Early voting starts today for the state and federal primary elections, as well as the Davidson County general and Oak Hill municipal elections.
Polls are open from Friday, July 17, through Saturday, Aug. 1 — with primary Election Day to follow on Aug. 6. The locations open at 8 a.m. but close at various times between 4:30 and 7 p.m. depending on the date. See the full schedule and location options at this link or in the document below.
Most notably, this is the primary election for Tennessee's next governor, with Gov. Bill Lee reaching the end of his second term.
The Republican gubernatorial race features U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, the present favorite according to polling, facing off against U.S. Rep. John Rose. State Rep. Monty Fritts (R-Kingston) is also vying for the nomination, though he lags considerably behind the others in polling.
Trump-loving John Rose and liberal Jerri Green share one thing: wanting to beat Marsha Blackburn
Memphis Democrat Jerri Green is the leading candidate in the state's minority party, which will face an uphill battle in November against the Republican candidate. Democrats Carnita Atwater, Tim Cyr, Adam "Ditch" Kurtz and Kevin Lee McCants also appear on the primary ballot. (See Q&As with the candidates for governor from the Nashville Banner.)
U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty is seeking reelection for his Senate seat and is uncontested in the Republican primary. Several Democrats are on the ballot this primary, and the winner will go on to challenge the longtime sitting senator. The U.S. House of Representatives seats in Tennessee's 4th and 6th Congressional Districts each have four Republicans facing off, while the 7th District's Matt Van Epps runs uncontested for the Republican nomination.
In the Democratic primary, the 4th, 6th and 7th Congressional Districts feature many candidates who will face a difficult general election after the recent redrawing of congressional maps by the state legislature to favor Republican candidates. See a full list of candidates in the sample ballot below.
Several positions in the Tennessee General Assembly are up for election, though many candidates are uncontested. Incumbent Sen. Mark Pody (R-Lebanon) faces Theodore "Butch" Baker for the Republican nomination. District 59 is a wide-open Democratic field, with incumbent Caleb Hemmer announcing he would not seek reelection this year. Candidates include Rick Ewing, Angie Lawless, Mark Proctor, Beth West and Bill Hancock. (See Q&As with the statehouse candidates from the Banner.)
A four-part look at the fallout from the Republican supermajority’s successful gerrymandering attempts
For now, some statehouse candidates have no challenger in the August primary but will face off with other candidates in the Nov. 3 general election. Republican Michelle Vetter and independent Martez Coleman are both challenging incumbent Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) for his District 52 seat. Sitting House Minority Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville) will face Republican Jayla Thomas in District 55. And incumbent Rep. Shaundelle Brooks (D-Nashville) will face Republican Eva Romero in District 60.
Davidson County held its primary in April, and all of those positions are uncontested in the general election. See a list of candidates for each race in the sample ballot below.
Several surrounding counties also hold primary elections, with early voting beginning today. Notably, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Sumner and Robertson county citizens will all be voting for county mayors in this election cycle.
