There were surprises in the voting nationwide, but things in Shelby County and Tennessee went pretty much as expected.
Republican Governor Bill Lee won the smashing re-election victory statewide (1,128,097 to Democrat Jason Martin’s 572,153) that had been expected in a Tennessee landscape that over the past decade and a half has seen yellow-dog Democrats, by and large, replaced by Republican loyalists. But Shelby County’s Democratic coloration was continued and reinforced, as underfunded Democrat Martin won out over Lee by a margin of 108,945 to 86,351.
Other results in Shelby were consistent with the Democrats’ majority in both Memphis and the county overall. Democratic congressman Steve Cohen, whose 9th District lies wholly within Shelby County, easily defeated the GOP’s Charlotte Bergman 92,274 to 29,804 with three other candidates sharing smaller shares of the vote.
Republican David Kustoff, whose 8th district contains upscale portions of Shelby County as well as extensive sections of rural West Tennessee, also triumphed over Democratic nominee Lynette Williams, with 155,534 votes to 51,077 votes, with scattered votes for others. In Shelby County, Kustoff overtook Williams by 48,837 to 19,996.
In state Senate races, Democrat Raumesh Akbari, who was unopposed for re-election in District 29, had 30,189 votes. In District 31, Republican Brent Taylor defeated Democratic contender Ruby Powell-Dennis by a vote of 45,275 to 23,033. In District 33, Democratic incumbent London Lamar defeated Republican Frederick D. Tappan, with independent Hastina D. Robinson polling 512.
Unopposed candidates winning re-election in the House were Democrats Joe Towns Jr. in District 84, Jesse Chism in District 85, Karen Camper in District 87, Larry Miller in District 88, Torrey Harris in District 91, G.A. Hardaway Sr. in District 93, Dwayne Johnson in District 96, and Antonio Parkinson in District 98; Republicans Mark White in District 83 and Tom Leatherwood in District 99.
Winners of contested House races included the late Barbara Cooper, a Democrat, over independent Michael Porter, 7,999 to 2,942, Republican Kevin Vaughan over Democrat Patricia Causey 17,935 to 6,092, and Republican John Gillespie over Democrat Toniko S. Harris in District 96, 12,083 to 9,214.
The victory of Cooper, who died recently, means that the Election Commission will call a special new election to decide the seat.
In Bartlett, David Parsons won a hotly contested mayor’s race over rival candidates Steven Brent Hammonds, John Lackey, and Kevin Quinn. Elected to alderman’s positions were Harold Brad King, Robert Griffin, and David Reaves. School Board winners were Erin Elliott Berry and Bryan Woodruff.
Winners of alderman’s races in Collierville were Maureen Fraser, Billy Patton, and Missy Marshall. School Board winners were Wanda Chism and Keri Blair.
In Germantown, Mayor Mark Palazzolo, who was unopposed, won re-election with 14,011 votes. Victorious in alderman’s races were Scott Sanders and Mary Ann Gibson. School Board winners were Daniel Chatham and Angela Rickman Griffith. Elected mayor in Lakeland by 3,432 votes was Josh Roman, who was unopposed. Connie McCarter was elected commissioner, and Laura Harrison was elected to the school board.
There was a full slate of candidates in Millington’s municipal election. Elected alderman were Bethany Huffman, Al Bell, Chris Ford, and Larry Dagen. School board winners were Cody Childress, Mandy Compton, Dabby Clifton, and Brian McGovern.
Winner of a special election for Position 4 on the Memphis City Council was Jana Swearengen-Washington. Emerging first in a large field of candidates for Municipal Court Judge in Memphis was Varonica Cooper.
There were four amendments to the state constitution on the ballot, all gaining approval both locally and nationwide. Most controversial was an amendment enshrining “right-to-work” in the constitution. Another provides for an emergency means of succession of gubernatorial powers through the legislature’s two speakers. Another amendment would allow members of the clergy to hold legislative office, and yet another formally abolishes the practice of slavery in Tennessee in any form.