		2		0.05%		2,142		50.09%		4,276
	Madison		2,665		33.54%		5,280		66.46%		0		0.00%		-2,615		-32.91%		7,945
	Marion		2,662		58.12%		1,874		40.92%		44		0.96%		788		17.21%		4,580
	Marshall		753		29.01%		1,828		70.42%		15		0.58%		-1,075		-41.41%		2,596
	Maury		1,379		33.53%		2,693		65.48%		41		1.00%		-1,314		-31.95%		4,113
	McMinn		2,800		62.63%		1,636		36.59%		35		0.78%		1,164		26.03%		4,471
	McNairy		3,212		63.29%		1,863		36.71%		0		0.00%		1,349		26.58%		5,075
	Meigs		915		56.24%		712		43.76%		0		0.00%		203		12.48%		1,627
	Monroe		2,575		58.26%		1,845		41.74%		0		0.00%		730		16.52%		4,420
	Montgomery		1,780		40.60%		2,564		58.49%		40		0.91%		-784		-17.88%		4,384
	Moore		90		15.33%		497		84.67%		0		0.00%		-407		-69.34%		587
	Morgan		2,248		73.18%		816		26.56%		8		0.26%		1,432		46.61%		3,072
	Obion		1,307		22.25%		4,547		77.41%		20		0.34%		-3,240		-55.16%		5,874
	Overton		1,939		51.91%		1,779		47.63%		17		0.46%		160		4.28%		3,735
	Perry		747		51.91%		692		48.09%		0		0.00%		55		3.82%		1,439
	Pickett		896		59.61%		607		40.39%		0		0.00%		289		19.23%		1,503
	Polk		1,018		56.21%		775		42.79%		18		0.99%		243		13.42%		1,811
	Putnam		2,132		41.58%		2,996		58.42%		0		0.00%		-864		-16.85%		5,128
	Rhea		1,341		55.57%		1,051		43.56%		21		0.87%		290		12.02%		2,413
	Roane		1,974		70.20%		838		29.80%		0		0.00%		1,136		40.40%		2,812
	Robertson		1,191		28.04%		3,046		71.70%		11		0.26%		-1,855		-43.67%		4,248
	Rutherford		1,881		35.58%		3,406		64.42%		0		0.00%		-1,525		-28.84%		5,287
	Scott		2,537		90.54%		221		7.89%		44		1.57%		2,316		82.66%		2,802
	Sequatchie		509		48.16%		545		51.56%		3		0.28%		-36		-3.41%		1,057
	Sevier		6,006		93.60%		404		6.30%		7		0.11%		5,602		87.30%		6,417
	Shelby		8,597		34.61%		15,986		64.35%		260		1.05%		-7,389		-29.74%		24,843
	Smith		1,981		38.61%		3,150		61.39%		0		0.00%		-1,169		-22.78%		5,131
	Stewart		849		26.17%		2,366		72.93%		29		0.89%		-1,517		-46.76%		3,244
	Sullivan		3,593		45.37%		4,327		54.63%		0		0.00%		-734		-9.27%		7,920
	Sumner		1,268		25.55%		3,674		74.03%		21		0.42%		-2,406		-48.48%		4,963
	Tipton		906		23.99%		2,816		74.58%		54		1.43%		-1,910		-50.58%		3,776
	Trousdale		574		37.52%		955		62.42%		1		0.07%		-381		-24.90%		1,530
	Unicoi		2,584		82.42%		547		17.45%		4		0.13%		2,037		64.98%		3,135
	Union		2,607		85.98%		423		13.95%		2		0.07%		2,184		72.03%		3,032
	Van Buren		223		38.32%		351		60.31%		8		1.37%		-128		-21.99%		582
	Warren		1,010		33.53%		1,986		65.94%		16		0.53%		-976		-32.40%		3,012
	Washington		4,858		68.21%		2,260		31.73%		4		0.06%		2,598		36.48%		7,122
	Wayne		2,617		79.69%		654		19.91%		13		0.40%		1,963		59.77%		3,284
	Weakley		2,741		38.25%		4,395		61.33%		30		0.42%		-1,654		-23.08%		7,166
	White		1,456		39.81%		2,201		60.19%		0		0.00%		-745		-20.37%		3,657
	Williamson		946		32.07%		2,004		67.93%		0		0.00%		-1,058		-35.86%		2,950
	Wilson		1,532		41.45%		2,160		58.44%		4		0.11%		-628		-16.99%		3,696
Totals	219,829	51.29%	206,558	48.19%	2,239	0.52%	13,271	3.10%	428,626

Notes and References

1. Wright. John K.. Voting Habits in the United States: A Note on Two Maps. Geographical Review. 22. 4. October 1932. 666–672. 10.2307/208821 . 208821 . 1932GeoRv..22..666W .
2. Book: [[Valdimer Orlando Key|Key (Jr.)]], Valdimer Orlando. Southern Politics in State and Nation. New York City. 1949. 282–283.
3. Book: Lyons. William. Scheb (II). John M.. Stair. Billy. Government and Politics in Tennessee. September 17, 2023 . 183–184. Univ. of Tennessee Press . 978-1572331419.
4. [Kevin Phillips (political commentator)|Phillips, Kevin P.]
5. Grantham. Dewey W.. Tennessee and Twentieth-Century American Politics. Tennessee Historical Quarterly. 54. 3. Fall 1995. 210–229.
6. Marcellus. Jane. Southern Myths and the Nineteenth Amendment: The Participation of Nashville Newspaper Publishers in the Final State's Ratification. Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly. 87. 2. Summer 2010. 241–262. 10.1177/107769901008700202 . 145009700 .
7. News: Woman Suffrage Wins as Tennessee Ratifies: Close Vote of 50 to 46 in House May Still Be Upset Upon Reconsideration. Boston Daily Globe. August 19, 1920. 1.
8. Ruotsila. Markku. Conservative American Protestantism in the League of Nations controversy. Church History. 2003 . 72. 3. 593–616. 10.1017/S000964070010037X . 153395337 .
9. Phillips; The Emerging Republican Majority, p. 211
10. Faykosh. Joseph D.. A party in peril: Franklin Roosevelt, the Democratic Party, and the Circular Letter of 1924. 43. 2016. Bowling Green State University.
11. Faykosh. A Party in Peril (Thesis), p. 42
12. News: Victory is Claimed by Rival Chairmen: Hays Sees 368 Electoral Votes for Harding. The Washington Post. October 31, 1920. 1.
13. News: The New York Times. New York City. November 3, 1920. Diverse Claims as to Tennessee: Memphis Says Cox Is Carrying State – Knoxville Reports Harding Ahead. 2.
14. Reichard. Gary W.. The Aberration of 1920: An Analysis of Harding's Victory in Tennessee. The Journal of Southern History. 36. 1. February 1970. 33–49. 10.2307/2206601 . 2206601 .
15. Book: Menendez, Albert J.. The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004. 298–303. 2005. McFarland . 0786422173.
16. Web site: 1920 Presidential General Election Results – Tennessee. Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas.