Tennessee held its general election on November 3, 2020, deciding 115 legislative seats. No chamber changed party control.
Highlights
- Republicans kept large majorities in both chambers heading into post-census redistricting, giving up a single Nashville Senate seat and no House seats.
- In Senate District 20, former Oak Hill mayor Heidi Campbell (D) beat incumbent Sen. Steve Dickerson (R) by about four points. Dickerson, a physician WPLN described as a moderate Republican who often voted with Democrats on social issues, had held the seat since 2012. The campaign's biggest flashpoint was an ad and mailers from Dickerson allies attacking Campbell's support for a North Nashville policing-reform group.
- In House District 90, Democratic nominee Torrey Harris (D), who had never held elected office, beat Rep. John DeBerry, Jr. (I) by more than 50 points. DeBerry had held the seat for 26 years but ran as an independent after the state Democratic Party's executive committee kicked him off the primary ballot, accusing him of siding with Republicans on major issues. Harris and Eddie Mannis (R), who won the open House District 18 in Knoxville by about 10 points, became the first openly LGBT members of the General Assembly.
- Across the 115 legislative races, 1 seat flipped and 2 incumbents lost. The closest contest was House District 97, open after Rep. Jim Coley stepped away for health reasons, where John Gillespie (R) kept it Republican by about 470 votes over Gabby Salinas (D). Another 55 races were uncontested.
Legislature
- House (99 seats): 26 D, 72 R, 1 other or vacant before the election, 26 D, 73 R after; control stayed with Republicans.
- Senate (33 seats): 5 D, 28 R before the election, 6 D, 27 R after; control stayed with Republicans.