Tennessee's 15th Senate district

Tennessee's 15th Senate district is one of 33 districts in the Tennessee Senate. It has been represented by Republican Paul Bailey since 2015, succeeding retiring Democrat Charlotte Burks.[2]

Tennessee's 15th
State Senate District
Current senatorPaul Bailey (R–Sparta)
Demographics92% White
2% Black
4% Hispanic
1% Asian
1% Other
Population (2018)209,875[1]

Geography

District 15 covers much of rural Middle Tennessee, including all of Bledsoe, Cumberland, Jackson, Overton, Putnam, and White Counties. Communities in the district include Cookeville, Crossville, Sparta, Fairfield Glade, Livingston, Lake Tansi Village, Algood, Monterey, Pikeville, and Gainesboro.[1][3]

The district is mostly located in Tennessee's 6th congressional district, also extending into the 4th district. It overlaps with the 25th, 31st, 41st, 42nd, and 43rd districts of the Tennessee House of Representatives.[4]

Recent election results

Tennessee Senators are elected to staggered four-year terms, with odd-numbered districts holding elections in midterm years and even-numbered districts holding elections in presidential years.

2018
2018 Tennessee Senate election, District 15[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Bailey (incumbent) 48,919 73.6
Democratic Angela Hedgecough 17,512 26.4
Total votes 66,431 100
Republican hold

2014
2014 Tennessee Senate election, District 15[5]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Bailey 13,141 48.4
Republican Matt Swallows 12,577 46.3
Republican Gary Steakley 1,453 5.3
Total votes 27,171 100
General election
Republican Paul Bailey 33,674 73.3
Democratic Betty Vaudt 10,263 22.3
Independent William Draper 2,022 4.4
Total votes 45,959 100
Republican gain from Democratic

Federal and statewide results in District 15
Year Office Results[6]
2016 President Trump 74.6 – 22.2%
2012 President Romney 68.7 – 29.8%
Senate Corker 72.0 – 22.7%

1998 election

In 1998, the district was the site of a highly unusual election. Incumbent Democrat Tommy Burks was expected to coast to re-election over Republican Byron (Low Tax) Looper until, in October 1998, Looper shot and killed Burks on his own farm. Tennessee state law mandated that deceased candidates be removed from the ballot, but candidates who had been charged with a felony but not convicted were allowed to remain, meaning that Looper's name was the only one on the ballot a month later. However, friends of Burks as well as local politicians launched a write-in campaign for Charlotte Burks, Tommy Burks' widow. Although Burks herself never campaigned for the seat, the write-in effort was overwhelmingly successful, ultimately defeating Looper 95-5%. She went on to serve for 4 terms, while Looper was sentenced to life in prison.[7]

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References
  1. "State Senate District 15, TN". Census Reporter. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  2. "Senator Paul Bailey". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  3. "Tennessee District Maps". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  4. David Jarman. "How do counties, House districts, and legislative districts all overlap?". Daily Kos. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  5. "Tennessee State Senate District 15". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  6. "Daily Kos Elections Statewide Results by LD". Daily Kos. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  7. Rick Bragg (October 24, 1998). "Tennessee Senator's Killing and Opponent's Arrest Upend Small Town". The New York Times. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
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