2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee explained

2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee should not be confused with 2010 Tennessee House of Representatives election.

Election Name:2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee
Country:Tennessee
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee
Previous Year:2008
Next Election:2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee
Next Year:2012
Seats For Election:All 9 Tennessee seats to the United States House of Representatives
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Last Election1:4
Seats1:7
Seat Change1: 3
Popular Vote1:955,078
Percentage1:61.3%
Swing1: 18.83%
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Last Election2:5
Seats2:2
Seat Change2: 3
Popular Vote2:541,527
Percentage2:34.7%
Swing2: 17.24%
Turnout:41.32% [1] 25.02 pp

The 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee was held on November 2, 2010, to elect the nine U.S. representatives from the state of Tennessee, one from each of the state's nine congressional districts.

During the general elections, the Republicans flipped Tennessee's 4th, 6th, and 8th congressional districts, which changed Tennessee's House delegation from a 5-4 Democratic majority to a 7-2 Republican majority.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, 2010[2]
PartyVotesPercentageSeats BeforeSeats After+/–
Republican955,07861.26%47+3
Democratic541,52734.73%52-3
Independent62,5244.01%000
Totals1,559,129100.00%99

By district

Results of the 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee by district:[3]

scope=col rowspan=3Districtscope=col colspan=2Republicanscope=col colspan=2Democraticscope=col colspan=2Othersscope=col colspan=2Totalscope=col rowspan=3Result
scope=col colspan=2 style="background:"!scope=col colspan=2 style="background:"!scope=col colspan=2!scope=col colspan=2
scope=col data-sort-type="number"Votes !scope=col data-sort-type="number"% !scope=col data-sort-type="number"Votes !scope=col data-sort-type="number"% !scope=col data-sort-type="number"Votes !scope=col data-sort-type="number"% !scope=col data-sort-type="number"Votes !scope=col data-sort-type="number"%
123,006 80.84% 26,045 17.12% 3,110 2.04% 152,161 100.0% Republican hold
141,796 81.78% 25,400 14.65% 6,184 3.57% 173,380 100.0% Republican hold
92,032 56.79% 45,387 28.01% 24,637 15.20% 162,056 100.0% Republican hold
District 4 103,969 57.07% 70,254 38.56% 7,968 4.37% 182,191 100.0% Republican gain
74,204 42.07% 99,162 56.23% 2,996 1.70% 176,362 100.0% Democratic hold
District 6 128,517 67.26% 56,145 29.38% 6,422 3.36% 191,084 100.0% Republican gain
158,916 72.37% 54,347 24.75% 6,320 2.88% 219,583 100.0% Republican hold
District 8 98,759 58.99% 64,960 38.80% 3,686 2.20% 167,405 100.0% Republican gain
33,879 25.11% 99,827 74.00% 1,201 0.89% 134,907 100.0% Democratic hold
Total 955,078 61.26% 541,527 34.73% 62,524 4.01% 1,559,129 100.0%

District 1

See also: Tennessee's 1st congressional district. This district covers northeast Tennessee, including all of Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties and parts of Jefferson County and Sevier County. It had been represented by Republican Phil Roe since 2009.The winner of the GOP primary was all but assured of representing the district in Congress as this is one of the safest seats for the GOP; it had held the seat continuously since 1881 and, since prior to the Civil War, the GOP or its predecessors had held the seat for all but four years.

Democratic primary

Republican primary

General election

District 2

See also: Tennessee's 2nd congressional district. This district lies in the east central part of the state, based in Knoxville and is largely coextensive with that city's metropolitan area. It had been represented by Republican Jimmy Duncan since November, 1988. The winner of the GOP primary was all but assured of representing the district in Congress as this was one of the safest seats for the GOP (even safer than the neighboring First District); the GOP or its predecessors had held the seat continuously since prior to the Civil War.

Democratic primary

Republican primary

General election

District 3

Republican Representative Zach Wamp announced that he would be running for governor in 2010, leaving the third district open.[4]

Democratic primary

Republican primary

General election

District 4

See also: Tennessee's 4th congressional district. Democratic incumbent Lincoln Davis ran for re-election, challenged by Republican nominee Scott DesJarlais, a physician in Jasper, and Independents Paul H. Curtis (PVS), James Gray (campaign site, PVS), Richard S. Johnson (PVS), and Gerald York (campaign site, PVS).

Davis had represented the district since 2003. He turned down a run for governor, deciding to run for re-election instead.[6]

This district lies in Middle and East Tennessee.

Scott DesJarlais (R) won the election.

General election

District 5

This district lies in Middle Tennessee, including almost all of Davidson County, half of Wilson County, and half of Cheatham County. Nearly two-thirds of the district's voting population lives in Nashville. It had been represented by Democrat Jim Cooper since 2003.

Jim Cooper (D) won re-election.

General election

District 6

See also: Tennessee's 6th congressional district.

This district lies in Middle Tennessee, including all of Bedford, Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Jackson, Macon, Marshall, Overton, Putnam, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Sumner, and Trousdale Counties, as well as a portion of Wilson County. It had been represented by Democrat Bart Gordon since 1985. Gordon announced on December 14, 2009, that he would not be seeking another term, leaving the sixth district open.[6]

State Senator Jim Tracy, State Senator Diane Black, Rutherford County Republican Chairwoman Lou Ann Zelenik, United States Army Reserve Major General Dave Evans, realtor Gary Mann, and businessman Kerry Roberts ran for the Republican nomination.[7] Democratic candidates included lawyer and Iraq veteran Brett Carter, aviation safety inspector George Erdel, ex-marine Ben Leming, Henry Barry, and Devora Butler.

The nominees were Brett Carter (D) and Diane Black (R).

Diane Black (R) won the election.

General election

District 7

See also: Tennessee's 7th congressional district.

This district lies in Middle and southwestern Tennessee, connecting suburbs of Memphis and Nashville. It had been represented by Republican Marsha Blackburn since 2003. She faced a challenge from Austin Peay University professor and Democrat Dr. Greg Rabidoux.[8]

Marsha Blackburn (R) won re-election.

General election

District 8

See also: Tennessee's 8th congressional district.

Democratic incumbent John S. Tanner, who had represented the district since 1989, announced his retirement in December 2009 leaving the eighth district open.[6]

Steve Fincher was the Republican nominee,[9] and State Senator Roy Herron was the Democratic nominee.[10] Also on the ballot are Tea Party candidate Donn Janes (campaign site, PVS), who earlier dropped out of the Republican primary, and Independent Mark J. Rawles (campaign site, PVS).[11]

This district covers roughly the northwestern part of the state.

Stephen Fincher (R) won the election.

Endorsements

Herron had been endorsed by the state's two largest newspapers, the Memphis Commercial Appeal[12] and the Nashville Tennessean.[13]

Fincher had been endorsed by former Governor Winfield Dunn, Citizens United, Eagle Forum, Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America, and State Senator Dolores Gresham.[14]

Forecasts

As of October 22, 2010, Rothenberg Political Report rated the race as "Lean Republican",[15] Real Clear Politics as "Leans GOP".[16] Charlie Cook as "Lean Republican",[17] CQ Politics as "Likely Republican",[18] Larry Sabato as "Likely R",[19] and Chris Cillizza of The Washington Post placed the race at number 23 of the races most likely to change party hands.[20]

District 8 has a PVI of R+13. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican U.S. Senator John McCain carried the district with 56% of the vote.[21]

General election

By county

County[23] Stephen Fincher
Republican
Roy Herron
Democratic
Other votes Total
votes
%%%
50.79% 2,525 47.74% 2,373 1.47% 73
64.70% 5,258 34.60% 2,856 1.70% 140
77.24% 3,360 21.75% 946 1.01% 44
77.24% 7,512 21.75% 3,959 1.01% 316
63.99% 9,230 33.80% 4,875 2.22% 320
47.69% 2,524 51.16% 2,708 1.15% 61
58.54% 5,460 39.55% 3,689 1.91% 178
48.01% 991 49.66% 1,025 2.33% 48
52.23% 2,536 45.11% 2,190 2.66% 129
47.55% 651 51.13% 700 1.31% 18
60.63% 3,611 37.98% 2,262 1.39% 83
57.11% 15,939 40.74% 11,372 2.15% 600
57.32% 4,120 39.29% 2,824 3.39% 244
58.15% 5,363 40.40% 3,726 1.45% 134
35.85% 4,468 62.16% 7,747 1.98% 247
52.99% 1,967 44.32% 1,645 2.69% 100
69.65% 10,628 26.15% 3,991 4.20% 641
59.75% 5,575 38.73% 3,614 1.52% 142

District 9

See also: Tennessee's 9th congressional district. This district lies in southwestern Tennessee, located entirely within Shelby County and including most of the city of Memphis. It had been represented by Democrat Steve Cohen since 2007. The Republicans nominated Charlotte Bergmann, who owns a Memphis-based marketing firm, Effective PMP, LLC.

Steve Cohen (D) won re-election.

General election

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: November 2, 2010 . Tennessee Voter Turnout in 2010 . Tennessee Secretary of State . February 28, 2023.
  2. Web site: Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives . 2012-05-27 . 2015-05-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150504211635/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electioninfo/index.aspx . live .
  3. Web site: Haas. Karen L.. Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010. Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. November 12, 2019. June 3, 2011. January 3, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130103115258/http://history.house.gov/Institution/Election-Statistics/Election-Statistics/. live.
  4. Web site: Tennessee: Wamp touts poll saying he's top GOP pick for governor | Chattanooga Times Free Press . Timesfreepress.com . 2010-08-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100823152005/http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/dec/20/tennessee-wamp-touts-poll-saying-hes-top-gop-pick-/ . 2010-08-23 . dead .
  5. Web site: Isenstadt. Alex. Divisive Tennesseean seeks seat. Politico. July 27, 2009. 30 July 2019. 31 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190731000106/https://www.politico.com/story/2009/07/divisive-tennesseean-seeks-seat-025447. live.
  6. Web site: Rating Change Signifies Challenge to Tenn.'s Davis . CQ Politics . 2009-12-22 . 2009-12-23 . John McArdle . https://web.archive.org/web/20091226063528/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5 . 2009-12-26 . dead .
  7. Web site: McArdle . John . Tracy to Enter Race to Replace Gordon - The Eye (CQ Politics) . Blogs.cqpolitics.com . 2009-12-14 . 2010-08-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100216230058/http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2009/12/tracy-to-enter-race-to-replace.html . 2010-02-16 . dead .
  8. Web site: Dr. Greg Rabidoux files for U.S. 7th Congressional District » Clarksville, TN Online . Clarksvilleonline.com . 2009-06-04 . 2010-08-21 . 2009-10-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091030091540/http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2009/06/04/dr-greg-rabidoux-files-to-run-for-us-house-of-representatives-in-the-7th-congressional-district/ . live .
  9. Web site: Locker . Richard . Jackson, Tenn., doctor weighing run for Congress . The Commercial Appeal . 2010-08-21 . 2010-01-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100114091533/http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/dec/07/jackson-doctor-mulls-run-for-congress/ . live .
  10. News: Dunlap . Stanley . December 8, 2009 . Mercer plans to run for Tanner's seat . . Jackson, Tennessee.
  11. Web site: Donn Janes Announces He Will Run as a Tea Party Candidate; Pulls Out of Republican Party Primary . Marketwire.com . 2010-08-21 . 2010-01-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100118115330/http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Donn-Janes-Announces-He-Will-Run-as-Tea-Party-Candidate-Pulls-Out-Republican-Party-Primary-1099557.htm . live .
  12. Web site: Editorial: Herron ready for Washington. Memphis Commercial Appeal. October 12, 2010. October 12, 2010. June 15, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615190842/http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/oct/12/editorial-herron-ready-for-washington/?print=1. live.
  13. Web site: Herron targets jobs, broadband and infrastructure. Nashville Tennessean. October 11, 2010. https://archive.today/20120713085322/http://blogs.tennessean.com/opinion/2010/10/10/herron-targets-jobs-broadband-and-infrastructure/. dead. July 13, 2012. October 11, 2010.
  14. Web site: Stephen Fincher for Congress - Endorsements . 2010-10-22 . 2010-10-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101022200705/http://www.stephenfincher.org//endorse/ . live .
  15. Web site: House Ratings. insideelections.com. 2021-10-14. 2018-11-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20181107065918/http://insideelections.com/ratings/house. live.
  16. Web site: 2010 - Tennessee 8th District - Fincher vs. Herron | RealClearPolitics. www.realclearpolitics.com. 2021-10-14. 2020-11-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20201123202550/https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/house/tn/tennessee_8th_district_fincher_vs_herron-1265.html. live.
  17. Web site: Charlie Cook Political Report . 2008-07-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080702201312/http://www.cookpolitical.com/charts/house/competitive.php . 2008-07-02 . dead .
  18. Web site: CQ Politics . 2010-08-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090224144340/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5 . 2009-02-24 . dead .
  19. Wood, Issac. House Race Changes, Sabato's Crystal Ball
  20. Cillizza, Chris.The Fix 50: The Battle for House control, The Washington Post
  21. Web site: Tennessee - 8th District . https://archive.today/20120728192747/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-2010-TN-08 . dead . July 28, 2012 . Sep 14, 2010 . CQ Politics .
  22. https://web.archive.org/web/20110714072308/http://memphisnewsblog.com/2010/08/fincher-poll-says-hes-ahead-of-herron.html?partner=RSS Memphisnewsblog.com
  23. Web site: USHCounty. State of Tennessee, November 2, 2010, State General. Tennessee Secretary of State. November 2, 2010. 28 July 2019. July 30, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190730225304/http://sharetngov.tnsosfiles.com.s3.amazonaws.com/sos/election/results/2010-11/USHCounty.pdf. live.