2023 Nashville mayoral election
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The 2023 Nashville mayoral election took place on August 3, 2023, to elect the next mayor of Nashville, Tennessee. Incumbent Democratic Mayor John Cooper did not seek re-election to a second term in office.[2] A wide field of candidates ran to succeed Cooper, with Democratic metro councilmember Freddie O'Connell and Republican political consultant Alice Rolli advancing to the runoff because no candidate surpassed 50% of the vote. In the runoff election, O'Connell was elected with 63.9% of the vote, defeating Rolli and becoming the 10th mayor of metro Nashville.[3]
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August 3, 2023 (first round)
September 14, 2023 (runoff) Officially nonpartisan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 20.52%  (first round) 0.44 pp23.02%  (runoff)
2.50 pp[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 O'Connell: 10–20% 20–30% 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% Rolli: 20–30% 30–40% 40–50% >90% Wiltshire: 10–20% 20–30% 30–40% Hurt: 10–20% 20–30% 30–40% Wilhoite: 10–20% 20–30% Yarbro: 20–30% 60–70% Tie  O'Connell: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Rolli: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% No data | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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O'Connell was considered one of the more progressive figures in Nashville politics and is known for his vocal opposition to the use of public funds to build the Nissan Stadium.[4] Rolli is a businesswoman who has worked for numerous prominent Tennessee Republicans in the past, including governor Bill Haslam and U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander.[5]
All Nashville municipal elections are required to be non-partisan, but candidates can be affiliated with a political party. Rolli was considered an underdog in the runoff due to her status as a Republican in a heavily Democratic city. In the 60 years since the city of Nashville was consolidated with Davidson County in 1963, all of its mayors have been known to be Democrats.[5] Democrat Joe Biden won the city with 64.5% of the vote in the 2020 presidential election.[6]
Candidates
Advanced to runoff
| Candidate | Experience | Party affiliation | Announced | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Freddie O'Connell |
Metro councilmember from the 19th district since 2015 | Democratic[7] | April 28, 2022 Website |
[8] |
.jpg) Alice Rolli |
Former aide to governor Bill Haslam and U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander | Republican[7] | February 24, 2023 Website |
[9] |
Eliminated in first round
| Candidate | Experience | Party affiliation | Announced | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
.png) Natisha Brooks |
Educator Candidate for Tennessee's 5th congressional district in 2022 |
Republican[10] | February 20, 2023 Website |
[10] |
.jpg) Fran Bush |
Former member of the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Board (2018–2022) |
Independent[7] | February 17, 2023 Website |
[11] |
.jpg) Heidi Campbell |
State senator from the 20th district since 2021 Nominee for Tennessee's 5th congressional district in 2022 |
Democratic[12] | April 5, 2023 Website |
[12] |
 Bernie Cox |
Business owner Candidate for mayor in 2019 |
Republican[7] |  Website |
[7] |
.png) Sharon Hurt |
At-Large metro councilmember since 2015 | Democratic[7] | December 5, 2022 Website |
[13] |
.png) Stephanie Johnson |
Business owner | Independent | May 1, 2023 Website |
[14] |
.jpg) Vivian Wilhoite |
Davidson County Property Assessor since 2016 | Democratic[15] | May 2, 2023 Website |
[16] |
.png) Matt Wiltshire |
Former Nashville Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency chief strategy officer |
Democratic[7] | July 13, 2022 Website |
[17] |
.jpg) Jeff Yarbro |
Former Minority Leader of the Tennessee Senate (2019–2023) State senator from the 21st district since 2015 |
Democratic[7] | February 17, 2023 Website |
[18] |
Withdrew after the filing deadline
| Candidate | Experience | Party affiliation | Announced | Withdrew | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.png) Jim Gingrich |
Former AllianceBernstein chief operating officer | Democratic[7] | February 8, 2023 Website |
July 17, 2023 | [19][20] |
Withdrew before the filing deadline
Disqualified
Declined
- Megan Barry, former mayor (2015–2018) (Party affiliation: Democratic)[24]
- Hal Cato, former nonprofit executive[25]
- John Cooper, incumbent mayor (Party affiliation: Democratic)[26]
- David A. Fox, candidate for mayor in 2015[27] (endorsed Rolli)[28]
- Bob Freeman, state representative for the 56th district (2018–present) (Party affiliation: Democratic)[24] (endorsed Campbell)[29]
- Odessa Kelly, community activist and nominee for Tennessee's 7th congressional district in 2022 (Party affiliation: Democratic)[30]
- Bob Mendes, metro councilmember[31] (endorsed O'Connell)[32]
- Tara Scarlett, education nonprofit CEO[33]
- Jim Shulman, vice mayor of Nashville (ran for re-election)[34]
- Carol Swain, retired Vanderbilt University professor and candidate for mayor in 2018 and 2019 (Party affiliation: Republican)[35]
First round
First round endorsements
John Cooper (not running)
- Labor unions
- International Association of Fire Fighters Local 140[36]
- Nashville Fraternal Order of Police[36]
Heidi Campbell
- State senators
- Sara Kyle, state senator from the 30th district (2015–present)[12]
- State representatives
- John Ray Clemmons, state representative from the 55th district (2015–present)[12]
- Bob Freeman, state representative from the 56th district (2019–present)[12]
- Gloria Johnson, state representative from the 90th district (2013–2015, 2019–present)[37]
- Bo Mitchell, state representative from the 50th district (2013–present)[12]
- Local officials
- Cheryl Mayes, Metro Nashville School Board member from the 6th district (2022–present)[12]
- Organizations
- Planned Parenthood (co-endorsement with O'Connell, Wilhoite, and Yarbro)[38]
- Sunrise Movement Nashville (co-endorsement with O'Connell)[29]
- Labor unions
- Ironworkers Local 492[28]
- Individuals
- Lucinda Williams, American singer-songwriter[29]
- Kesha, American singer-songwriter[29]
Sharon Hurt
- State legislators
- Brenda Gilmore, former state senator from the 19th district (2019–2023)[38]
- Local officials
- Erica Gilmore, Davidson County Trustee[28]
- Michael Hancock, outgoing mayor of Denver, Colorado (2011–2023)[39]
- Charlie Tygard, metro councilmember at-large (2007–2015) and for District 35 (2002–2007) (co-endorsement with O'Connell and Wiltshire)[29]
- Brenda Wynn, Davidson County Clerk[38]
Freddie O'Connell
- State legislators
- Jason Powell, state representative from the 53rd district (2013–present)[40]
- Metro councilmembers
- Erin Evans, District 12 (2019–present)[32]
- Jacob Kleinfelter, District 34 (1995–1999)[29]
- Kristine Lalonde, District 18, (2007–2011)[29]
- Bob Mendes, at-large (2015–present)[32]
- Sean Parker, District 5 (2019–present)[32]
- Dave Rosenberg, District 35 (2015–present)[32]
- Sandra Sepulveda, District 30 (2019–present)[32]
- Charlie Tygard, at-large (2007–2015) and District 35 (2002–2007) (co-endorsement with Hurt and Wiltshire)[29]
- Lynn Williams, District 34 (1999–2007)[29]
- Local officials
- Jim Speering, former Metro Nashville School Board member from the 3rd district (2012–2020)[28]
- Organizations
- Planned Parenthood (co-endorsement with Campbell, Wilhoite, and Yarbro)[38]
- Sunrise Movement Nashville (co-endorsement with Campbell)[29]
- Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition[29]
- Labor unions
- Amalgamated Transit Union Local 235 (co-endorsement with Wilhoite)[29]
Alice Rolli
- Local officials
- David A. Fox, former Metro Nashville School Board chair and candidate for mayor in 2015[28]
- Pearl Sims, former Davidson County planning commission member[28]
- Organizations
- Americans for Tax Reform[41]
- Community Leaders of America[41]
- Davidson County GOP[42]
- Individuals
- Grover Norquist, political activist and founder of Americans for Tax Reform[43]
- J. C. Bowman, executive and CEO of Professional Educators of Tennessee[41]
- John D. Richardson, Tennessee Republican Party state executive
Vivian Wilhoite
- State officials
- Carol Solomon, former Twentieth Circuit Court Division VIII judge (1998–2014)[28]
- Local officials
- Glenn Funk, Davidson County District Attorney General (2014–present)[16]
- Nick Leonardo, former Davidson County General Sessions Court Division III judge (2018) and metro councilmember from the 1st district (2016–2018)[28]
- Organizations
- Planned Parenthood (co-endorsement with Campbell, O'Connell, and Yarbro)[38]
- Labor unions
- Amalgamated Transit Union Local 235 (co-endorsement with O'Connell)[29]
Matt Wiltshire
- State legislators
- Jason Potts, former state representative from the 59th district (2019–2023) and metro councilmember from the 30th district (2011–2019)[28]
- Metro councilmembers
- George Armistead, at-large (1987–1999)[28]
- Phil Claiborne, District 15 (2007–2015)[28]
- Stewart Clifton, District 18 (1987–1999)[28]
- Jacobia Dowell, District 32 (2011–2019)[28]
- Jamie Isabell, District 2 (2003–2007)[28]
- Sean McGuire, District 25 (2007–2015)[28]
- Robert Nash, District 27 (2019–present)[28]
- Doug Pardue, District 10 (2011–2019)[28]
- Phil Ponder, District 12 (1995–2003)[28]
- Bill Pridemore, District 9 (2011–2019)[28]
- John Rutherford, District 31 (2019–present)[28]
- Carter Todd, District 34 (2007–2015)[28]
- Charlie Tygard, at-large (2007–2015) and District 35 (2002–2007)[28] (co-endorsement with Hurt and O'Connell)[29]
- Nancy VanReece, District 8 (2015–present)[28]
- Chris Whitson, District 23 (2003–2005)[28]
- Local officials
- Claudia Bonnyman, Davidson County Chancery Court judge[29]
- Daron Hall, former Davidson County Sheriff (2002–present)[40]
- Organizations
- Nashville Fraternal Order of Police[38]
Jeff Yarbro
- U.S. Representatives
- Jim Cooper, TN-05 (2003–2023), TN-04 (1983–1995)[40]
- State legislators
- Raumesh Akbari, Minority Leader of the Tennessee Senate (2023–present) from the 29th district (2019–present)[28]
- Darren Jernigan, state representative from the 60th district (2013–present) and metro councilmember from the 11th district (2011–2015)[29]
- Metro councilmembers
- Larry Hagar, District 11 (2015–present)[29]
- Organizations
- Planned Parenthood (co-endorsement with Campbell, O'Connell, and Wilhoite)[38]
- Labor unions
- United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1995[28]
First round polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Fran Bush |
Heidi Campbell |
Jim Gingrich |
Sharon Hurt |
Freddie O'Connell |
Alice Rolli |
Vivian Wilhoite |
Matt Wiltshire |
Jeff Yarbro |
Other/ Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VictoryPhones (R)[44][a] | July 25–27, 2023 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 0.8% | 5.9% | – | 3.6% | 25.4% | 18.8% | 3.4% | 14.6% | 13.1% | 14.5% |
| GBAO Strategies (D)[45][b] | July 17–19, 2023 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | – | 8% | – | 6% | 21% | 13% | 4% | 10% | 12% | 25% |
| Gingrich withdraws from the race | |||||||||||||
| Music City Research[46][c] | July 5–6, 2023 | 502 (LV) | ± 4.2% | – | 7% | 4% | 3% | 20% | 13% | 3% | 15% | 6% | 30% |
| Public Policy Polling (D)[47][d] | June 2–4, 2023 | 400 (LV) | ± 4.2% | – | 8% | 3% | 7% | 10% | 4% | – | 8% | 9% | 51%[e] |
| VictoryPhones (R)[48][a] | May 2–4, 2023 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 2% | 21.9% | 4.2% | 6.7% | 15.6% | 4% | 3.2% | 6.6% | 17% | 18.8% |
First round results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freddie O'Connell | 27,503 | 27.14 | |
| Alice Rolli | 20,472 | 20.20 | |
| Matthew Wiltshire | 17,193 | 16.97 | |
| Jeff Yarbro | 12,356 | 12.19 | |
| Heidi Campbell | 8,337 | 8.23 | |
| Sharon Hurt | 6,104 | 6.02 | |
| Vivian Willhoite | 4,758 | 4.70 | |
| Jim Gingrich | 1,668 | 1.65 | |
| Natisha Brooks | 1,458 | 1.44 | |
| Stephanie Johnson | 581 | 0.57 | |
| Fran Bush | 503 | 0.50 | |
| Bernie Cox | 322 | 0.32 | |
| Write-in | 80 | 0.07 | |
| Total votes | 101,335 | 100.00 | |
Runoff
Runoff endorsements
Endorsements in bold were made after the first round.
Freddie O'Connell
- State senators
- Heidi Campbell, state senator from the 20th district (2021–present) and 2023 mayoral candidate[51]
- Jeff Yarbro, state senator from the 21st district (2015–present) and 2023 mayoral candidate[51]
- State representatives
- Jason Powell, state representative from the 53rd district (2013–present)[40]
- Metro councilmembers
- Erin Evans, District 12 (2019–present)[32]
- Jacob Kleinfelter, District 34 (1995–1999)[29]
- Kristine Lalonde, District 18, (2007–2011)[29]
- Bob Mendes, at-large (2015–present)[32]
- Sean Parker, District 5 (2019–present)[32]
- Dave Rosenberg, District 35 (2015–present)[32]
- Sandra Sepulveda, District 30 (2019–present)[32]
- Charlie Tygard, at-large (2007–2015) and District 35 (2002–2007)[29]
- Lynn Williams, District 34 (1999–2007)[29]
- Local officials
- Jim Speering, former Metro Nashville School Board member from the 3rd district (2012–2020)[28]
- Matt Wiltshire, Former Nashville Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency chief strategy officer and 2023 mayoral candidate[52]
- Individuals
- Jim Gingrich, former AllianceBernstein COO and 2023 mayoral candidate[53]
- Organizations
- Equity Alliance[54]
- Nashville Business Coalition[54]
- Nashville Justice League[54]
- Planned Parenthood[38]
- Sunrise Movement Nashville[29]
- Tennessee Democratic Party[55]
- Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition[29]
- Labor unions
- Amalgamated Transit Union Local 235[29]
- Central Labor Council of Nashville and Middle Tennessee[51]
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 46[56]
- International Association of Fire Fighters Local 140[57]
Alice Rolli
- Local officials
- Fran Bush, former member of the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Board (2018–2022) and 2023 mayoral candidate[51]
- David A. Fox, former Metro Nashville School Board chair and candidate for mayor in and candidate for mayor in 2015[28]
- Pearl Sims, former Davidson County planning commission member[28]
- Organizations
- Americans for Tax Reform[41]
- Community Leaders of America[41]
- Davidson County GOP[42]
- Individuals
- Grover Norquist, political activist and founder of Americans for Tax Reform[43]
- J. C. Bowman, executive and CEO of Professional Educators of Tennessee[41]
- John D. Richardson, Tennessee Republican Party state executive
Runoff polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Freddie O'Connell |
Alice Rolli |
Other/ Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Show Me Victories (D)[58] | August 11–16, 2023 | 430 (RV) | ± 3.8% | 58% | 40% | 2% |
Runoff results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freddie O'Connell | 72,989 | 63.85 | |
| Alice Rolli | 41,205 | 36.04 | |
| Write-in | 123 | 0.11 | |
| Total votes | 114,317 | 100.00 | |
See also
- 2023 Jackson, Tennessee mayoral election
- 2023 Knoxville, Tennessee mayoral election
- 2023 Memphis, Tennessee mayoral election