2016 Tennessee Senate election explained

Election Name:	2016 Tennessee Senate election
Country:	Tennessee
Type:	legislative
Previous Year:	2014
Next Election:	2018 Tennessee Senate election
Next Year:	2018
Seats For Election:	16 of the 33 seats in the Tennessee State Senate
Majority Seats:	17
Election Date:	November 8, 2016
Leader1:	Ron Ramsey (retired)
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Leaders Seat1:	4th district
Seats Before1:	28
Seats1:	28
Popular Vote1:	802,362
Percentage1:	80.82%
Swing1:	9.62%
Leader2:	Lee Harris
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Leaders Seat2:	29th district
Seats Before2:	5
Seats Needed2:	12
Seats2:	5
Popular Vote2:	172,753
Percentage2:	17.40%
Swing2:	8.78%
Speaker
Before Election:	Ron Ramsey
Before Party:	Republican Party (United States)
After Election:	Randy McNally
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)
Previous Election:	2014 Tennessee Senate election

The 2016 Tennessee State Senate election was held on November 8, 2016, to elect 16 of the 33 seats for the Tennessee's State Senate. The elections coincided with the Presidential, U.S. House, and State House elections. The primary elections were held on August 4, 2016.^{[1] [2]}

Retirements

Republicans

• District 4: Ron Ramsey, lieutenant governor of Tennessee.^[3]

Results summary

Party		Candidates	Votes		Seats
				%	Before	Up	Won	After	+/–
	Republican	15	802,362	80.82	28	15	15	28
	Democratic	6	172,753	17.40	5	1	1	5
	Independent	1	17,640	1.78	0	0	0	0
	Write-in	1	1	0.00	0	0	0	0
Total			992,756	100	33	18	18	33
Source: https://sos-tn-gov-files.s3.amazonaws.com/TNSenatebyCountyNov2016.pdf

Closest race

Many of the senators running in this election ran unopposed. However, this race was the closest in the Senate election:

District 2

Election Name:	2016 Tennessee's 2nd Senate district election
Country:	Tennessee
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 Tennessee Senate election
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 Tennessee Senate election
Next Year:	2020
Election Date:	November 8, 2016
Image1:	File:J. Douglas Overbey official photo.jpg
Nominee1:	Doug Overbey (Uncontested)
Party1:	Republican Party (US)
Senator
Before Election:	Doug Overbey
Before Party:	Republican Party (US)
After Election:	Doug Overbey
After Party:	Republican Party (US)
Popular Vote1:	66,262
Percentage1:	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Doug Overbey, incumbent senator
• Scott Williams, veteran and small business owner

General election

District 4

Election Name:	2016 Tennessee's 4th Senate district election
Country:	Tennessee
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 Tennessee Senate election
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 Tennessee Senate election
Next Year:	2020
Election Date:	November 8, 2016
Image1:	3x4.svg
Nominee1:	Jon Lundberg (Uncontested)
Party1:	Republican Party (US)
Senator
Before Election:	Ron Ramsey
Before Party:	Republican Party (US)
After Election:	Jon Lundberg
After Party:	Republican Party (US)
Percentage1:	100.00%
Popular Vote1:	60,516

Republican primary

Candidates

• John Paul Blevins
• Neal Kerney, veteran and small business owner^[4]
• Jon Lundberg, state representative for the 1st district
• Tony Shipley, state representative for the 2nd district

Declined

• Ron Ramsey, incumbent senator and Speaker of the Senate (retiring)

General election

District 6

Election Name:	2016 Tennessee's 6th Senate district election
Country:	Tennessee
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 Tennessee Senate election
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 Tennessee Senate election
Next Year:	2020
Election Date:	November 8, 2016
Image1:	File: Becky Massey (52508706410) (3x4a).jpg
Nominee1:	Becky Duncan Massey (Uncontested)
Party1:	Republican Party (US)
Senator
Before Election:	Becky Duncan Massey
Before Party:	Republican Party (US)
After Election:	Becky Duncan Massey
After Party:	Republican Party (US)
Percentage1:	100.00%
Popular Vote1:	62,688

Republican primary

Candidates

• Becky Duncan Massey, incumbent senator

General election

District 8

Election Name:	2016 Tennessee's 8th Senate district election
Country:	Tennessee
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 Tennessee Senate election
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 Tennessee Senate election
Next Year:	2020
Election Date:	November 8, 2016
Image1:	3x4.svg
Nominee1:	Frank Niceley (Uncontested)
Party1:	Republican Party (US)
Senator
Before Election:	Frank Niceley
Before Party:	Republican Party (US)
After Election:	Frank Niceley
After Party:	Republican Party (US)
Percentage1:	100.00%
Popular Vote1:	49,440

Republican primary

• Frank Niceley, incumbent senator

General election

District 10

Election Name:	2016 Tennessee's 10th Senate district election
Country:	Tennessee
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 Tennessee Senate election
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 Tennessee Senate election
Next Year:	2020
Election Date:	November 8, 2016
Image1:	3x4.svg
Nominee1:	Todd Gardenhire
Party1:	Republican Party (US)
Senator
Before Election:	Todd Gardenhire
Before Party:	Republican Party (US)
After Election:	Todd Gardenhire
After Party:	Republican Party (US)
Popular Vote1:	39,308
Percentage1:	55.87%
Popular Vote2:	31,043
Percentage2:	44.13%
Party2:	Democratic Party (US)
Nominee2:	Khristy Wilkinson
Image2 Size:	100px

Republican primary

Candidates

• Todd Gardenhire, incumbent senator

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Ty O'Grady, entrepreneur and college professor^[5]
• Khristy Wilkinson^[6]
• Nick Wilkinson, director of the Chattanooga Office of Economic Development^[7]

General election

District 12

Election Name:	2016 Tennessee's 12th Senate district election
Country:	Tennessee
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 Tennessee Senate election
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 Tennessee Senate election
Next Year:	2020
Election Date:	November 8, 2016
Image1:	File:State Senator Ken Yager (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:	Ken Yager (Uncontested)
Party1:	Republican Party (US)
Senator
Before Election:	Ken Yager
Before Party:	Republican Party (US)
After Election:	Ken Yager
After Party:	Republican Party (US)
Popular Vote1:	55,219
Percentage1:	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Ken Yager, incumbent senator

General election

District 14

Election Name:	2016 Tennessee's 14th Senate district election
Country:	Tennessee
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 Tennessee Senate election
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 Tennessee Senate election
Next Year:	2020
Election Date:	November 8, 2016
Image1:	File: Jim Tracy 2012.jpg
Nominee1:	Jim Tracy
Party1:	Republican Party (US)
Senator
Before Election:	Jim Tracy
Before Party:	Republican Party (US)
After Election:	Jim Tracy
After Party:	Republican Party (US)
Popular Vote1:	53,082
Percentage1:	74.41%
Popular Vote2:	18,259
Percentage2:	25.59%
Party2:	Democratic Party (US)
Nominee2:	Gayle Jordan
Image2 Size:	100px
Map Size:	180px

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jim Tracy, incumbent senator
• Matt Randolph, retail manager
• Steve Lane, teacher^[8]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Gayle Jordan, attorney

General election

District 16

Election Name:	2016 Tennessee's 16th Senate district election
Country:	Tennessee
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 Tennessee Senate election
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 Tennessee Senate election
Next Year:	2020
Election Date:	November 8, 2016
Image1:	3x4.svg
Nominee1:	Janice Bowling
Party1:	Republican Party (US)
Senator
Before Election:	Janice Bowling
Before Party:	Republican Party (US)
After Election:	Janice Bowling
After Party:	Republican Party (US)
Popular Vote1:	46,846
Percentage1:	67.84%
Popular Vote2:	22,205
Percentage2:	32.16%
Party2:	Democratic Party (US)
Nominee2:	Mike Winton
Image2 Size:	100px
Map Size:	320px

Republican primary

Candidates

• Janice Bowling, incumbent senator
• Michael Shane Wilcher, member of the Warren County Commission from the 3rd district^[9]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Mike Winton, businessman^[10]
• Alice Demetreon, retired corrections officer

General election

District 18

Election Name:	2016 Tennessee's 18th Senate district election
Country:	Tennessee
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 Tennessee Senate election
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 Tennessee Senate election
Next Year:	2020
Election Date:	November 8, 2016
Image1:	3x4.svg
Nominee1:	Ferrell Haile (Uncontested)
Party1:	Republican Party (US)
Senator
Before Election:	Ferrell Haile
Before Party:	Republican Party (US)
After Election:	Ferrell Haile
After Party:	Republican Party (US)
Popular Vote1:	64,220
Percentage1:	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Ferrell Haile, incumbent senator

General election

District 20

Election Name:	2016 Tennessee's 20th Senate district election
Country:	Tennessee
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 Tennessee Senate election
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 Tennessee Senate election
Next Year:	2020
Election Date:	November 8, 2016
Image1:	3x4.svg
Nominee1:	Steven Dickerson
Party1:	Republican Party (US)
Senator
Before Election:	Steven Dickerson
Before Party:	Republican Party (US)
After Election:	Steven Dickerson
After Party:	Republican Party (US)
Popular Vote1:	52,966
Percentage1:	56.26%
Popular Vote2:	41,172
Percentage2:	43.74%
Party2:	Democratic Party (US)
Nominee2:	Erin Coleman
Image2 Size:	100px

Republican primary

Candidates

• Steven Dickerson, incumbent senator
• Ron McDow, Tennessee delegate at the 2016 Republican National Convention^[11]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Erin Coleman, attorney

General election

District 22

Election Name:	2016 Tennessee's 22nd Senate district election
Country:	Tennessee
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 Tennessee Senate election
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 Tennessee Senate election
Next Year:	2020
Election Date:	November 8, 2016
Image1:	File:Mark Green, official portrait, 116th Congress.jpg
Nominee1:	Mark Green
Party1:	Republican Party (US)
Senator
Before Election:	Mark Green
Before Party:	Republican Party (US)
After Election:	Mark Green
After Party:	Republican Party (US)
Popular Vote1:	41,497
Percentage1:	67.04%
Popular Vote2:	20,406
Percentage2:	32.96%
Party2:	Democratic Party (US)
Nominee2:	David L. Cutting
Image2 Size:	100px
Map Size:	175px

Republican primary

Candidates

• Mark Green, incumbent senator^[12]
• Lori L. Smith, small business owner, Clarksville fencing^[13]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• David L. Cutting, retired architectural engineer and small business owner^[14]

General election

District 24

Election Name:	2016 Tennessee's 24th Senate district election
Country:	Tennessee
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 Tennessee Senate election
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 Tennessee Senate election
Next Year:	2020
Election Date:	November 8, 2016
Image1:	File:John Stevens CPAC.jpg
Nominee1:	John Stevens (Uncontested)
Party1:	Republican Party (US)
Senator
Before Election:	John Stevens
Before Party:	Republican Party (US)
After Election:	John Stevens
After Party:	Republican Party (US)
Popular Vote1:	46,945
Percentage1:	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• John Stevens, incumbent senator^[15]

General election

District 26

Election Name:	2016 Tennessee's 26th Senate district election
Country:	Tennessee
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 Tennessee Senate election
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 Tennessee Senate election
Next Year:	2020
Election Date:	November 8, 2016
Nominee1:	Dolores Gresham (Uncontested)
Party1:	Republican Party (US)
Senator
Before Election:	Dolores Gresham
Before Party:	Republican Party (US)
After Election:	Dolores Gresham
After Party:	Republican Party (US)
Popular Vote1:	54,210
Percentage1:	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Dolores Gresham, incumbent senator^[16]
• Bob Shutt, mayor of Savannah, Tennessee^[17]

General election

District 28

Election Name:	2016 Tennessee's 28th Senate district election
Country:	Tennessee
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 Tennessee Senate election
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 Tennessee Senate election
Next Year:	2020
Election Date:	November 8, 2016
Nominee1:	Joey Hensley
Party1:	Republican Party (US)
Senator
Before Election:	Joey Hensley
Before Party:	Republican Party (US)
After Election:	Joey Hensley
After Party:	Republican Party (US)
Popular Vote1:	51,251
Percentage1:	74.59%
Popular Vote2:	17,460
Percentage2:	25.41%
Party2:	Independent politician
Nominee2:	Joey Norman
Image2 Size:	100px

Republican primary

Candidates

• Joey Hensley, incumbent senator^[18]

Independent candidate

• Joey Norman, firefighter^[19]

General election

District 30

Election Name:	2016 Tennessee's 30th Senate district election
Country:	Tennessee
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2014 Tennessee Senate election
Previous Year:	2014
Next Election:	2020 Tennessee Senate election
Next Year:	2020
Election Date:	November 8, 2016
Nominee1:	Sara Kyle (Uncontested)
Party1:	Democratic Party (US)
Senator
Before Election:	Sara Kyle
Before Party:	Democratic Party (US)
After Election:	Sara Kyle
After Party:	Democratic Party (US)
Popular Vote1:	39,668
Percentage1:	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Sara Kyle, incumbent senator^[20]
• Beverly Marrero, former 30th district senator^[21]

General election

District 32

Election Name:	2016 Tennessee's 32nd Senate district election
Country:	Tennessee
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 Tennessee Senate election
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 Tennessee Senate election
Next Year:	2020
Election Date:	November 8, 2016
Image1:	File:Mark Norris Sr. (Judge) (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:	Mark Norris (Uncontested)
Party1:	Republican Party (US)
Senator
Before Election:	Mark Norris
Before Party:	Republican Party (US)
After Election:	Mark Norris
After Party:	Republican Party (US)
Popular Vote1:	57,912
Percentage1:	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Mark Norris, incumbent senator^[22]

General election

See also

• 2016 Tennessee elections
• 2016 Tennessee House of Representatives election

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2016-08-05 . 2016 Primary election unofficial results . 2024-01-19 . TSEA . en-US.
2. Web site: Tennessee State Senate elections, 2016 . 2024-01-18 . Ballotpedia . en.
3. Web site: Sisk . Chas . Farmer . Blake . 2016-03-16 . Ron Ramsey, Powerful Figure In Tennessee Politics For Two Decades, Ready To Just Be Granddad . 2024-01-19 . WPLN News . en-US.
4. Web site: 2021-04-11 . Neal Kerney for Tennessee State Representative District 3 – Conservative leadership for serious times . 2024-01-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210411034239/https://nealkerney.com/#about . 2021-04-11 .
5. Web site: 2016-08-03 . OGrady2016 – OGrady for State Senate . 2024-01-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160803123315/http://ogrady2016.com/ . 2016-08-03 .
6. Web site: 2016-12-03 . About - Friends of Khristy Wilkinson . 2024-01-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161203180126/http://www.khristywilkinson.org/about . 2016-12-03 .
7. Web site: 2016-09-07 . About - Nick Wilkinson for State Senate . 2024-01-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160907134631/http://www.nick4tn.com/about . 2016-09-07 .
8. Web site: Steve Lane . 2024-01-20 . Ballotpedia . en.
9. Web site: Michael Shane Wilcher . 2024-01-20 . Ballotpedia . en.
10. Web site: 2018-11-02 . About – Mike Winton for State House 47 . 2024-01-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181102120138/https://votemikewinton.com/aboutmike/ . 2018-11-02 .
11. Web site: Ron McDow . 2024-01-20 . Ballotpedia . en.
12. Web site: Tennessee State Senate elections, 2016 . 2024-01-18 . Ballotpedia . en.
13. Web site: Lori Smith: State Senate District 22 candidate . 2024-02-06 . The Leaf-Chronicle . en-US.
14. Web site: David Cutting: Candidate for State Senate District 22 . 2024-02-06 . The Leaf-Chronicle . en-US.
15. Web site: Tennessee State Senate elections, 2016 . 2024-01-18 . Ballotpedia . en.
16. Web site: Tennessee State Senate elections, 2016 . 2024-01-18 . Ballotpedia . en.
17. Web site: 2016-02-16 . Bob Shutt to challenge Gresham for senate seat . 2024-02-06 . en.
18. Web site: Tennessee State Senate elections, 2016 . 2024-01-18 . Ballotpedia . en.
19. Web site: Joey Norman is your State Senate Choice in the General Election in November . 2024-02-06 . www.lawrenceburgnow.com.
20. Web site: Tennessee State Senate elections, 2016 . 2024-01-18 . Ballotpedia . en.
21. Web site: Poe . Ryan . Cash flows to Memphis incumbents in state Senate, House races . 2024-02-06 . The Commercial Appeal . en-US.
22. Web site: Tennessee State Senate elections, 2016 . 2024-01-18 . Ballotpedia . en.