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BREAKING: Live Tennessee Primary Results Updating Now
Tennessee Primary Elections: Your Simple Guide to What’s Happening Thursday
What’s the Big Deal?
Think of Tennessee’s primary election on Thursday like the semi-finals before the championship game in November. Voters are picking which candidates will represent their parties in the general election. Here’s what makes this one special:
- New governor incoming: Current Governor Bill Lee can’t run again (term limits), so Republicans are fighting to replace him
- Memphis got reshuffled: Republican lawmakers redrew congressional maps, splitting Memphis into three districts and forcing 20-year Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen to retire
- Safe seats: Tennessee hasn’t elected a Democratic governor in 20 years, and the last Democratic Senator was Al Gore in 1990
The Main Event: Republican Governor Primary
Three big names are battling for the GOP nomination. Since Tennessee leans heavily Republican, this primary likely decides the next governor.
| Candidate | Current Job | Money & Support |
|---|---|---|
| Marsha Blackburn | U.S. Senator (won reelection 2024) | Outside group spent $5.1M backing her; Trump endorsed her before |
| John Rose | U.S. Representative (4 terms) | Loaned his own campaign $13M; Trump endorsed him before |
| Monty Fritts | State Representative | Less known, less money |
Important: Donald Trump endorsed both Blackburn and Rose in their past races, but hasn’t picked a favorite this time.
Democratic Side
Five Democrats are running, including Memphis City Councilwoman Jerri Green. But in a state this red, the Republican primary winner is the heavy favorite for November.
The Memphis Map Shake-Up
What Happened?
In May 2025, Republican state lawmakers drew new congressional maps. They split heavily Democratic Memphis into three Republican-leaning districts.
The Result?
- Rep. Steve Cohen (Democrat, 20 years in Congress) saw his district disappear → he retired
- The new 9th District voted 60% for Trump in 2024 (old district voted 71% for Harris)
Who’s Running in the New 9th District?
Democrats:
- Justin Pearson — State rep, famously expelled in 2023 for gun control protest (won seat back)
- London Lamar — State Senator
- Jim Torino — Former healthcare/nonprofit executive
Republicans:
- Brent Taylor — State Senator → Trump’s pick, raised most money
- Todd Warner — State Representative
- Jeremy Thompson — Retired Army sergeant, volunteer firefighter
- Charlotte Bergmann — Conservative activist
Other Races to Watch
U.S. Senate — Bill Hagerty (R) Seeking Reelection
- Only Republican on ballot → automatically nominee
- Five Democrats challenging him in November
- Fun fact: Last Democrat to win a TN Senate seat? Al Gore, 1990
State Legislature
- Half of 33 State Senate seats + all 99 State House seats up in 2026
- Republicans hold supermajorities in both chambers
Voting Basics (ELI5 Edition)
When Do Polls Close?
8:00 PM Eastern Time — everywhere in Tennessee (state spans two time zones, but they sync closing time)
Who Can Vote?
Tennessee doesn’t register voters by party. But a 2023 law says at polling places, signs must state you should be a "bona fide" party member or "declare allegiance" to vote in that primary.
Translation: In practice, most people just pick a primary and vote. The law is vague on what "bona fide" actually means.
By the Numbers
- 4.7 million registered voters (as of June 1)
- 2024 Senate primaries: ~411K Republican voters vs ~205K Democratic voters
- 2022 Governor primaries: ~494K Republican vs ~258K Democratic
- ~55% vote early or by mail
Early Voting (As of Saturday Before Election)
- ~397,000 Republican ballots already cast
- ~225,000 Democratic ballots already cast
How Results Come In
| Timing | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 8:02 PM ET | First results typically appear (2 mins after polls close) |
| Early in the night | Counties dump early/mail votes first (usually ~55% of total) |
| ~11:19 PM ET | Last update in 2024 primary; >99.9% counted |
How AP Calls Winners
- No projections — only declares when trailing candidate mathematically cannot catch up
- If race uncalled, AP covers concessions/victory speeches but makes clear they haven’t called it
Recounts?
- No automatic recounts
- Candidates can’t request them
- Only happen via court challenge
- AP may still call race if lead is too big for recount to change outcome
The Three Counties That Decide Everything
Statewide elections hinge on Tennessee’s three biggest population centers:
| County | City | 2018 Gov Primary | 2020 Senate Primary | 2018/2024 Senate Primaries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson | Nashville | Lee won big here | Hagerty lost here | Blackburn won both |
| Shelby | Memphis | Lee’s opponents split it | Hagerty won big here | Blackburn won both |
| Knox | Knoxville | Lee’s opponents split it | Hagerty lost here | Blackburn won both |
Pattern: Candidates win by crushing one county, narrowly losing the other two, and sweeping rural areas.
Quick Summary
- Thursday = Primary Day — Polls close 8 PM ET
- GOP Governor Race = Main event (Blackburn vs Rose vs Fritts)
- Memphis Map Change = New 9th District, Cohen retired, Pearson vs Taylor headline
- Hagerty (Senate) = Unopposed in primary, five Dems wait for November
- Early voting huge — ~55% vote before Election Day
- Results fast — Most counted by 11 PM ET
- Three counties rule — Davidson, Shelby, Knox decide statewide races
FAQ
Q: Can I vote in whichever primary I want?
A: Yes, practically speaking. Tennessee doesn’t register by party. The 2023 law puts up signs saying you should "declare allegiance," but there’s no check — you just ask for a Republican or Democratic ballot.
Q: Why does the Republican primary for governor matter so much?
A: Tennessee hasn’t elected a Democratic governor since 2002. The Republican nominee is essentially guaranteed to win in November.
Q: What happened to Congressman Steve Cohen?
A: Republican lawmakers redrew the map in May 2025, splitting Memphis into three Republican districts. Cohen’s district vanished, so he retired rather than run in a district Trump won 60-40.
Q: When will we know winners?
A: Most races called by 11 PM ET Thursday. AP only calls when a trailing candidate can’t mathematically catch up.
Q: What’s a "bona fide" party member?
A: The law doesn’t define it! It’s intentionally vague. In practice, almost anyone voting in a primary is allowed to participate.
One Last Thing
89 days after Thursday → November 2026 midterms. These primaries set the stage. Whether you’re Team Blackburn, Team Rose, Team Pearson, or Team Taylor — Thursday decides who’s on the ballot in November.
Stay informed. Vote early if you can. And remember — every election shapes the next one.
