Tennessee's first state senate district is represented by Republican Senator Steve Southerland.

Tennessee state senators represent an average of 192,306 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 172,403 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Tennessee State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Tennessee legislators assume office the 15th of January following the election.

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the Tennessee State Senate, a candidate must be:

• A U.S. citizen
• 30 years old before the general election
• A three-year resident of Tennessee before the general election
• A district resident for 1 year prior to the general election
• A qualified voter

• The following situations would eliminate a candidate from qualifying for office:
  • Those who have been convicted of offering or giving a bribe, or of larceny, or any other offense declared infamous by law, unless restored to citizenship in the mode pointed out by law;
  • Those against whom there is a judgment unpaid for any moneys received by them, in any official capacity, due to the United States, to this state, or any county thereof;
  • Those who are defaulters to the treasury at the time of the election, and the election of any such person shall be void;
  • Soldiers, seamen, marines, or airmen in the regular army or navy or air force of the United States; and
  • Members of congress, and persons holding any office of profit or trust under any foreign power, other state of the union, or under the United States.

Salaries

Vacancies

In Tennessee, there are two ways a vacancy can be filled in the senate. When twelve months or more remain in a unfilled term, a special election must be held within the allowable time frame set by law. If less than twelve months remain in the term, the current members of the senate must vote on a replacement.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Tennessee State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for August 6, 2020. The filing deadline is April 2, 2020.

2018

No Democratic candidates ran in the primary.

2014

Elections for 18 seats in the Tennessee State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 7, 2014. A general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 3, 2014. Incumbent Steve Southerland was unopposed in the Republican primary. Southerland was unopposed in the general election.

2010

Elections for the office of Tennessee State Senate consisted of a primary election on August 5, 2010, and a general election on November 2, 2010. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 1, 2010. Incumbent Steve Southerland (R) defeated Jackson West (D) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.

Tennessee State Senate, District 1, General Election, 2010

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2014, candidates for Tennessee State Senate District 1 raised a total of $559,010. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $62,112 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Tennessee State Senate District 1