Election Day across the state brought victories for many Democratic candidates in the Metropolitan Nashville Davidson County area. During Early Voting, 42,551 or 10.55% of the County’s 404,484 active registered voters cast ballots. 68,975 of the county’s 472,459 total registered voters were inactive, meaning only 9.01% of registered voters voted early. Election Day, thousands more cast ballots, likely fewer than those who cast early or absentee ballots, but the totals were uncertified at press time Friday, August 7.
The Election was a General Election for County offices, and a Primary for State and Federal Offices. Because Republicans are only interested in winning offices that allow them to exert economic and political power in their interests and for their cronies, they didn’t even qualify candidates or run for many local county offices, which are where public servants actually assist ordinary people.
These Democrats were unopposed in winning their respective elections to office: Sharon W. Hurt, County Clerk; Karen Johnson Register of Deeds; Howard Gentry, Criminal Court Clerk; Lonnell Matthews, Jr., Juvenile Court Clerk; Joseph P. Day, Circuit Court Clerk; Daron Hall, Sheriff; Erica S. Gilmore, County Trustee; Martesha Johnson, Public Defender; Dawn Deaner, Criminal Court Judge Division III; Corletra Mance, Circuit Court Judge Division III; Jodie Ann Bell, General Sessions Judge Division VI; School Board members Rachael Anne Elrod in District 2, Berthena Nabaa-Mckinney in District 4, Cheryl D. Mayes in District 6, and Erin O’Hara Block in District 8.
Due to Republican shenanigans, portions of US House Districts 4,5, 6 and 7 are in the Nashville Davidson County Metropolitan area, while stretching across the state to dilute the voting power of Nashville residents, and virtually ensure Republican representation in Congress from their geremandering. Here are the statewide results and November matchups: In District 4, Scott DesJarlais (R), Victoria Broderick (D); District 5, Charlie Hatcher (R), Chaz Molder (D); District 6, Johnny Garrett – 37,371 votes (R), Mike Croley (D); District 7, Matt Van Epps (R), Darden Copeland, District 9, Brent Taylor (R), Justin J. Pearson (D).
In the hotly contested primary race for US House of Representatives District 7, in Davidson County Darden Copeland garnered 7,910 total votes (4,886 early; 291 absentee; and 2,733 on Election Day); Vincent Dixie garnered 7,331 total votes (4,715 early; 225 absentee; and 2,391 on Election Day); Saletta Holloway garnered 5,064 total votes (3,173 early; 120 absentee; and 1,771 on Election Day); Joshua Warren Sales trailed all with 1,711 total votes (965 early; 72 absentee; and 674 on Election Day. Note these are for Davidson County only.
In the State primaries, the following Democrats were unopposed in winning their primaries: State House of Representatives Members Bo Mitchell in District 50, Aftyn Behn in District 51, Justin Jones in District 52, Jason Powell in District 53, Vincent Dixie in District 54, John Ray Clemmons in District 55, Bob Freeman in District 56, and Harold M. Love, Jr. in District 58. They will be on the ballot in November’s State and Federal General Election.
In that November Election, Democrat Jerri Green, a Memphis City Council member, will challenge Republican Marsha Blackburn, setting up a race that should result in Tennessee’s first female governor. Blackburn’s opponents John Rose (32.9%) and Monty Fritts (23.4%) actually garnered more votes (56.3%) than her 43.4%. Marquita Bradshaw won the Democratic Nomination for US Senate and will face Republican Bill Hagerty in November.
