2022 Tennessee gubernatorial election
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2022 Tennessee gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Tennessee, alongside other state and local elections. Incumbent Republican governor Bill Lee was re-elected to a second term with 64.9% of the vote, defeating his Democratic challenger Jason Martin. Lee improved on his performance from 2018.
![]() | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Turnout | 38.61% [1] 15.85 pp | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||
Lee: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Martin: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% No data | |||||||||||||||||
|
The primary elections took place on August 4, 2022, with Lee and Martin winning their respective parties' nominations.[2][3]
During the general election, Lee flipped reliably Democratic Haywood County, home to Brownsville. It is one of only two remaining counties in Tennessee, along with Shelby County, with a majority African-American population. Haywood County had not voted Republican on a presidential level since 1972. Martin won only Shelby and Davidson counties. This was the first time in state history that Davidson County did not vote for the winner in a gubernatorial re-election since Tennessee began allowing governors to serve for two consecutive terms.
Voter turnout for the 2022 midterm elections in Tennessee was the lowest it had been in nearly a decade, with only 38.6% of Tennessee's registered voters turning out. This was far below the 2020 presidential election in Tennessee, which saw a turnout of 69.3%.[4][5] The last time turnout was this low in Tennessee was in the 2014 midterm elections. Tennessee's neighboring state Alabama saw a significant drop in voter turnout as well.
Bill Lee was sworn in for his second term on January 21, 2023.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Disqualified
Declined
- Andy Ogles, mayor of Maury County (successfully ran for U.S. House)[9]
Endorsements
Bill Lee
U.S. executive branch officials
- Nikki Haley, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (2017–2018)[10]
- Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States (2017–2021)[11]
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Bill Lee (incumbent) | 494,362 | 100.00% | |
Total votes | 494,362 | 100.00% |
Democratic primary
Summarize
Perspective
Candidates
Nominee
- Jason Martin, pulmonologist and critical care specialist at Sumner Regional Medical Center and former Meharry Medical College professor[13][14]
Eliminated in primary
- Carnita Atwater, leader of New Chicago Community Development Corporation in Northern Memphis[15]
- J. B. Smiley Jr., Memphis city councilor[16]
Withdrew
Declined
- Gloria Johnson, state representative[19] (endorsed Jason Martin)[20]
Endorsements
J. B. Smiley Jr.
U.S. representatives
- Steve Cohen, U.S. representative for Tennessee's 9th congressional district (2007–present)[21]
Local officials
- Lee Harris, mayor of Shelby County (2018–present) and former Minority Leader of the Tennessee Senate from the 29th district (2015–2018)[22]
- W. W. Herenton, former mayor of Memphis (1992–2009)[23]
Results

Martin
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
Smiley
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
Atwater
- 30–40%
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Jason Martin | 101,552 | 39.39% | |
Democratic | J.B. Smiley Jr. | 100,062 | 38.81% | |
Democratic | Carnita Atwater | 56,227 | 21.81% | |
Total votes | 257,841 | 100.00% |
Independents
Candidates
Declared
- Constance Every, nonprofit founder[25]
- John Gentry, accountant[25]
- Basil Marceaux, businessman and perennial candidate[25]
- Alfred O'Neil[25]
- Deborah Rouse, candidate for president of the United States in 2020[25]
- Michael Scantland, sales manager[25]
- Rick Tyler, perennial candidate (also ran for U.S. House)[25]
- Charles Van Morgan, small business owner[25]
Disqualified
General election
Summarize
Perspective
Predictions
Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
The Cook Political Report[26] | Solid R | March 4, 2022 |
Inside Elections[27] | Solid R | July 22, 2022 |
Sabato's Crystal Ball[28] | Safe R | June 29, 2022 |
Politico[29] | Solid R | April 1, 2022 |
RCP[30] | Safe R | January 10, 2022 |
Fox News[31] | Solid R | May 12, 2022 |
538[32] | Solid R | August 4, 2022 |
Elections Daily[33] | Safe R | November 7, 2022 |
Fundraising
Campaign finance reports as of July 5, 2022 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
Bill Lee (R) | $3,516,828 | $3,316,034 | $375,465 |
Jason Martin (D) | $187,424 | $495,649 | $160,736 |
Source: Tennessee Registry of Election Finance[34] |
Post-primary endorsements
Bill Lee (R)
Jason Martin (D)
Labor unions
Polling
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Bill Lee (R) |
Generic Opponent |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vanderbilt University[42] | April 26 – May 14, 2022 | 1,000 (RV) | ± 3.8% | 48% | 39% | 12% |
Hypothetical polling
Bill Lee vs. generic opponent
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Bill Lee (incumbent) | 1,129,390 | 64.91% | +5.55 | |
Democratic | Jason Martin | 572,818 | 32.92% | −5.63 | |
Independent | John Gentry | 15,395 | 0.89% | N/A | |
Independent | Constance Every | 10,277 | 0.59% | N/A | |
Independent | Deborah Rouse | 3,772 | 0.22% | N/A | |
Independent | Rick Tyler | 2,380 | 0.14% | N/A | |
Independent | Charles Van Morgan | 1,862 | 0.11% | N/A | |
Independent | Basil Marceaux | 1,568 | 0.09% | N/A | |
Independent | Alfred O'Neil | 1,216 | 0.07% | N/A | |
Independent | Michael Scantland | 815 | 0.05% | N/A | |
Write-In | Lemichael D. Wilson | 386 | 0.02% | N/A | |
Write-In | Charles Carney | 2 | 0.00% | N/A | |
Write-In | Stephen C. Maxwell | 1 | 0.00% | N/A | |
Write-In | Kameron Parker Scott | 0 | 0.00% | N/A | |
Total votes | 1,739,882 | 100.00% | |||
Turnout | 1,756,397 | 38.61% | −15.85% | ||
Registered electors | 4,549,183 | ||||
Republican hold |
By county
By county | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
|
By congressional district
Lee won eight of nine congressional districts.[45]
District | Lee | Martin | Representative |
---|---|---|---|
1st | 78.0% | 19.9% | Diana Harshbarger |
2nd | 66.8% | 31.3% | Tim Burchett |
3rd | 68.8% | 29.1% | Chuck Fleischmann |
4th | 72.1% | 25.7% | Scott DesJarlais |
5th | 58.6% | 39.6% | Jim Cooper (117th Congress) |
Andy Ogles (118th Congress) | |||
6th | 65.8% | 31.9% | John W. Rose |
7th | 59.6% | 37.9% | Mark E. Green |
8th | 73.2% | 25.0% | David Kustoff |
9th | 32.6% | 64.7% | Steve Cohen |
See also
Notes
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.