2020 United States Senate election in Tennessee

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The 2020 United States Senate election in Tennessee was held on November 3, 2020, concurrently with other elections to the United States Senate. The 2020 U.S. presidential election and elections to the U.S. House of Representatives were also held, as well as the State Senate and State House elections. Incumbent Republican Senator Lamar Alexander announced that he would not run for re-election on December 17, 2018.[2] The former United States Ambassador to Japan, Bill Hagerty won the open seat by a large margin defeating his Democratic opponent Marquita Bradshaw.

Quick facts Turnout, Nominee ...
2020 United States Senate election in Tennessee

 2014
November 3, 2020 (2020-11-03)
2026 
Turnout69.30% Increase[1] 33.33 pp
 
Nominee Bill Hagerty Marquita Bradshaw
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,840,926 1,040,691
Percentage 62.20% 35.16%

Hagerty:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Bradshaw:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40–50%      50%      No data

U.S. senator before election

Lamar Alexander
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Bill Hagerty
Republican

Close

In the primary, President Donald Trump endorsed Hagerty. He ended up winning the Republican nomination, defeating orthopedic surgeon Manny Sethi and 13 others in the Republican primary. In the Democratic primary, environmental activist Marquita Bradshaw from Memphis defeated Robin Kimbrough Hayes, as well as three other candidates. Nine independent candidates also appeared on the general election ballot.

Bill Hagerty outperformed Donald Trump by nearly four percentage points during the general election, a gap largely attributed to his stronger performance in suburban areas across Tennessee. Hagerty ran particularly well in the suburbs of Nashville, including Forest Hills, Belle Meade, Oak Hill, Franklin, Hendersonville, and Murfreesboro. He also exceeded Trump’s margins in suburban Memphis communities, most notably Germantown and Collierville as well as other surrounding suburbs.[3][4]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in the primary

  • Cliff Adkins[7]
  • Natisha Brooks[7]
  • Byron Bush, dentist[8]
  • Roy Dale Cope, small business owner and pharmacist[9][10]
  • Terry Dicus, attorney[10]
  • Tom Emerson Jr., Tea Party candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014[11]
  • George Flinn Jr., former Shelby County commissioner, Nixon Administration Official, physician, engineer, businessman, and Republican candidate in Tennessee's 8th congressional district in 2016 and 2018[12]
  • Jon Henry, U.S. Marine Corps veteran[12]
  • Kent Morrell, business owner[12]
  • Glen Neal Jr., retired public servant[12]
  • John Osborne, real estate agent and business owner[12]
  • Aaron Pettigrew, truck driver[13]
  • David Schuster, U.S. Navy veteran[11]
  • Manny Sethi, orthopedic surgeon, director of the Vanderbilt Orthopedic Institute Center for Health Policy and founder and president of the non-profit Healthy Tennessee[14]

Disqualified from the primary ballot

Withdrawn

Declined

Endorsements

Bill Hagerty

Executive branch officials

U.S. senators

Statewide officials

State legislators

Individuals

Organizations

Manny Sethi

U.S. senators

U.S. representatives

Statewide officials

State legislators

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
George Flinn Bill Hagerty Manny Sethi Other Undecided
JMC Analytics and Polling[52] July 18–19, 2020 600 (LV) ±  4.0% 5% 36% 32% 9% 20%
The Trafalgar Group[53] July 6–8, 2020 1,062 (LV) ±  2.92% 4% 42% 39% 2% 13%
Victory Phones[54][A] June 30 – July 1, 2020 800 (LV) ±  3.46% 6% 33% 31% 30%
The Tarrance Group[55][B] June 28–30, 2020 651 (LV) ±  4.0% 5% 46% 29% 2%[b] 18%
Victory Phones[54][A] June 2, 2020 [c] 27% 11%
Close
Hypothetical polling
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Mark Green vs. Bill Haslam
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Mark Green Bill Haslam Undecided
Triton/Tennessee Star[56] April 13–16, 2019 1,003 (LV) ± 3.1% 30% 39% ≈30%
Close

Results

Results by county:
  Hagerty
  •   30–40%
      40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  Sethi
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results[57]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Hagerty 331,267 50.75%
Republican Manny Sethi 257,223 39.41%
Republican George Flinn, Jr. 22,454 3.44%
Republican Jon Henry 8,104 1.24%
Republican Natisha Brooks 8,072 1.24%
Republican Byron Bush 5,420 0.83%
Republican Clifford Adkins 5,316 0.81%
Republican Terry Dicus 2,279 0.35%
Republican Tom Emerson, Jr. 2,252 0.35%
Republican David Schuster 2,045 0.31%
Republican John Osborne 1,877 0.29%
Republican Roy Dale Cope 1,791 0.27%
Republican Kent Morrell 1,769 0.27%
Republican Aaron Pettigrew 1,622 0.25%
Republican Glen Neal, Jr. 1,233 0.19%
Total votes 652,724 100.00%
Close

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in the primary

  • Gary G. Davis, small business owner, baker, pilot, and perennial candidate[60]
  • Robin Kimbrough Hayes, attorney and Christian minister[61]
  • James Mackler, attorney, U.S. Army veteran and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2018[5][62]
  • Mark Pickrell, entrepreneur, attorney and Baptist deacon[63]

Disqualified from the primary ballot

  • Tharon Chandler, journalist, economist, and conservationist[64]

Withdrawn

  • Diana C. Onyejiaka, college professor and consultant[65]

Declined

Endorsements

James Mackler

Politicians

Organizations

Marquita Bradshaw

Results

Results by county:
  Bradshaw
  •   20–30%
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  Hayes
  •   20–30%
  •   30–40%
  Mackler
  •   20–30%
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  Davis
  •   20–30%
  •   30–40%
Mackler/Davis tie
  •   20–30%
More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results[68]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marquita Bradshaw 117,962 35.51%
Democratic Robin Kimbrough Hayes 88,492 26.64%
Democratic James Mackler 78,966 23.77%
Democratic Gary G. Davis 30,758 9.26%
Democratic Mark Pickrell 16,045 4.83%
Total votes 332,223 100.00%
Close

Independents

Declared

  • Yomi Faparusi, physician, attorney, researcher, and former Republican candidate for Tennessee's 4th congressional district in 2014 and 2016[11]
  • Jeffrey Grunau, activist[11]
  • Ronnie Henley,[11]
  • Dean Hill, US veteran, former federal employee, and activist[11]
  • Steven Hooper[11]
  • Aaron James[11]
  • Elizabeth McLeod, conservative activist[11]
  • Eric William Stansberry[11]

Withdrawn

  • Tom Kovach, attorney[81][11]
  • Kacey Morgan, freelancer and operations director (endorsed Marquita Bradshaw) (remained on ballot)[82]

General election

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[83] Safe R October 29, 2020
Inside Elections[84] Safe R October 28, 2020
Sabato's Crystal Ball[85] Safe R November 2, 2020
Daily Kos[86] Safe R November 30, 2020
Politico[87] Safe R November 2, 2020
RCP[88] Likely R October 23, 2020
DDHQ[89] Safe R November 3, 2020
538[90] Safe R November 2, 2020
Economist[91] Safe R November 2, 2020
Close

Post-primary endorsements

Bill Hagerty (R)

Federal officials

State officials

Local officials

  • Roane County Commissioner Randy Ellis[93]
  • Sandy Still[93]
  • Cary Vaughn[93]
Marquita Bradshaw (D)

Federal officials

Notable Individuals

Organizations

Unions

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Bill
Hagerty (R)
Marquita
Bradshaw (D)
Other Undecided
Swayable[116] October 23 – November 1, 2020 431 (LV) ± 6.2% 61% 39%
Cygnal[117] October 20–22, 2020 610 (LV) ± 3.97% 56% 36% 1%[d] 7%
Close
Hypothetical polling

with Bill Hagerty and James Mackler

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Bill
Hagerty (R)
James
Mackler (D)
Undecided
Mason-Dixon[118] January 28–30, 2020 625 (RV) ± 4% 55% 33% 12%
Close

with Manny Sethi and James Mackler

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Manny
Sethi (R)
James
Mackler (D)
Undecided
Mason-Dixon[118] January 28–30, 2020 625 (RV) ± 4% 46% 35% 19%
Close

with Generic Republican and Generic Democrat

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Generic
Republican
Generic
Democrat
Undecided
Cygnal[117] October 20–22, 2020 610 (LV) ± 3.97% 58% 38% 4%
East Tennessee State University[119] April 22 – May 1, 2020 536 (LV) 43% 26% 31%[e]
Close

Results

County flips:
More information Party, Candidate ...
2020 United States Senate election in Tennessee[120]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Bill Hagerty 1,840,926 62.20% +0.33%
Democratic Marquita Bradshaw 1,040,691 35.16% +3.29%
Independent Elizabeth McLeod 16,652 0.56% N/A
Independent Yomi Faparusi 10,727 0.36% N/A
Independent Stephen Hooper 9,609 0.32% N/A
Independent Kacey Morgan (withdrawn) 9,598 0.32% N/A
Independent Ronnie Henley 8,478 0.30% N/A
Independent Aaron James 7,203 0.29% N/A
Independent Eric William Stansberry 6,781 0.23% N/A
Independent Dean Hill 4,872 0.16% N/A
Independent Jeffrey Grunau 4,160 0.14% N/A
Write-in 64 0.00% ±0.00%
Total votes 2,959,761 100.00%
Republican hold
Close

By county

More information County, Bill Hagerty Republican ...
County[121]Bill Hagerty
Republican
Marquita Bradshaw
Democratic
Other votesTotal
votes
% # % # % #
Anderson66.54%22,98831.32%10,8202.14%74034,548
Bedford76.68%13,92020.98%3,8082.34%42518,153
Benton78.22%5,46219.16%1,3382.62%1836,983
Bledsoe81.49%4,46016.41%8982.10%1155,473
Blount73.27%47,39124.66%15,9502.07%1,33864,679
Bradley77.62%34,26219.74%8,7162.64%1,16544,143
Campbell82.53%11,61015.45%2,1732.02%28414,067
Cannon79.61%4,90417.94%1,1052.45%1516,160
Carroll77.78%8,89919.98%2,2862.24%25611,441
Carter80.02%18,59317.76%4,1272.22%51423,234
Cheatham72.19%14,09425.40%4,9592.41%47019,523
Chester80.22%5,95117.59%1,3052.19%1627,418
Claiborne82.26%10,11615.95%1,9621.79%22012,298
Clay78.29%2,52519.10%6162.61%843,225
Cocke81.13%11,28416.01%2,2272.86%39713,908
Coffee74.38%17,60722.03%5,2153.59%84923,671
Crockett77.42%4,45520.68%1,1901.90%1095,754
Cumberland78.97%24,41219.11%5,9081.92%59330,913
Davidson35.20%106,66461.04%184,9723.76%11,402303,038
Decatur80.87%4,07516.21%8172.92%1475,039
DeKalb78.01%6,16219.29%1,5242.70%2137,899
Dickson72.88%17,21423.52%5,5563.60%85123,621
Dyer78.34%11,23719.06%2,7342.60%37214,343
Fayette70.67%15,41426.67%5,8182.66%57921,811
Fentress85.37%7,06612.78%1,0561.85%1558,277
Franklin74.02%13,49024.06%4,3841.92%35018,224
Gibson73.53%15,58322.97%4,8673.50%74221,192
Giles74.70%9,31322.68%2,8282.62%32612,467
Grainger84.90%8,13113.27%1,2711.83%1759,577
Greene79.82%21,90417.51%4,8042.67%73427,442
Grundy81.06%4,37316.46%8882.48%1345,395
Hamblen77.30%18,18320.46%4,8132.24%52823,524
Hamilton56.29%95,10541.79%70,6081.92%3,252168,965
Hancock86.39%2,15912.04%3011.57%392,499
Hardeman58.68%5,37737.67%3,4523.65%3349,163
Hardin82.95%9,22114.38%1,5992.67%29611,116
Hawkins82.06%19,12315.66%3,6492.28%53323,305
Haywood46.14%3,29751.74%3,6972.12%1527,146
Henderson82.73%9,58515.48%1,7931.79%20811,586
Henry75.40%10,59521.16%2,9733.44%48414,052
Hickman76.90%7,28420.31%1,9242.79%2649,472
Houston72.85%2,58622.82%8104.33%1543,550
Humphreys73.39%5,75222.77%1,7853.84%3017,838
Jackson77.47%3,83719.95%9882.58%1284,953
Jefferson79.80%18,02417.87%4,0352.33%52722,586
Johnson82.41%6,05815.17%1,1152.42%1787,351
Knox59.27%128,66239.09%84,8471.64%3,570217,079
Lake70.52%1,36125.54%4933.94%761,930
Lauderdale65.44%5,55331.50%2,6733.06%2608,486
Lawrence81.69%14,27015.85%2,7682.46%43117,469
Lewis79.27%4,23418.52%9892.21%1185,341
Lincoln79.55%12,01917.50%2,6442.95%44615,109
Loudon76.40%21,89021.15%6,0612.45%70228,653
Macon85.15%7,52212.50%1,1042.35%2088,834
Madison57.70%24,06540.24%16,7812.06%86041,706
Marion74.54%9,51723.15%2,9562.31%29512,768
Marshall75.17%10,65022.26%3,1542.57%36414,168
Maury68.49%31,51629.46%13,5572.05%94546,018
McMinn80.28%17,77717.65%3,9082.07%45822,143
McNairy80.77%8,83916.12%1,7643.11%34110,944
Meigs80.62%4,19816.94%8822.44%1275,207
Monroe80.86%16,33117.05%3,4442.09%42220,197
Montgomery56.54%41,34239.21%28,6744.25%3,10573,121
Moore82.04%2,82715.18%5232.78%963,446
Morgan84.51%6,71513.67%1,0861.82%1457,946
Obion79.58%10,23617.47%2,2472.95%38012,863
Overton79.35%7,35118.39%1,7042.26%2099,264
Perry81.68%2,61716.14%5172.18%703,204
Pickett81.15%2,26417.03%4751.82%512,790
Polk81.25%6,62017.19%1,4011.56%1278,148
Putnam71.77%23,03125.76%8,2682.47%79232,091
Rhea81.62%10,62116.14%2,1002.24%29113,012
Roane75.21%19,03821.56%5,4583.23%81725,313
Robertson73.94%23,87723.32%7,5302.74%88632,293
Rutherford58.11%80,61038.77%53,7823.12%4,323138,715
Scott87.49%7,30710.09%8432.42%2028,352
Sequatchie80.95%5,59816.67%1,1532.38%1646,915
Sevier78.52%33,53118.58%7,9342.90%1,23842,703
Shelby36.12%135,04361.05%228,2802.83%10,600373,923
Smith78.77%6,61017.79%1,4933.44%2888,391
Stewart79.07%4,69718.10%1,0752.83%1685,940
Sullivan76.46%55,50621.64%15,7101.90%1,37572,591
Sumner70.70%63,03126.78%23,8782.52%2,24289,151
Tipton75.07%19,55422.21%5,7842.72%70926,047
Trousdale75.28%2,74122.25%8102.47%903,641
Unicoi79.32%6,26718.34%1,4492.34%1857,901
Union83.67%6,36514.29%1,0872.04%1557,606
Van Buren79.93%2,15517.36%4682.71%732,696
Warren73.68%10,99822.85%3,4103.47%51814,926
Washington68.20%39,51629.37%17,0212.43%1,40857,945
Wayne86.75%5,35110.91%6732.34%1446,168
Weakley75.90%10,13120.12%2,6863.98%53113,348
White80.96%9,47517.02%1,9922.02%23711,704
Williamson66.21%91,15531.55%43,4322.24%3,080137,667
Wilson69.44%50,59727.53%20,0593.03%2,20972,865
Close

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

State Senate district results
State House district results

By congressional district

Hagerty won seven of nine congressional districts.[122]

More information District, Hagerty ...
District Hagerty Bradshaw Representative
1st 77.1% 20.8% Phil Roe
Diana Harshbarger
2nd 66.0% 32.4% Tim Burchett
3rd 66.8% 31.3% Chuck Fleischmann
4th 68.7% 28.9% Scott DesJarlais
5th 39.5% 57.4% Jim Cooper
6th 74.2% 23.5% John W. Rose
7th 69.0% 28.4% Mark E. Green
8th 67.8% 30.1% David Kustoff
9th 21.3% 75.7% Steve Cohen
Close

See also

Notes

  1. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. "One of the other candidates" with 2%
  3. Not yet released
  4. "Third-party candidate" with 1%
  5. "Does not matter" with 26%; unsure with 5%

Partisan clients

  1. Poll conducted for the Sethi campaign.
  2. Poll conducted for the Hagerty campaign.

References

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