2023 Nashville mayoral election

The 2023 Nashville mayoral election took place on August 3, 2023, to elect the next mayor of Nashville, Tennessee. Incumbent Democratic Mayor John Cooper did not seek re-election to a second term in office. A wide field of candidates ran to succeed Cooper, with Democratic metro councilmember Freddie O'Connell and Republican political consultant Alice Rolli advancing to the runoff because no candidate surpassed 50% of the vote. In the runoff election, O'Connell was elected with 63.9% of the vote, defeating Rolli and becoming the 10th mayor of metro Nashville.

O'Connell was considered one of the more progressive figures in Nashville politics and is known for his vocal opposition to the use of public funds to build the Nissan Stadium. Rolli is a businesswoman who has worked for numerous prominent Tennessee Republicans in the past, including governor Bill Haslam and U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander.

All Nashville municipal elections are required to be non-partisan, but candidates can be affiliated with a political party. Rolli was considered an underdog in the runoff due to her status as a Republican in a heavily Democratic city. In the 60 years since the city of Nashville was consolidated with Davidson County in 1963, all of its mayors have been known to be Democrats. Democrat Joe Biden won the city with 64.5% of the vote in the 2020 presidential election.

Candidates Advanced to runoff +CandidateExperienceParty affiliation AnnouncedRefFreddie O'ConnellMetro councilmember from the 19th district since 2015DemocraticApril 28, 2022WebsiteAlice RolliFormer aide to governor Bill Haslam and U.S. Senator Lamar AlexanderRepublicanFebruary 24, 2023Website

Eliminated in first round +CandidateExperienceParty affiliation AnnouncedRefNatisha BrooksEducatorCandidate for in 2022RepublicanFebruary 20, 2023WebsiteFran BushFormer member of the Metropolitan NashvillePublic Schools Board (2018–2022)IndependentFebruary 17, 2023WebsiteHeidi CampbellState senator from the 20th district since 2021Nominee for Tennessee's 5th congressional district in 2022DemocraticApril 5, 2023WebsiteBernie CoxBusiness ownerCandidate for mayor in 2019RepublicanWebsiteSharon HurtAt-Large metro councilmember since 2015DemocraticDecember 5, 2022StephanieJohnsonBusiness ownerIndependent May 1, 2023WebsiteVivian WilhoiteDavidson County Property Assessor since 2016DemocraticMay 2, 2023WebsiteMatt WiltshireFormer Nashville Metropolitan Developmentand Housing Agency chief strategy officerDemocraticJuly 13, 2022WebsiteJeff YarbroFormer Minority Leader of the Tennessee Senate (2019–2023)State senator from the 21st district since 2015DemocraticFebruary 17, 2023Website

Withdrew after the filing deadline CandidateExperienceParty affiliationAnnouncedWithdrewRefJim GingrichFormer AllianceBernstein chief operating officerDemocraticFebruary 8, 2023WebsiteJuly 17, 2023

Withdrew before the filing deadline Gilbert Ramirez, business owner and former police officer (running for Metro Council at-large) Lorenzo Short Jr. real estate broker

Disqualified William Domann, musician Zerit Teklay, author

Declined Megan Barry, former mayor (2015–2018) (Party affiliation: Democratic) Hal Cato, former nonprofit executive John Cooper, incumbent mayor (Party affiliation: Democratic) David A. Fox, candidate for mayor in 2015 (endorsed Rolli) Bob Freeman, state representative for the 56th district (2018–present) (Party affiliation: Democratic) (endorsed Campbell) Odessa Kelly, community activist and nominee for Tennessee's 7th congressional district in 2022 (Party affiliation: Democratic) Bob Mendes, metro councilmember (endorsed O'Connell) Tara Scarlett, education nonprofit CEO Jim Shulman, vice mayor of Nashville (ran for re-election) Carol Swain, retired Vanderbilt University professor and candidate for mayor in 2018 and 2019 (Party affiliation: Republican)

First round

First round endorsements

First round polling

+Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin FranBush HeidiCampbell JimGingrich SharonHurt FreddieO'Connell AliceRolli VivianWilhoite MattWiltshire JeffYarbro Other/UndecidedVictoryPhones (R)VictoryPhones (R)July 25–27, 2023500 (LV)± 4.4%0.8%5.9%–3.6%25.4%18.8%3.4%14.6%13.1%14.5%GBAO Strategies (D)GBAO Strategies (D)July 17–19, 2023500 (LV)± 4.4%–8%–6%21%13%4%10%12%25% July 17 Gingrich withdraws from the raceMusic City ResearchMusic City ResearchJuly 5–6, 2023502 (LV)± 4.2%–7%4%3%20%13%3%15%6%30%Public Policy Polling (D)Public Policy Polling (D)June 2–4, 2023400 (LV)± 4.2%–8%3%7%10%4%–8%9%51%VictoryPhones (R)VictoryPhones (R)May 2–4, 2023500 (LV)± 4.4%2%21.9%4.2%6.7%15.6%4%3.2%6.6%17%18.8%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error HalCato JohnCooper MattWiltshire UndecidedImpact ResearchImpact ResearchApril 6–11, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%38%28%13%21%

First round results

Runoff

Runoff endorsements Endorsements in bold were made after the first round.

Runoff polling +Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin FreddieO'Connell AliceRolli Other/UndecidedShow Me Victories (D)Show Me Victories (D)August 11–16, 2023430 (RV)± 3.8%58%40%2%

Runoff results

2023 Nashville mayoral election

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