2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee

The 2010 congressional elections in Tennessee were held on November 2, 2010 to determine who would represent the state of Tennessee in the United States House of Representatives. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected serve in the 112th Congress from January 2011 until January 2013.

2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee

← 2008 November 2, 2010 (2010-11-02) 2012 →
All 9 Tennessee seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Republican Democratic Last election 4 5 Seats won 7 2 Seat change 3 3 Popular vote 955,078 541,527 Percentage 61.2% 34.7%
Republican   50-59%   60-69%   70-79%   80-89% Democratic   50-59%   70-79%

Tennessee has nine seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, 2010^[1]
Party		Votes	Percentage	Seats Before	Seats After	+/–
	Republican	955,078	61.3%	4	7	+3
	Democratic	541,527	34.7%	5	2	-3
	Independent	62,524	4.01%	0	0	0
Totals		1,559,129	100.00%	9	9	—

By district

Results of the 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee by district:^[2]

District	Republican		Democratic		Others		Total		Result
	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%
District 1	123,006	80.84%	26,045	17.12%	3,110	2.04%	152,161	100.0%	Republican Hold
District 2	141,796	81.78%	25,400	14.65%	6,184	3.57%	173,380	100.0%	Republican Hold
District 3	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
District 5	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
District 7	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
District 9	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%

Congressional districts

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

• Michael Clark

Democratic primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Michael Clark	9,012	100.0
Total votes			9,012	100.0

Republican primary

• Phil Roe, incumbent
• Mahmood "Michael" Sabri

Republican primary results^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Phil Roe (incumbent)	78,862	95.7
	Republican	Mahmood "Michael" Sabri	3,546	4.3
Total votes			82,408	100.0

General election

Tennessee's 1st congressional district, 2010^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Phil Roe (incumbent)	123,006	80.84
	Democratic	Michael Clark	26,045	17.12
	Independent	Kermit Steck	3,110	2.04
Total votes			152,161	100.0
	Republican hold

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets
• Race profile at The New York Times

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

• Dave Hancock

Democratic primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dave Hancock	9,778	100.0
Total votes			9,778	100.0

Republican primary

• Jimmy Duncan, incumbent

Republican primary results^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jimmy Duncan (incumbent)	92,414	100.0
Total votes			92,414	100.0

General election

Tennessee's 2nd congressional district, 2010^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jimmy Duncan (incumbent)	141,796	81.78
	Democratic	Dave Hancock	25,400	14.65
	Independent	Joseph R. Leinweber Jr.	2,497	1.44
	Independent	D.H. "Andy" Andrew	1,993	1.15
	Independent	Greg Samples	1,185	0.68
	Independent	H. James Headings	509	0.30
Total votes			173,380	100.0
	Republican hold

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets
• Race profile at The New York Times

District 3

 

See also: Tennessee's 3rd congressional district

Republican Representative Zach Wamp announced that he would be running for governor in 2010, leaving the third district open.^[6]

Democratic primary

• Alicia Mitchell
• Brenda Freeman Short
• Brent Davis Staton
• John Wolfe Jr., attorney and perennial candidate
• Larry J. Abeare, Sr (write-in)

Democratic primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John Wolfe Jr.	7,006	38.92
	Democratic	Brenda Freeman Short	4,530	25.17
	Democratic	Brent Davis Staton	4,530	21.19
	Democratic	Alicia Mitchell	2,647	14.71
	Democratic	Larry J. Abeare, Sr. (write-in)	3	0.01
Total votes			18,000	100.0

Republican primary

• Tommy Crangle
• Chuck Fleischmann, attorney
• Tim Gobble
• Harvey Howard
• Jean Howard-Hill
• Van Irion
• Rick Kernea
• Basil Marceaux, perennial candidate
• Art Rhodes
• Robin Smith, former TNGOP Chairwoman^[7]
• Grover Travillian

Republican primary results^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Chuck Fleischmann	26,869	29.67
	Republican	Robin Smith	25,454	28.11
	Republican	Tim Gobble	14,274	15.76
	Republican	Van Irion	10,492	11.59
	Republican	Tommy Crangle	5,149	5.69
	Republican	Art Rhodes	4,552	5.03
	Republican	Jean Howard-Hill	1,259	1.39
	Republican	Rick Kernea	739	0.82
	Republican	Harvey Howard	670	0.74
	Republican	Basil Marceaux	655	0.72
	Republican	Grover Travillian	440	0.48
Total votes			90,553	100.0

General election

Tennessee's 3rd congressional district, 2010^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Chuck Fleischmann	92,032	56.79
	Democratic	John Wolfe Jr.	45,387	28.01
	Independent	Savas T. Kyriakidis	17,077	10.54
	Independent	Mark DeVol	5,773	3.56
	Independent	Don Barkman	811	0.50
	Independent	Gregory C. Goodwin	380	0.23
	Independent	Robert Humphries	380	0.23
	Independent	Mo Kiah	216	0.14
Total votes			162,056	100.0
	Republican hold

• from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets
• Race profile at The New York Times

District 4*

 

Democratic incumbent Lincoln Davis ran for reelection, challenged by Republican nominee Scott DesJarlais, a physician in Jasper, and Independents Paul H. Curtis (PVS), James Gray (, PVS), Richard S. Johnson (PVS), and Gerald York (, PVS).

Davis had represented the district since 2003. He turned down a run for governor, deciding to run for reelection instead.^[8]

This district lies in Middle and East Tennessee.

Scott DesJarlais (R) won the election.

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets
• Race profile at The New York Times

District 5

 

See also: Tennessee's 5th congressional district

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 reelection.

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets
• Race profile at The New York Times

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.^[8]

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.^[9] 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.

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets
• at The New York Times

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.^[10]

Marsha Blackburn (R) won reelection.

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets
• Race profile at The New York Times

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.^[8]

Steve Fincher was the Republican nominee,^[11] and State Senator Roy Herron was the Democratic nominee.^[12] Also on the ballot are Tea Party candidate Donn Janes (, PVS), who earlier dropped out of the Republican primary, and Independent Mark J. Rawles (campaign site, PVS).^[13]

This district covers roughly the northwestern part of the state.

Stephen Fincher (R) won the election.

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets
• Race profile at The New York Times

Endorsements

Herron had been endorsed by the state's two largest newspapers, the Memphis Commercial Appeal^[14] and the Nashville Tennessean.^[15]

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.^[16]

Forecasts

As of October 22, 2010, Rothenberg Political Report rated the race as "Lean Republican",^[17] Real Clear Politics as "Leans GOP".^[18] Charlie Cook as "Lean Republican",^[19] CQ Politics as "Likely Republican",^[20] Larry Sabato as "Likely R",^[21] and Chris Cillizza of The Washington Post placed the race at number 23 of the races most likely to change party hands.^[22]

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.^[23]

Polling

Poll Source	Dates Administered	Stephen Fincher (R)	Roy Herron (D)	Donn Janes (I)	Undecided
	August 10–11, 2010	47%	37%	5%	11%

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 reelection.

• from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets
• Race profile at The New York Times

Key

* A district that has a PVI of a party that is represented by the opposite party, and applies to an EVEN score

References

1. "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives". from the original on 2015-05-04. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
2. Haas, Karen L. (June 3, 2011). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010". Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. from the original on January 3, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
3. "DemUSHouseCounty" (PDF). State of Tennessee, August 5, 2010, Democratic Primary. Tennessee Secretary of State. August 5, 2010. (PDF) from the original on July 30, 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
4. "RepUSHouseCounty" (PDF). State of Tennessee, August 5, 2010, Republican Primary. Tennessee Secretary of State. August 5, 2010. (PDF) from the original on January 24, 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
5. "USHCounty" (PDF). State of Tennessee, November 2, 2010, State General. Tennessee Secretary of State. November 2, 2010. (PDF) from the original on July 30, 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
6. . Timesfreepress.com. Archived from the original on 2010-08-23. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
7. Isenstadt, Alex (July 27, 2009). "Divisive Tennesseean seeks seat". Politico. from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
8. John McArdle (2009-12-22). . CQ Politics. Archived from the original on 2009-12-26. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
9. McArdle, John (2009-12-14). . Blogs.cqpolitics.com. Archived from the original on 2010-02-16. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
10. "Dr. Greg Rabidoux files for U.S. 7th Congressional District » Clarksville, TN Online". Clarksvilleonline.com. 2009-06-04. from the original on 2009-10-30. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
11. Locker, Richard. "Jackson, Tenn., doctor weighing run for Congress". The Commercial Appeal. from the original on 2010-01-14. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
12. Dunlap, Stanley (December 8, 2009). "Mercer plans to run for Tanner's seat". The Jackson Sun. Jackson, Tennessee.
13. "Donn Janes Announces He Will Run as a Tea Party Candidate; Pulls Out of Republican Party Primary". Marketwire.com. from the original on 2010-01-18. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
14. "Editorial: Herron ready for Washington". Memphis Commercial Appeal. October 12, 2010. from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2010.
15. "Herron targets jobs, broadband and infrastructure". Nashville Tennessean. October 11, 2010. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
16. "Stephen Fincher for Congress - Endorsements". from the original on 2010-10-22. Retrieved 2010-10-22.
17. "House Ratings". insideelections.com. from the original on 2018-11-07. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
18. "2010 - Tennessee 8th District - Fincher vs. Herron | RealClearPolitics". www.realclearpolitics.com. from the original on 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
19. . Archived from the original on 2008-07-02. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
20. . Archived from the original on 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
21. Wood, Issac. House Race Changes 2010-10-23 at the Wayback Machine, Sabato's Crystal Ball
22. Cillizza, Chris.The Fix 50: The Battle for House control 2010-10-02 at the Wayback Machine, The Washington Post
23. "Tennessee - 8th District". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved Sep 14, 2010.

External links

• Elections from the Tennessee Department of State
  • Official candidate list
• U.S. Congress Candidates for Tennessee at Project Vote Smart
• Tennessee U.S. House from OurCampaigns.com
• Campaign contributions for U.S. Congressional races in Tennessee from OpenSecrets
• graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
• from the Cook Political Report
• from Congress.org