Below average number of contested state legislative incumbents in Tennessee
Tennessee will see a below-average number of contested state legislative primaries in 2026, with only 18.1% of incumbents facing primary challenges—the third-lowest share since 2010. Just 19 total incumbents across the Tennessee House and Senate face contested primaries, compared to a 16-year average of 24.4%. This suggests relatively strong incumbent protection in the state's legislative races.
Key Points
- Only 18.1% of Tennessee state legislative incumbents face primary contests in 2026, well below the 24.4% average from 2010-2024
- 19 total incumbents are contested across both chambers of the Tennessee legislature
- This represents the third-lowest rate of contested incumbents in any election year over the past 16 years