Following the 2008 elections, no seats changed hands, leaving the Tennessee delegation at a 5-4Democratic majority. As of 2026, this was the last timeDemocrats won a majority of congressional districts fromTennessee's House delegation, as well as the House popular vote.
This district covers northeastTennessee, including all ofCarter,Cocke,Greene,Hamblen,Hancock,Hawkins,Johnson,Sullivan,Unicoi, andWashington counties and parts ofJefferson County andSevier County. It had been represented by RepublicanDavid Davis since 2007.Johnson City mayor Roe narrowly defeated Davis in the Republican primary by a margin of 50% to 49% (only 500 votes).[3] Davis was elected in 2006, succeeding retiring congressmanBill Jenkins, winning the Republican nomination over a crowded field which included Roe. Roe, a retiredOB/GYN, was endorsed by several local newspapers, refusedPAC and special interest money, and promised not to serve any more than ten years in Congress. He was a shoo-in for election in a district that has only elected Republicans since 1880.
Johnson City MayorPhil Roe challenged incumbentDavid Davis. During the campaign, Roe attacked Davis as an ineffective politician who had sold out to special interests and accepted contributions from oil companies during a summer of record gasoline prices.[4]
It was the first time since 1966 that an incumbent Tennessee congressman had lost a primary. It was also the first time since 1950 that an incumbent congressman lost a primary in the 1st District. Davis claimedDemocratic voters, knowing they had no realistic chance of defeating him in November, contributed to his primary loss by crossing over to vote for Roe in the Republican primary. He believed he was the winner among voters who identify as Republicans.[6]
This district lies in the east-central part of the state, based inKnoxville, and is largely coextensive with that city's metropolitan area. It has been represented by RepublicanJimmy Duncan since November 1988. He ran against Democrat Bob Scott. No Democrat has held this seat since 1855.
Tennessee’s 3rd congressional district, which stretches from theChattanooga metropolitan area in southern Tennessee toClaiborne County in northern Tennessee, is strongly conservative and has been represented by Republican CongressmanZach Wamp since his initial1994 election.
Tennessee’s 5th congressional district was centered onNashville and included portions of the surrounding area. The district was anchored by the majority of Nashville–Davidson County, making Nashville its largest city and primary population center. In addition to Nashville, the district extended into parts ofCheatham County andWilson County. This included communities such asAshland City,Pleasant View, andPegram in Cheatham County, as well as most ofLebanon, as well asMount Juliet, andGreen Hill in Wilson County.[12] It had been represented by DemocratJim Cooper since 2003. He ran against Republican Gerard Donovan.
Tennessee’s 7th congressional district stretched from portions ofShelby County inWest Tennessee through parts ofMiddle Tennessee which included the majority ofWilliamson County and a part of southern suburbanNashville and northward to includeClarksville inMontgomery County, resulting in an unusually long and narrow configuration that combined distant suburban and rural areas into a single congressional district.[13] The district had been represented by RepublicanMarsha Blackburn since 2003. She ran against DemocratRandy G. Morris.
Tom Leatherwood ran for the 7th Congressional District against sitting Republican CongressmanMarsha Blackburn.[14] The race became heated when Leatherwood sent a letter to supporters accusing Blackburn of illegally using campaign money and, "talking the talk" but not "walking the walk."[15]
ACollierville, TN resident then made aFEC complaint against Leatherwood. The complaint alleged that, "Leatherwood’s advertisements didn’t have him approving the message in his own voice, didn’t disclose who paid for his yard signs, and didn’t show his campaign’s website as an expense on his campaign disclosure reports."[16]
This district covers roughly the northwestern part of the state. It has been represented by DemocratJohn Tanner since 1989. He ran unopposed and encountered opposition from only a few write-in votes.
James Hart appeared as awrite-in candidate in the 2008 Republican primary but did not receive any votes in the general election.
James L. Hart, who had previously attempted to run in 2006 and ran in2004, attempted to run again. Republican state leadership successfully petitioned to have him removed from the ballot on the grounds that he was not abona fide member of the party. Hart's attorney when he first challenged to remain on the ballot in 2006 wasRichard Barrett, theMississippiwhite nationalist leader.[17][18] Heart ended up having a write-In campaign where he only received 4 votes.
This district lies in southwesternTennessee, located entirely withinShelby County and including most of the city ofMemphis. It had been represented by DemocratSteve Cohen since 2007, who ran against independent candidates Jake Ford, Dewey Clark, and Taylor Shelby Wright. Cohen defeated attorney Nikki Tinker by a 79% to 19% margin in the Democratic primary.
Cohen, who is the only white congressman representing a majority black district, defeated Tinker, who is black, by a much narrower margin in 2006. There was much controversy over accusations made by the Tinker campaign that Cohen was involved with theKu Klux Klan, and circulation of anti-Semitic propaganda against Cohen, who is Jewish.[22] No Republican filed in this overwhelmingly Democratic district, although Cohen's primary victory assured him of a second term in any case.
^abcdefghi"2008 House Ratings".House Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. November 2, 2006. Archived fromthe original on November 6, 2008. RetrievedNovember 20, 2023.
^abcdefghi"2008 House". Sabato's Crystal Ball. November 6, 2008. Archived fromthe original on November 6, 2008. RetrievedNovember 20, 2023.
^"Lawyer says Hart could challenge disqualification -- Law state used wasn't 'prequalified,' he says;" Bartholomew Sullivan.The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tenn.: April 20, 2006. pg. B.11
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Party gains
District results
County results
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