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Tennessee, State House, District 78

Tennessee House of Representatives District 78
Current incumbentMary Littleton Republican Party

Tennessee's seventy-eighth state house district is represented by Republican Representative Mary Littleton.

Tennessee state representatives represent an average of 64,102 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 57,468 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Tennessee House of Representatives serve two-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 House of Representatives, a candidate must be:

  • A U.S. citizen
  • 21 years old before the general election
  • A three-year resident of Tennessee before the general election
  • A county 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

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$22,667/year$229/day

Vacancies

In Tennessee, there are two ways a vacancy can be filled in the house. 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 house must vote on a replacement.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Tennessee House of Representatives 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

General election
General election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 78

Incumbent Mary Littleton (R) defeated John Patrick (D) in the general election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 78 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Mary Littleton (R)
69.1
16,137

John Patrick (D)
30.9
7,230

Total votes: 23,367
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 78

John Patrick advanced from the Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 78 on August 2, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

John Patrick (D)
100
3,034

Total votes: 3,034
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 78

Incumbent Mary Littleton advanced from the Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 78 on August 2, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Mary Littleton (R)
100
7,610

Total votes: 7,610

2016

Elections for the Tennessee House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on August 4, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 7, 2016.

Incumbent Mary Littleton defeated Travis S. Staten in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 78 general election.

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 78 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Mary Littleton Incumbent 74.07% 18,679
Democratic Travis S. Staten 25.93% 6,539
Total Votes 25,218
Source: Tennessee Secretary of State

Travis S. Staten ran unopposed in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 78 Democratic primary.

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 78 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Travis S. Staten (unopposed)

Incumbent Mary Littleton ran unopposed in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 78 Republican primary.

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 78 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Mary Littleton Incumbent (unopposed)

2014

Elections for 99 seats in the Tennessee House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 7, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 3, 2014. Jane R. Crisp was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Mary Littleton was unopposed in the Republican primary. Littleton defeated Crisp in the general election.

Tennessee House of Representatives District 78, General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngMary Littleton Incumbent 70.7% 10,240
Democratic Jen R. Crisp 29.3% 4,239
Total Votes 14,479

2012

Elections for the office of Tennessee House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on August 2, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 5, 2011. Mary Littleton (R) defeated Linda Hayes (D) and Rick Wilson (I) in the general election. Hayes defeated Jane R. Crisp in the Democratic primary, while Littleton defeated six others in the Republican primary.

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 78, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngMary Littleton 58% 14,077
Democratic Linda Hayes 34.9% 8,457
Independent Rick Wilson 7.1% 1,721
Total Votes 24,255

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 78 Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngLinda Hayes 63.2% 1,444
Jane Crisp 36.8% 842
Total Votes 2,286

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 78 Republican Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngMary Littleton 21.4% 1,273
Gary Allen Binkley 20% 1,190
Donnie Kemp 19.4% 1,154
John-Paul Wood, Jr. 14.6% 866
John Haines 12% 713
Kirk Low 8.6% 510
Lynn Ray 3.9% 233
Total Votes 5,939

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Tennessee House of Representatives District 78 raised a total of $1,244,888. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $46,107 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Tennessee House of Representatives District 78

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $97,615 2 $48,808
2014 $105,901 2 $52,951
2012 $258,858 10 $25,886
2010 $66,118 2 $33,059
2008 $168,125 2 $84,063
2006 $110,487 2 $55,244
2004 $185,950 3 $61,983
2002 $99,820 2 $49,910
2000 $152,014 2 $76,007
Total $1,244,888 27 $46,107