2002 Tennessee Senate election
November 5, 2002
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17 of the 33 seats in the Tennessee State Senate 17 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Tennessee |
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| Government |
The 2002 Tennessee State Senate election was held on Tuesday November 5, 2002, to determine which party would control the Tennessee Senate for the following two years in the 103rd Tennessee General Assembly. The seventeen odd-numbered districts of the 33 seat Tennessee Senate were up for election. Prior to the election 18 seats were held by Democrats and 15 were held by Republicans. Primary elections were held on August 1, 2002. The general election saw both parties holding on to the same amount of seats as the previous election, meaning that Democrats retained control of the Tennessee Senate.[1][2]
Retirements
Two incumbent Republicans did not run for re-election in 2002. Those incumbents were:
- District 13: Gene Elsea retired.
- District 23: Marsha Blackburn retired to successfully run for the U.S. House of Representatives for Tennessee's 7th congressional district.
Incumbents defeated
In the primary election
Republicans
- District 1: Tommy Haun (R) lost renomination to Steve Southerland.[3]
Democrats
- District 17: Robert Rochelle (D) lost renomination to Sherry Fisher.[4]
In the general election
Republicans
- District 27: Bobby Carter (R) lost re-election to Don McLeary.
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Cook Political Report[5] | Lean D | October 4, 2002 |
Results summary
| Party | Candidates | Votes | Seats | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | Before | Up | Won | After | +/– | |||
| Democratic | 14 | 332,487 | 44.04% | 18 | 7 | 7 | 18 | ||
| Republican | 14 | 412,490 | 54.27% | 15 | 10 | 10 | 15 | ||
| Independent | 4 | 10,004 | 1.33% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 754,981 | 100.00% | 33 | 33 | |||||
| Source: [1] | |||||||||
Closest races
Three races were decided by a margin of under 10%:
| District | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| District 17 | Republican (gain) | 5.60% |
| District 13 | Republican | 8.42% |
| District 27 | Democratic (gain) | 8.76% |
Results by district
| District | Democratic | Republican | Others | Total | Result | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | ||
| District 1 | – | – | 25,111 | 100.00% | – | – | 25,111 | 100.00% | Republican hold |
| District 3 | 8,129 | 19.30% | 30,758 | 73.03% | 3,232 | 7.67% | 42,119 | 100.00% | Republican hold |
| District 5 | 18,636 | 34.52% | 35,345 | 65.48% | – | – | 53,981 | 100.00% | Republican hold |
| District 7 | 17,210 | 38.09% | 26,812 | 59.34% | 1,159 | 2.57% | 45,181 | 100.00% | Republican hold |
| District 9 | 17,282 | 39.75% | 26,195 | 60.25% | – | – | 43,477 | 100.00% | Republican hold |
| District 11 | – | – | 41,443 | 100.00% | – | – | 41,443 | 100.00% | Republican hold |
| District 13 | 22,769 | 45.79% | 26,960 | 54.21% | – | – | 49,729 | 100.00% | Republican hold |
| District 15 | 30,942 | 58.11% | 21,691 | 40.74% | 614 | 1.15% | 53,247 | 100.00% | Democratic hold |
| District 17 | 25,592 | 47.20% | 28,624 | 52.80% | – | – | 54,216 | 100.00% | Republican gain |
| District 19 | 27,872 | 100.00% | – | – | – | – | 27,872 | 100.00% | Democratic hold |
| District 21 | 32,708 | 63.42% | 18,865 | 36.58% | – | – | 51,573 | 100.00% | Democratic hold |
| District 23 | – | – | 55,870 | 100.00% | – | – | 55,870 | 100.00% | Republican hold |
| District 25 | 28,677 | 62.94% | 16,887 | 37.06% | – | – | 45,564 | 100.00% | Democratic hold |
| District 27 | 27,706 | 54.62% | 23,018 | 45.38% | – | – | 50,724 | 100.00% | Democratic gain |
| District 29 | 27,480 | 100.00% | – | – | – | – | 27,480 | 100.00% | Democratic hold |
| District 31 | 11,186 | 21.89% | 34,911 | 68.32% | 4,999 | 9.79% | 51,096 | 100.00% | Republican hold |
| District 33 | 36,298 | 100.00% | – | – | – | – | 36,298 | 100.00% | Democratic hold |
Candidates and results
|
District 1 • District 3 • District 5 • District 7 • District 9 • District 11 • District 13 • District 15 • District 17 • District 19 • District 21 • District 23 • District 25 • District 27 • District 29 • District 31 • District 33 |
District 1
Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Steve Southerland | 14,232 | 56.98% | |
| Republican | Tommy Haun (incumbent) | 10,746 | 43.02% | |
| Total votes | 24,978 | 100.00% | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Steve Southerland | 25,111 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 25,111 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 3
Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Rusty Crowe (incumbent) | 14,153 | 60.57% | |
| Republican | Kevin D. Cole | 9,212 | 39.43% | |
| Total votes | 23,365 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Richard Dale Gabriel | 3,656 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 3,656 | 100.00% | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Rusty Crowe (incumbent) | 30,758 | 73.03% | |
| Democratic | Richard Dale Gabriel | 8,129 | 19.30% | |
| Independent | Charlie Mattioli | 3,232 | 7.67% | |
| Total votes | 42,119 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 5
Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Randy McNally (incumbent) | 11,692 | 50.92% | |
| Republican | Lee Frank | 11,271 | 49.08% | |
| Total votes | 22,963 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Gary Farmer | 11,591 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 11,591 | 100.00% | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Randy McNally (incumbent) | 35,345 | 65.48% | |
| Democratic | Gary Farmer | 18,636 | 34.52% | |
| Total votes | 53,981 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 7
Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tim Burchett (incumbent) | 13,250 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 13,250 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Bill Owen | 6,027 | 79.41% | |
| Democratic | Kendall Gene Wells | 1,562 | 20.59% | |
| Total votes | 7,589 | 100.00% | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tim Burchett (incumbent) | 26,812 | 59.34% | |
| Democratic | Bill Owen | 17,210 | 38.09% | |
| Independent | Joe Burchfield | 1,159 | 2.57% | |
| Total votes | 45,181 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 9
Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jeff Miller (incumbent) | 9,953 | 48.85% | |
| Republican | Calvin Rockholt | 6,950 | 34.11% | |
| Republican | Hal Y. Roe | 3,470 | 17.04% | |
| Total votes | 20,373 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ronald D. Moore | 5,655 | 66.60% | |
| Democratic | Charles S. Heron Jr. | 2,836 | 33.40% | |
| Total votes | 8,491 | 100.00% | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jeff Miller (incumbent) | 26,195 | 60.25% | |
| Democratic | Ronald D. Moore | 17,282 | 39.75% | |
| Total votes | 43,477 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 11
Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Fowler (incumbent) | 15,913 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 15,913 | 100.00% | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Fowler (incumbent) | 41,443 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 41,443 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 13
Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bill Ketron | 6,811 | 53.54% | |
| Republican | Alan Pedigo | 5,910 | 46.46% | |
| Total votes | 12,721 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Bobby Sands | 13,043 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 13,043 | 100.00% | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bill Ketron | 26,960 | 54.21% | |
| Democratic | Ronald D. Moore | 22,769 | 45.79% | |
| Total votes | 49,729 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 15
Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Paul Bailey | 10,848 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 10,848 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charlotte Burks (incumbent) | 23,614 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 23,614 | 100.00% | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charlotte Burks (incumbent) | 30,942 | 58.11% | |
| Republican | Paul Bailey | 21,691 | 40.74% | |
| Independent | Robert E. Grubb | 614 | 1.15% | |
| Total votes | 53,247 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 17
Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mae Beavers | 13,159 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 13,159 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sherry Fisher | 9,883 | 58.56% | |
| Democratic | Robert Rochelle (incumbent) | 6,993 | 41.44% | |
| Total votes | 16,876 | 100.00% | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mae Beavers | 28,624 | 52.80% | |
| Democratic | Sherry Fisher | 25,592 | 47.20% | |
| Total votes | 54,216 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
District 19
Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Thelma Harper (incumbent) | 14,798 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 14,798 | 100.00% | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Thelma Harper (incumbent) | 27,872 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 27,872 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 21
Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Alexander | 9,138 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 9,138 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Douglas Henry (incumbent) | 11,669 | 60.95% | |
| Democratic | Jeff Wilson | 7,476 | 39.05% | |
| Total votes | 19,145 | 100.00% | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Douglas Henry (incumbent) | 32,708 | 63.42% | |
| Republican | Tom Alexander | 18,865 | 36.58% | |
| Total votes | 51,573 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 23
Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jim Bryson | 11,510 | 48.91% | |
| Republican | Clint Callicott | 9,882 | 41.99% | |
| Republican | Laban Samuel Defriese | 2,141 | 9.10% | |
| Total votes | 23,533 | 100.00% | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jim Bryson | 55,870 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 55,870 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 25
Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | James F. Brasfield | 9,679 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 9,679 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Douglas S. Jackson (incumbent) | 19,992 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 19,992 | 100.00% | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Douglas S. Jackson (incumbent) | 28,677 | 62.94% | |
| Republican | James F. Brasfield | 16,887 | 37.06% | |
| Total votes | 45,564 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 27
Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bobby Carter (incumbent) | 12,389 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 12,389 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Don McLeary | 9,088 | 52.50% | |
| Democratic | Alex J. Leech | 6,801 | 39.29% | |
| Democratic | Harold T. Smith | 1,422 | 8.21% | |
| Total votes | 17,311 | 100.00% | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Don McLeary | 27,706 | 54.62% | |
| Republican | Bobby Carter (incumbent) | 23,018 | 45.38% | |
| Total votes | 50,724 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
District 29
Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Ford (incumbent) | 17,397 | 78.15% | |
| Democratic | Richard B. Fields | 4,863 | 21.85% | |
| Total votes | 22,260 | 100.00% | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Ford (incumbent) | 27,480 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 27,480 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 31
Republican primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Curtis S. Person Jr. (incumbent) | 24,739 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 24,739 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Anthony D'Agostino | 24,739 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 24,739 | 100.00% | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Curtis S. Person Jr. (incumbent) | 34,911 | 68.32% | |
| Democratic | Anthony D'Agostino | 11,186 | 21.89% | |
| Independent | Barbara Leding | 4,999 | 9.79% | |
| Total votes | 51,096 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 33
Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Roscoe Dixon (incumbent) | 24,170 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 24,170 | 100.00% | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Roscoe Dixon (incumbent) | 36,298 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 36,298 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
See also
- 2002 Tennessee elections
- 2002 Tennessee gubernatorial election
- 2002 Tennessee House of Representatives election
References
- ^ "General Election" (PDF). sharetngov.tnsosfiles.com. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
- ^ "Tennessee State Senate elections, 2002". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
- ^ "Republican Primary" (PDF). sharetngov.tnsosfiles.com. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
- ^ "Democratic Primary" (PDF). sharetngov.tnsosfiles.com. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
- ^ Jacobson, Louis (October 4, 2002). "2002 State Legislature Ratings". The Cook Political Report: 149–150. doi:10.7910/DVN/EH6LU0. Archived from the original on 2020-08-24 – via Harvard Dataverse.