In 2026, 18.1% of the state legislative incumbents running for election in Tennessee will face primary contests, the third-lowest share in any election year since 2010. The average share of incumbents in contested primaries between 2010 and 2024 was 24.4%.
In total, 19 incumbents face contested primaries across the Tennessee House and Senate. The average number of incumbents contested each election cycle since 2010 was 25. Fourteen of the contested incumbents are Republicans, and five are Democrats.
Tennessee has 38 contested state legislative primaries in 2026, a 7% decrease from 41 in the preceding cycle.
Seventeen of these primaries are for Democrats, up 21% from 14 in 2024. Republicans have 21 primaries, a 22% decrease from 27 in 2024.
In total, 227 major party candidates—108 Democrats and 119 Republicans—filed to run. All 99 House seats and 17 of 34 Senate seats are up for election. Eleven of those seats are open, meaning no incumbents filed. Eight seats were open in 2024.
Tennessee has had a Republican trifecta since 2011, when former Gov. Bill Haslam (R) assumed office. Republicans currently have a 75-24 majority in the House and a 27-6 majority in the Senate.
Tennessee’s state legislative primaries are scheduled for August 6.
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