The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee was held on November 8, 2016, to elect the nine U.S. representatives from the state of Tennessee , one from each of the state's nine congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including President of the United States . The primaries were held on August 4.
2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee Turnout 61.92% [ 1] 24.95 pp
Majority party
Minority party
Party
Republican
Democratic
Last election
7
2
Seats won
7
2
Seat change
Popular vote
1,493,740
814,181
Percentage
62.47%
34.05%
Swing
0.56%
1.35%
Results by party winners Results by district margin Results by county Democratic hold Republican hold
Republican
50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
80–90%
Democratic
40–50%
60–70%
70–80%
Following the 2016 elections, no seats changed hands, leaving the Tennessee delegation at a 7-2 Republican majority.
Party
Votes
Percentage
Seats Before
Seats After
+/–
Republican
1,493,740
62.47%
7
7
Democratic
814,181
34.05%
2
2
Independents
83,134
3.48%
0
0
Write-Ins
6
0.00
0
0
Totals
2,391,061
100.00%
9
9
0
Popular vote
Republican
62.47%
Democratic
34.05%
Other
3.48%
House seats
Republican
77.78%
Democratic
22.22%
Results of the 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee by district:
2016 Tennessee's 1st congressional district election
Roe: 70–80% 80–90%
Incumbent Republican Phil Roe , who had represented the district since 2009, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 83% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+25.
Eliminated in primary
edit
Clint Tribble, conservative activist and YouTube personality
Alan Bohms, executive director of the Volunteer Firefighter Alliance
Independent Candidates
edit
Robert Franklin, U.S. Navy veteran
Paul Krane (write-in), student
2016 Tennessee's 2nd congressional district election
Duncan: 70–80% 80–90%
Incumbent Republican Jimmy Duncan , who had represented the district since 1989, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 73% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+20.
Stuart Starr, IT business owner and union organizer
2016 Tennessee's congressional district election
Fleischmann: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%
Incumbent Republican Chuck Fleischmann , who had represented the district since 2011, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 62% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+16.
Eliminated in primary
edit
Melody Shekari, policy analyst for the Chattanooga Department of Transportation[ 6]
Eliminated in primary
edit
Michael Friedman
George Ryan Love
Fleischmann was heavily favored to win re-election.
2016 Tennessee's 4th congressional district election
DesJarlais: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
Incumbent Republican Scott DesJarlais , who had represented the district since 2011, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 58% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+18.
Eliminated in primary
edit
Scandal-ridden incumbent representative Scott DesJarlais had narrowly won his primary in 2012, and faced another competitive primary against Starrett. While DesJarlais originally trailed in fundraising, the race tightened when a mailer sent out by the Starrett campaign sparked controversy over its alleged racism.[ 10]
Results by county: 40–50%
50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
Steven Reynolds, manager in the construction industry[ 11]
2016 Tennessee's 5th congressional district election
Cooper: 60–70%Ball: 60–70%
Incumbent Democrat Jim Cooper , who had represented the district since 2003, as well as previously between 1983 and 1995, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 62% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+5.
Stacy Reis Snyder, small business owner and songwriter
Eliminated in primary
edit
Jody Ball, businessman
John "Big John" Smith, deputy sheriff and candidate for this seat in 2012 & 2014
Ronnie Holden, candidate for this seat in 2014
Cooper was heavily favored to win re-election due to Nashville 's partisan composition.
2016 Tennessee's 6th congressional district election
County resultsBlack: 60–70% 70–80%
Incumbent Republican Diane Black , who had represented the district since 2011, ran for re-election. She was re-elected with 64% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+21.
Eliminated in primary
edit
Joe Carr attempted to ride anti-establishment sentiment to defeat incumbent Diane Black, who was openly considering a future run for governor.
Results by county:
Despite a strong challenge, Black won re-election by a larger margin than expected.[ 12]
David Kent, manufacturing industry manager
Eliminated in primary
edit
2016 Tennessee's 7th congressional district election
County resultsBlackburn: 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%
Incumbent Republican Marsha Blackburn , who had represented the district since 2003, ran for re-election. She was re-elected with 70% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+18.
Tharon Chandler, journalist
Blackburn dramatically outspent Chandler and easily won re-election.
2016 Tennessee's 8th congressional district election
County resultsKustoff: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
Hobson: 40–50%
Incumbent Republican Stephen Fincher , who had represented the district since 2011, announced he would not run for re-election.[ 13] He was re-elected with 71% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+19.
Eliminated in primary
edit
Stephen Fincher , incumbent U.S. Representative
Scott Golden, district director for Congressman Fincher and member of the Tennessee Republican State Executive Committee[ 19]
Andy Holt , state representative [ 19]
Ed Jackson , state senator[ 19]
Ron Kirkland, physician and candidate for this seat in 2010 [ 19]
Steve McManus , state representative [ 24] [ 25]
Mark Norris , Majority Leader of the Tennessee Senate [ 19] [ 26]
John Ryder, Republican National Committee General Counsel and committee member[ 19]
Bill Sanderson , state representative [ 19]
John Stevens , state senator[ 19]
Matthew Stowe, district attorney general for the 24th judicial district[ 19]
Mary Wagner, Shelby County GOP Chair[ 19]
Amy Weirich, Shelby County District Attorney[ 19]
Results by county:
Kustoff won the crowded Republican primary with 27% of the vote.[ 27]
Eliminated in primary
edit
James Coffman
Erika Stotts Pearson, sports agent
The 8th District, consisting of Memphis ' suburbs and much of rural West Tennessee , is strongly Republican, foreshadowing a likely Kustoff win.
2016 Tennessee's 9th congressional district election
County resultCohen: 70–80%
Incumbent Democrat Steve Cohen , who had represented the district since 2007, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 75% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+25.
Eliminated in primary
edit
Palmer Lee Harris
Ernest Lunati, candidate for this seat in 2012
^ "Tennessee Voter Turnout in 2016" . Tennessee Secretary of State . November 8, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2023 .
^ a b c "Roe, Fleischmann, Shekari picks for primary election" . Retrieved September 14, 2016 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Election Results - Primary" . Tennessee Secretary of State. August 4, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016 .
^ a b c News Sentinel Editorial Board (October 16, 2016). "Endorsements: Duncan, Roe Fleischmann" . knoxnews.com . Knoxville News Sentinel. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2023 .
^ a b c d e f g h i "United States House of Representatives District 1" (PDF) . State of Tennessee . Retrieved February 5, 2023 .
^ "A little about Melody Shekari, who is running for U.S. House District 3" . Archived from the original on September 22, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2016 .
^ Pam Sohn (July 14, 2016). "Chattanooga Times announces endorsement for 3rd District House seat" . timesfreepress.com . Chattanooga Times Free Press. Archived from the original on July 27, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2016 .
^ Clint Cooper (November 8, 2016). "The Free Press recommends these candidates" . timesfreepress.com . Chattanooga Times Free Press. Archived from the original on November 13, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2023 .
^ Pam Sohn (November 8, 2016). "The Times recommends these candidates" . timesfreepress.com . Chattanooga Times Free Press. Archived from the original on November 13, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2023 .
^ "Grant Starrett mailer attacking DesJarlais also offends Muslims" . Retrieved September 14, 2016 .
^ "Steven Reynolds for US Congress" . Archived from the original on April 13, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2016 .
^ "U.S. Rep. Diane Black crushes Joe Carr in GOP primary" . The Tennessean . Retrieved September 14, 2016 .
^ Collins, Michael (February 1, 2016). "U.S. Rep. Fincher says he won't run for reelection" . The Commercial Appeal . Retrieved February 1, 2016 .
^ "Three candidates vying for Rep. Fincher's congressional seat" . WREG . February 2, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016 .
^ Humphrey, Tom (February 9, 2016). "Sixth GOP candidate files in 8th Congressional District" . Humphrey on the Hill . Retrieved March 16, 2016 .
^ Allen, Bob (March 8, 2016). "Baptist political science prof running for Congress" . Baptist News Global . Retrieved March 16, 2016 .
^ "Contenders Emerge for Fincher's Seat" . Memphis Daily News . February 2, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016 .
^ "Jackson businessman Brad Greer announces run for Congress" . WBBJ-TV . February 4, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2016 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Tennessee's Stephen Fincher Won't Run in 2016" . Roll Call . February 2, 2016. Archived from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016 .
^ "U.S. Rep. Fincher not seeking re-election" . Jackson SUn . February 1, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016 .
^ Callahan, Jody; Royer, David (February 29, 2016). "Luttrell announces his run for Congress" . The Commercial Appeal . Retrieved March 6, 2016 .
^ Collins, Michael (March 7, 2016). "Collierville businessman to seek Fincher's seat" . The Commercial Appeal . Retrieved March 16, 2016 .
^ "Lee Harris Out, Steve Basar In?" . Memphis Flyer . January 28, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016 .
^ a b "Republicans line up for Rep. Fincher's seat" . Commercial Appeal . February 1, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016 .
^ Locker, Richard (February 3, 2016). "State Rep. McManus changes his mind on Congressional run" . The Commercial Appeal . Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ Locker, Richard (March 3, 2016). "Norris says he won't run for Congress" . The Commercial Appeal . Retrieved March 16, 2016 .
^ "Memphis Jewish lawyer David Kustoff wins GOP primary in Tennessee" . Jewish Telegraphic Agency . August 5, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016 .
^ "Rickey Hobson for Congress" . rickeyhobson . Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2016 .
^ a b Poe, Ryan (February 15, 2016). "Two Democrats file for District 8 Congressional seat" . The Commercial Appeal . Retrieved March 16, 2016 .
^ "Tennessee Secretary of State" (PDF) . tensos.net . Retrieved September 13, 2016 .
^ "Tennessee Primary Election Results 2016: House Live Map by District, Real-Time Voting Updates" . Election Hub . Retrieved September 14, 2016 .