Wiki English
Wiki EnglishWiki DeutschWiki Nederlands

2018 United States Senate Election In Tennessee

The 2018 United States Senate election in Tennessee took place on November 6, 2018, concurrently with other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

Incumbent Republican Senator Bob Corker opted to retire instead of running for a third term. Republican U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn won the open seat, defeating former Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen.

2018 United States Senate election in Tennessee
2018 United States Senate Election In Tennessee
← 2012 November 6, 2018 2024 →
Turnout54.46% Decrease 7.4 pp
  2018 United States Senate Election In Tennessee 2018 United States Senate Election In Tennessee
Nominee Marsha Blackburn Phil Bredesen
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,227,483 985,450
Percentage 54.71% 43.92%
2018 United States Senate Election In Tennessee
2018 United States Senate Election In Tennessee
2018 United States Senate Election In Tennessee
Blackburn:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Bredesen:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      50%      No data
U.S. senator before election

Bob Corker
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Marsha Blackburn
Republican

Early in the campaign, Bob Corker said that Blackburn's opponent, Democrat Phil Bredesen, was "a very good mayor, a very good governor, a very good businessperson", that he had "real appeal" and "crossover appeal", and that the two of them had cooperated well over the years. But Corker said he would vote for Blackburn and donate to her campaign, and questioned whether Bredesen would be able to win a Senate seat in a red state like Tennessee. After Corker's praise for Bredesen, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell warned Corker that such comments could cost the Republican Party its Senate majority. Shortly after Corker's comments, Trump tweeted an endorsement of Blackburn.

In October 2018, Tennessean singer-songwriter Taylor Swift endorsed Bredesen. The endorsement was notable given that Swift had previously been publicly apolitical, but spoke out because Blackburn's voting record in Congress "appalled" and "terrified" her. Swift shared a link to the nonpartisan voter registration website Vote.org, which saw a significant spike in page views and new registrations. Donald Trump criticized Swift's endorsement.

This election was expected to be among the most competitive Senate races in 2018, with CNN calling it the single most important Senate race in the country. Polls showed the race as close until the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh started, which many Tennesseans believed the Democratic Party handled poorly. This is believed to have mobilized Republican voters and cost Bredesen any chance of winning. Bredesen also announced his support for Kavanaugh, which some believe cost him supporters.

On election day, Blackburn defeated Bredesen. This was Tennessee's closest Senate race since 2006, with Blackburn winning by a 10.8% margin. The primaries took place on August 2, 2018, with Blackburn and Bredesen winning their respective party nominations.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

  • Aaron Pettigrew, truck driver

Withdrawn

Declined

Speculation surrounding Senator Corker

On September 26, 2017, Republican Senator Bob Corker announced that he would not seek another term in 2018. Many called on Corker to reverse his decision to retire.[who?] Former U.S. Representative Fincher dropped out of the race, calling on Corker to jump back in and challenge U.S. Representative Blackburn for the GOP nomination. Fincher said in a statement that the GOP should unite "behind a candidate who can win" the general election. Blackburn said she would remain in the race even if Corker reversed his decision. Amid the speculation about Corker's decision, many of Tennessee's Republican politicians, including many in the Tennessee General Assembly, reiterated their support for Blackburn. Corker's chief of staff announced on February 27, 2018, that Corker would stick with his plan to retire.

Endorsements

Polling

Hypothetical polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Marsha
Blackburn 		Stephen
Fincher 		Rolando
Toyos 		Undecided
WPA Intelligence (R-Club for Growth) January 14–15, 2018 502 ± 4.4% 66% 13% – 21%
Triton Polling & Research (R) December 12–18, 2017 1,028 ± 3.1% 58% 11% 4% 27%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Marsha
Blackburn 		Bob
Corker 		Stephen
Fincher 		Undecided
Ragnar Research Partners (R-AFFPA) February 14–19, 2018 926 ± 3.0% 48% 29% – 23%
WPA Intelligence (R-CDP PAC) February 13–15, 2018 400 ± 4.9% 55% 26% – 19%
Victory Phones (R-SCF) February 12–13, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 49% 26% 9% 16%
WPA Intelligence (R-Club for Growth) January 14–15, 2018 502 ± 4.4% 63% 25% – 12%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Bob
Corker 		Generic
Opponent 		Undecided
Triton/Tennessee Star May 31 - June 5, 2018 1,007 ± 3.1% 41.6% 41.6% 17.3%

Results

2018 United States Senate Election In Tennessee 
Results by county:
Blackburn
  •   Blackburn—70–80%
  •   Blackburn—80–90%
  •   Blackburn—90%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Marsha Blackburn 613,513 84.48%
Republican Aaron Pettigrew 112,705 15.52%
Write-in 13 <0.01%
Total votes 726,231 100%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Withdrawn

  • James Mackler, attorney and veteran
  • Bill Bailey, teaching assistant and retired UPS trailer mechanic

Declined

Results

2018 United States Senate Election In Tennessee 
Results by county:
Bredesen
  •   Bredesen—80–90%
  •   Bredesen—>90%
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Phil Bredesen 349,718 91.51%
Democratic Gary Davis 20,170 5.28%
Democratic John Wolfe Jr. 12,269 3.21%
Total votes 382,157 100%

Independents

  • Dean Hill, US Army Veteran, Ex-Government, Business Owner, Realtor

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report Tossup October 26, 2018
Inside Elections Lean R November 1, 2018
Sabato's Crystal Ball Lean R November 5, 2018
NYT Tossup November 5, 2018
Fox News Lean R November 5, 2018
CNN Tossup November 5, 2018
RealClearPolitics Tossup November 5, 2018
Daily Kos Lean R November 5, 2018
Politico Lean R November 5, 2018
FiveThirtyEight Likely R November 5, 2018

Debates

Endorsements

Marsha Blackburn (R)
    U.S. Executive Branch officials
    U.S. Senators
    U.S. Representatives
    Governors
    Local and statewide politicians
    Individuals
    Organizations
    Newspapers
Phil Bredesen (D)
    Former U.S. Executive Branch officials
  • Joe Biden, former Vice President of the United States
    U.S. Senators
    U.S. Representatives
    Individuals
    Labor unions
    Organizations
    Newspapers

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of Sep 30, 2018
Candidate (party) Total receipts Total disbursements Cash on hand
Marsha Blackburn (R) $11,568,094 $9,062,332 $2,505,762
Phil Bredesen (D) $14,868,198 $11,693,910 $3,174,289
Source: Federal Election Commission

Polling

2018 United States Senate Election In Tennessee 

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Marsha
Blackburn (R) 		Phil
Bredesen (D) 		Other Undecided
Targoz Market Research October 28–31, 2018 480 – 49% 49% – 2%
Emerson College October 28–30, 2018 621 ± 4.0% 52% 44% 2% 3%
FOX News October 27–30, 2018 718 LV ± 3.5% 50% 41% 3% 5%
850 RV ± 3.0% 48% 40% 3% 8%
Vox Populi Polling October 27–29, 2018 780 ± 3.5% 53% 47% – –
CNN/SSRS October 24–29, 2018 764 LV ± 4.3% 49% 45% 0% 3%
871 RV ± 4.0% 47% 46% 0% 4%
East Tennessee State University Archived November 5, 2018, at the Wayback Machine October 22–29, 2018 495 ± 4.4% 44% 44% – –
Cygnal (R) October 26–27, 2018 497 ± 4.4% 51% 45% 1% 4%
NBC News/Marist October 23–27, 2018 471 LV ± 5.7% 51% 46% 1% 3%
764 RV ± 4.4% 49% 46% 1% 3%
Vanderbilt University/SSRS October 8–13, 2018 800 ± 4.9% 43% 44% 1% 8%
Targoz Market Research October 9–12, 2018 558 LV – 52% 48% – –
801 RV – 44% 45% – 11%
NYT Upshot/Siena College October 8–11, 2018 593 ± 4.2% 54% 40% – 6%
Ipsos October 4–11, 2018 1,108 ± 3.4% 47% 44% 3% 6%
YouGov October 2–5, 2018 871 ± 3.6% 50% 42% 2% 6%
FOX News September 29 – October 2, 2018 666 LV ± 3.5% 48% 43% 3% 7%
806 RV ± 3.5% 47% 41% 3% 8%
Garin-Hart-Yang (D-Bredesen) September 23–25, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 45% 47% – –
SurveyMonkey September 9–24, 2018 1,609 ± 3.3% 42% 42% – 15%
Vox Populi Polling September 16–18, 2018 567 ± 4.1% 49% 51% – –
CNN/SSRS September 11–15, 2018 723 LV ± 4.3% 45% 50% 0% 3%
852 RV ± 3.9% 42% 50% 0% 5%
Triton Polling & Research (R) September 10–12, 2018 1,038 ± 3.0% 48% 45% – 7%
FOX News September 8–11, 2018 686 LV ± 3.5% 47% 44% 1% 8%
809 RV ± 3.5% 45% 43% 2% 9%
NBC News/Marist August 25–28, 2018 538 LV ± 5.1% 46% 48% <1% 5%
730 RV ± 4.5% 44% 48% <1% 7%
Gravis Marketing August 9–11, 2018 620 ± 3.9% 48% 44% – 8%
Emerson College Archived August 18, 2018, at the Wayback Machine July 11–14, 2018 657 ± 4.1% 37% 43% 5% 17%
Public Policy Polling (D-Duty and Country PAC) July 10–11, 2018 583 ± 4.1% 41% 44% – 15%
WPA Intelligence (R-CDP PAC) July 9–11, 2018 551 ± 4.2% 38% 35% – 11%
SurveyMonkey/Axios June 11 – July 2, 2018 1,010 ± 4.5% 55% 41% – 4%
Public Policy Polling (D-Health Care Voter) April 30 – May 1, 2018 609 ± 4.0% 43% 46% – –
SurveyMonkey/Axios April 2–23, 2018 1,638 ± 4.0% 47% 48% – 5%
Mason-Dixon April 17–19, 2018 625 ± 4.0% 43% 46% – 11%
Garin-Hart-Yang (D-Bredesen) April 9–11, 2018 601 ± 4.0% 41% 51% – 8%
Middle Tennessee State University March 22–29, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 35% 45% – 17%
Public Policy Polling (D-Protect Our Care) March 15–16, 2018 1,014 ± 3.1% 41% 46% – 13%
WPA Intelligence (R-CDP PAC) February 13–15, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 44% 39% – 17%
Public Opinion Strategies (R) January 26–29, 2018 – – 45% 47% – 8%
Triton Polling & Research (R) January 21–24, 2018 1,003 ± 3.1% 51% 40% – 10%
WPA Intelligence (R-CDP PAC) December 13–14 & 17, 2017 500 ± 4.4% 43% 34% – 23%
Gravis Marketing December 11–12, 2017 563 ± 4.1% 40% 42% – 18%
Garin-Hart-Yang (D-DSCC) October 20–22, 2017 601 ± 4.1% 41% 46% – 13%
Hypothetical polling
    with generic Republican and generic Democrat
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Generic
Republican 		Generic
Democrat 		Other Undecided
Triton Polling & Research (R) September 10–12, 2018 1,038 ± 3.0% 52% 41% – 7%
Public Policy Polling (D-Protect Our Care) March 15–16, 2018 1,014 ± 3.1% 51% 41% – 8%
    with Bob Corker
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Bob
Corker (R) 		Phil
Bredesen (D) 		Undecided
WPA Intelligence (R-CDP PAC) February 13–15, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 35% 44% 21%
    with Stephen Fincher
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Stephen
Fincher (R) 		Phil
Bredesen (D) 		Undecided
Triton Polling & Research (R) January 21–24, 2018 1,004 ± 3.1% 38% 42% 20%
WPA Intelligence (R-CDP PAC) December 13–14 and 17, 2017 500 ± 4.4% 30% 42% 28%
Gravis Marketing December 11–12, 2017 563 ± 4.1% 38% 42% 20%
    with Clay Travis
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Marsha
Blackburn (R) 		Phil
Bredesen (D) 		Clay
Travis (I) 		Undecided
Triton Polling & Research (R) January 21–24, 2018 1,004 ± 3.1% 48% 37% 6% 10%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Stephen
Fincher (R) 		Phil
Bredesen (D) 		Clay
Travis (I) 		Undecided
Triton Polling & Research (R) January 21–24, 2018 1,004 ± 3.1% 35% 39% 10% 16%
    with Bob Corker and generic Democrat
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Bob
Corker (R) 		Generic
Democrat 		Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D-Our Lives on the Line) August 11–13, 2017 663 ± 3.6% 47% 37% 16%
    with Peyton Manning
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Peyton
Manning (R) 		Phil
Bredesen (D) 		Undecided
Gravis Marketing December 11–12, 2017 563 ± 4.1% 44% 39% 17%

Results

On November 6, 2018, Blackburn defeated Bredesen in the general election, carrying all but three counties, the largest number of counties ever won in an open senate election in Tennessee. Although polls began to show the race in Blackburn's favor following the Kavanaugh hearings, Blackburn won by a larger margin than all but one poll showed.

2018 United States Senate election in Tennessee
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Marsha Blackburn 1,227,483 54.71% -10.18%
Democratic Phil Bredesen 985,450 43.92% +13.51%
Independent Trudy Austin 9,455 0.42% N/A
Independent Dean Hill 8,717 0.39% N/A
Independent Kris L. Todd 5,084 0.23% N/A
Independent John Carico 3,398 0.15% N/A
Independent Breton Phillips 2,226 0.10% N/A
Independent Kevin Lee McCants 1,927 0.09% N/A
Total votes 2,243,740 100.00% N/A
Republican hold

By county

County Marsha Blackburn
Republican		 Phil Bredesen
Democratic		 Other votes Total
votes
% # % # % #
Anderson 56.60% 14,720 41.59% 10,818 1.81% 470 26,008
Bedford 68.61% 8,942 30.15% 3,929 1.24% 162 13,033
Benton 65.86% 3,489 32.50% 1,722 1.64% 87 5,298
Bledsoe 71.34% 2,908 26.89% 1,096 1.77% 72 4,076
Blount 63.97% 29,928 34.29% 16,040 1.74% 814 46,782
Bradley 71.96% 24,433 26.59% 9,030 1.45% 491 33,954
Campbell 71.04% 7,208 26.73% 2,712 2.24% 227 10,147
Cannon 68.83% 3,198 29.72% 1,381 1.44% 67 4,646
Carroll 68.85% 6,044 29.68% 2,606 1.47% 129 8,779
Carter 74.61% 13,946 24.32% 4,547 1.07% 200 18,693
Cheatham 63.21% 9,135 35.64% 5,150 1.15% 167 14,452
Chester 72.33% 3,902 24.91% 1,344 2.76% 149 5,395
Claiborne 71.60% 6,083 26.42% 2,245 1.98% 168 8,496
Clay 64.20% 1,643 34.04% 871 1.76% 45 2,559
Cocke 72.51% 7,528 25.25% 2,621 2.24% 233 10,382
Coffee 65.28% 11,115 32.73% 5,572 1.99% 339 17,026
Crockett 66.44% 2,984 31.57% 1,418 1.99% 89 4,491
Cumberland 71.26% 16,966 26.55% 6,321 2.19% 521 23,808
Davidson 28.46% 69,338 70.65% 172,137 0.89% 2,164 243,639
Decatur 70.09% 2,718 27.85% 1,080 2.06% 80 3,878
DeKalb 65.60% 3,906 33.32% 1,984 1.08% 64 5,954
Dickson 62.66% 10,465 35.88% 5,992 1.46% 243 16,700
Dyer 72.10% 8,013 26.08% 2,898 1.83% 203 11,114
Fayette 66.02% 11,371 32.74% 5,639 1.24% 214 17,224
Fentress 74.88% 4,745 22.72% 1,440 2.40% 152 6,337
Franklin 64.49% 8,981 34.29% 4,776 1.22% 170 13,927
Gibson 64.34% 10,407 33.10% 5,353 2.56% 414 16,174
Giles 66.63% 6,403 32.07% 3,082 1.30% 125 9,610
Grainger 73.99% 5,039 24.35% 1,658 1.66% 113 6,810
Greene 72.45% 14,844 26.34% 5,398 1.21% 248 20,490
Grundy 68.84% 2,587 29.30% 1,101 1.86% 70 3,758
Hamblen 69.71% 12,134 28.56% 4,972 1.73% 301 17,407
Hamilton 50.22% 67,152 48.70% 65,119 1.08% 1,437 133,708
Hancock 74.55% 1,327 23.71% 422 1.74% 31 1,780
Hardeman 51.35% 3,869 47.25% 3,560 1.40% 106 7,535
Hardin 74.96% 6,181 23.25% 1,971 1.79% 148 8,300
Hawkins 74.74% 13,058 24.17% 4,222 1.09% 191 17,471
Haywood 40.16% 2,364 58.60% 3,449 1.24% 73 5,886
Henderson 75.30% 6,514 23.40% 2,024 1.30% 113 8,651
Henry 66.28% 7,190 32.24% 3,497 1.48% 161 10,848
Hickman 65.35% 4,563 32.74% 2,286 1.91% 133 6,982
Houston 58.85% 1,613 39.40% 1,078 1.65% 45 2,736
Humphreys 60.23% 3,549 38.42% 2,264 1.35% 79 5,892
Jackson 64.08% 2,514 34.69% 1,361 1.23% 48 3,923
Jefferson 70.96% 11,435 26.98% 4,347 2.06% 332 16,114
Johnson 76.64% 4,520 22.06% 1,301 1.30% 77 5,898
Knox 50.80% 84,407 47.71% 79,283 1.49% 2,472 166,162
Lake 64.09% 930 33.77% 490 2.14% 31 1,451
Lauderdale 56.14% 3,745 42.12% 2,810 1.74% 116 6,671
Lawrence 72.22% 9,365 26.52 3,439 1.26% 164 12,968
Lewis 69.96% 2,836 29.03% 1,177 1.01% 41 4,054
Lincoln 75.40% 7,949 23.12% 2,437 1.48% 156 10,542
Loudon 68.66% 14,834 29.49% 6,371 1.85% 400 21,605
Macon 75.11% 4,768 23.36% 1,483 1.53% 97 6,348
Madison 52.05% 17,127 46.54% 15,316 1.41% 464 32,907
Marion 63.65% 5,839 34.51% 3,166 1.84% 168 9,173
Marshall 65.16% 6,543 33.66% 3,380 1.18% 118 10,041
Maury 60.10% 19,569 38.58% 12,560 1.32% 430 32,559
McMinn 72.28% 11,434 26.06% 4,122 1.66% 263 15,819
McNairy 73.36% 6,007 24.87% 2,036 1.77% 145 8,188
Meigs 70.99% 2,694 27.40% 1,040 1.61% 61 3,795
Monroe 71.05% 10,274 26.54% 3,838 2.41% 348 14,460
Montgomery 49.98% 25,932 47.81% 24,807 2.21% 1,148 51,887
Moore 74.12% 1,856 24.40% 611 1.48% 37 2,504
Morgan 72.39% 4,083 25.46% 1,436 2.15% 121 5,640
Obion 74.46% 7,118 24.33% 2,326 1.20% 115 9,559
Overton 64.49% 4,640 34.08% 2,452 1.43% 103 7,195
Perry 67.60% 1,644 29.77% 724 2.63% 64 2,432
Pickett 70.44% 1,599 28.46% 646 1.10% 25 2,270
Polk 70.92% 4,127 27.24% 1,585 1.84% 107 5,819
Putnam 62.59% 15,230 35.96% 8,750 1.45% 353 24,333
Rhea 72.95% 6,866 25.19% 2,371 1.86% 175 9,412
Roane 65.81% 12,727 32.28% 6,242 1.91% 371 19,340
Robertson 64.30% 15,501 34.47% 8,311 1.23% 297 24,109
Rutherford 52.72% 52,254 46.10% 45,692 1.18% 1,179 99,125
Scott 76.93% 4,232 21.38% 1,176 1.69% 93 5,501
Sequatchie 71.04% 3,564 27.25% 1,367 1.71% 86 5,017
Sevier 71.60% 21,541 25.82% 7,769 2.58% 774 30,084
Shelby 33.14% 96,493 65.56% 190,885 1.30% 3,767 291,145
Smith 66.25% 4,317 32.40% 2,111 1.35% 88 6,516
Stewart 65.36% 2,938 33.19% 1,492 1.45% 65 4,495
Sullivan 71.12% 38,753 27.86% 15,183 1.02% 557 54,493
Sumner 62.68% 41,099 36.24% 23,762 1.08% 704 65,565
Tipton 69.05% 13,390 29.01% 5,625 1.94% 378 19,393
Trousdale 60.35% 1,586 38.13% 1,002 1.52% 40 2,628
Unicoi 74.19% 4,659 24.75% 1,554 1.06% 67 6,280
Union 71.52% 3,739 26.43% 1,382 2.05% 107 5,228
Van Buren 65.75% 1,451 32.22% 711 2.03% 45 2,207
Warren 61.46% 7,018 36.78% 4,200 1.76% 201 11,419
Washington 63.08% 28,514 35.94% 16,246 0.98% 441 45,201
Wayne 79.96% 3,787 19.13% 906 0.91% 43 4,736
Weakley 67.71% 6,704 30.77% 3,047 1.52% 150 9,901
White 70.98% 5,979 27.22% 2,293 1.80% 151 8,423
Williamson 58.88% 62,039 40.44% 42,611 0.68% 719 105,369
Wilson 61.84% 32,810 36.66% 19,447 1.50% 797 53,054
    Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

See also

Notes

References

    Official campaign websites

Tags:

2018 United States Senate Election In Tennessee Republican primary2018 United States Senate Election In Tennessee Democratic primary2018 United States Senate Election In Tennessee Independents2018 United States Senate Election In Tennessee General election2018 United States Senate Election In Tennessee

🔥 Trending searches on Wiki English:

We Were the Lucky OnesMount SinaiJulius CaesarArnold Schwarzenegger2024 Indian general electionDavid RubensteinThe Notorious B.I.G.Jennifer LawrenceMS DhoniFrank SinatraUkrainePeter principleKim KardashianNepalShakiraRussian invasion of UkraineEndrick (footballer, born 2006)XVideosCharlie SheenGeorgia (country)Eurovision Song Contest 20242024 Spain MastersKalanithi MaranDrake BellDelicious in DungeonCoral CastleFranklin D. RooseveltShameless (American TV series)MuhammadChennai Super KingsGet OutSean CombsChristian BaleDavid CameronThe Pirate BayQuincy (actor)Last SupperThree-body problemJapanJoanne McNallyList of ethnic slursKerry Von ErichMV DaliEdward VIIBruce LeeCandace OwensBradley CooperManchester United F.C.Red Eye (2005 American film)BlessyBob DylanWorld Wide Web2024 United States presidential electionWilliam Adams (pilot)Miley CyrusJanet JacksonLady GagaJoe Biden2024 in filmRoad House (1989 film)Generation AlphaMaster X MasterMillie Bobby BrownThe Dark ForestTaiwanNullRebecca FergusonBad Boy RecordsQueen VictoriaMichael SchumacherRonna McDanielDonald TrumpRocco SiffrediCarol BurnettW54Freddie MercuryBob Marley🡆 More