2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee

The 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee were held on November 8, 2022, to elect the nine U.S. representatives from the state of Tennessee, one from each of the state's nine congressional districts. The elections coincided with other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections.

These elections were the first under Tennessee's new congressional map after redistricting was completed by the state government. During the general elections, Republican Andy Ogles flipped Tennessee's 5th congressional district, which was previously represented by Democrat Jim Cooper. With the number of Democrats in the delegation being reduced to just one, the 9th district's Steve Cohen, this represented the fewest Democrats sent to congress by Tennessee since the 41st Congress during reconstruction, an all Republican delegation.

Redistricting

The Tennessee Legislature drew new maps for Tennessee's congressional districts to account for the new 2020 census data. The Republican Party had a trifecta in the Tennessee Government at the time, giving them full control of the redistricting process. Legislators drew the maps for the state from late 2021 through early 2022. The maps that were eventually passed were widely criticized as partisan gerrymanders.

In particular, the redistricting split up the House district which had represented Democrat-heavy Nashville as long as Tennessee had been a state. The three districts that absorbed the city were then all won by Republicans, giving them 89% of Tennessee's U.S. House seats despite only getting 64% of the popular vote. This split also prevented urban voters from electing an African-American representative to the U.S. House, despite representing about 17% of the population.

Overview

DistrictRepublicanDemocraticOthersTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % 147,241 78.32% 37,049 19.71% 3,713 1.97% 188,003 100.0% Republican hold 141,089 67.91% 66,673 32.09% 0 0.00% 207,762 100.0% Republican hold 136,639 68.38% 60,334 30.19% 2,857 1.43% 199,830 100.0% Republican hold 122,401 70.57% 44,648 25.74% 6,388 3.68% 173,437 100.0% Republican hold 123,558 55.84% 93,648 42.32% 4,069 1.84% 221,275 100.0% Republican gain 129,388 66.33% 65,675 33.67% 0 0.00% 195,063 100.0% Republican hold 108,421 59.96% 68,973 38.14% 3,428 1.90% 180,822 100.0% Republican hold 155,602 73.99% 51,102 24.30% 3,611 1.72% 210,315 100.0% Republican hold 35,123 26.23% 93,800 70.04% 4,995 3.73% 133,918 100.0% Democratic holdTotal 1,099,462 64.28% 581,902 34.02% 29,061 1.70% 1,710,425 100.0%

District 1

The 1st district is based in northeast Tennessee, encompassing all of Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties and parts of Jefferson and Sevier counties, and includes the Tri-Cities region. The district was barely impacted by the 2020 redistricting cycle. The incumbent was Republican Diana Harshbarger, who was elected with 74.7% of the vote in 2020 and won re-election in 2022.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Diana Harshbarger, incumbent U.S. Representative (2021–present)

Disqualified James Andrew Greene Chuck Miller Gary Wyatt

Endorsements

Results

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Cameron Parsons, employee at Eastman Chemical Company

Results

Independents Candidates Declared Richard Baker, Republican candidate for this seat in 2020 Ahmed Makrom, nurse

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report February 7, 2022 Inside Elections May 23, 2022 Sabato's Crystal Ball February 8, 2022Politico April 5, 2022RCPJune 9, 2022Fox News July 11, 2022DDHQJuly 20, 2022538June 30, 2022The Economist September 28, 2022

Results

District 2

The 2nd district is located in eastern Tennessee, anchored by Knoxville. The district was barely impacted by the 2020 redistricting cycle. The incumbent was Republican Tim Burchett, who was re-elected with 67.6% of the vote in 2020 and won re-election in 2022.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Tim Burchett, incumbent U.S. Representative (2019–present)

Results

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Mark Harmon, professor at the University of Tennessee, former Knox County commissioner (2006–2010), and nominee for Texas's 13th congressional district in 1998

Disqualified Marcus Lowery

Endorsements

Results

Independents Candidates Disqualified Jeffrey Grunau

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report February 7, 2022 Inside Elections May 23, 2022 Sabato's Crystal Ball February 8, 2022Politico April 5, 2022RCPJune 9, 2022Fox News July 11, 2022DDHQJuly 20, 2022538June 30, 2022The Economist September 28, 2022

Results

District 3

The 3rd district encompasses most of the Chattanooga metro in eastern Tennessee, along with several suburban and rural areas near Knoxville and the Tri-Cities. The district was barely impacted by the 2020 redistricting cycle. However, under the new lines, the district no longer touches the border of Kentucky. The incumbent was Republican Chuck Fleischmann, who was re-elected with 67.3% of the vote in 2020 and won re-election in 2022.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Chuck Fleischmann, incumbent U.S. Representative (2011–present)

Eliminated in primary Sandy Casey, Navy veteran

Disqualified Dewitt Ferrell Bradley Hayes

Withdrew Kenny Morgan

Endorsements

Results

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Meg Gorman, nominee for this seat in 2020

Results

Independents Candidates Declared Thomas Rumba Rick Tyler, white supremacist and perennial candidate (later decided to run for governor instead)

Disqualified Amber Hysell

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report February 7, 2022 Inside Elections May 23, 2022 Sabato's Crystal Ball February 8, 2022Politico April 5, 2022RCPJune 9, 2022Fox News July 11, 2022DDHQJuly 20, 2022538June 30, 2022The Economist September 28, 2022

Results

District 4

The 4th district encompasses the southern part of Middle Tennessee, including Murfreesboro and Lynchburg. The district was barely impacted by the 2020 redistricting cycle, though it does take up more of the southern border of the state. The incumbent was Republican Scott DesJarlais, who was re-elected with 66.7% of the vote in 2020 and won re-election in 2022.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Scott DesJarlais, incumbent U.S. Representative (2011–present)

Disqualified Charles Dean Smith

Results

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Wayne Steele, write-in candidate for this seat in 2018

Eliminated in primary Arnold White

Results

Independents Candidates Clyde Benson, veteran Tharon Chandler, journalist and perennial candidate David Jones, engineer and Libertarian activist Joseph Mayger Mike Winton, perennial candidate

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report February 7, 2022 Inside Elections May 23, 2022 Sabato's Crystal Ball February 8, 2022Politico April 5, 2022RCPJune 9, 2022Fox News July 11, 2022DDHQJuly 20, 2022538June 30, 2022The Economist September 28, 2022

Results

District 5

The 5th district was previously centered on Nashville and the immediate surrounding suburbs, and it also used to contain Dickson and part of Cheatham County. The incumbent was Democrat Jim Cooper, who ran unopposed in 2020.

On January 25, Cooper announced he would withdraw his candidacy for re-election and refund all campaign contributions, citing the state legislature's move to split Davidson County into three congressional districts.

Under the new Republican redistricting map, the new 5th district shifted from D+7 to R+9 and contained only the southern part of Nashville, as well as portions of Wilson and Williamson Counties and the entirety of Maury, Lewis, and Marshall Counties. The 6th and 7th districts absorbed the eastern and western parts of Davidson county, respectively.

In the general election, Republican Andy Ogles defeated Democratic challenger Heidi Campbell. With Ogles' victory, he became the first Republican in 147 years to represent Nashville in the House of Representatives.

Heidi Campbell performed strongest in the district's portion of Davidson County, where she swept nearly every precinct. This success included winning the traditionally Republican stronghold of Forest Hills and maintaining comfortable margins in and around her hometown of Oak Hill, where she previously served as Vice Mayor and the first female Mayor. These areas largely overlap with Tennessee Senate District 20, which Campbell had represented since 2020.

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Heidi Campbell, state senator Disqualified Justicia Rizzo

Withdrawn Jim Cooper, incumbent U.S. Representative (2003–2023) Odessa Kelly, executive director of Stand Up Nashville (candidate in the 7th district)

Endorsements

Results

Republican primary Early in the cycle, the Tennessee Republican Party’s state executive committee removed Donald Trump-endorsed Morgan Ortagus, along with Robby Starbuck and Baxter Lee, from the ballot. The party invoked internal bylaws requiring candidates to have voted in three of the last four statewide Republican primaries, a move widely criticized by some as an effort by the local "establishment" to narrow the field. Andy Ogles emerged as the winner with 35.4% of the vote, defeating former State House Speaker Beth Harwell and retired Brigadier General Kurt Winstead.

Candidates Nominee Andy Ogles, mayor of Maury County

Eliminated in primary Geni Batchelor, realtor Jeff Beierlein, healthcare executive Natisha Brooks, homeschool operator and owner Beth Harwell, former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives (2011–2019), former state representative (1989–2019), and candidate for governor of Tennessee in 2018 Timothy Bruce Lee, Nashville Fire Department paramedic Robby "Starbuck" Newsom, film director (write-in) Stewart Parks, realtor Kurt Winstead, retired national guard brigadier general Tres Wittum, policy and research analyst for state senator Bo Watson

Disqualified Baxter Lee, entrepreneur Morgan Ortagus, former Spokesperson for the United States Department of State (2019–2021)

Withdrew Quincy McKnight, businessman and Republican primary candidate for Tennessee State Senate District 21 (candidate for Nashville mayor)

Declined Manny Sethi, orthopedic surgeon and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JeffBeierlein BethHarwell TimothyLee AndyOgles KurtWinstead Other UndecidedSpry Strategies (R)Spry Strategies (R)July 2022300 (LV)± 5.7%9%22%10%15%20%–24%1892 Polling (R)1892 Polling (R)July 2022400 (LV)± 4.9%3%24%–30%13%9%21%

Results

Independent Candidates

Candidates Declared Derrick Brantley, business development consultant Daniel Cooper, former Maury County Commissioner Rick Shannon, veteran, author, pastor, and business owner

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 14, 2022 Inside Elections May 23, 2022 Sabato's Crystal Ball February 8, 2022Politico April 5, 2022RCPJune 9, 2022Fox News July 11, 2022DDHQJuly 20, 2022538June 30, 2022The Economist September 28, 2022

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error HeidiCampbell (D) AndyOgles (R) UndecidedFrederick Polls (D)Frederick Polls (D)August 12–17, 20221,622 (LV)± 2.4%51%48%1%

Results The results were controversial, mainly revolving around the state's gerrymandering, which many experts believed was what allowed Ogles to win. There were also some controversies around Ogles himself, who later came under fire over disputes involving his career and education.

By county