After early voting numbers were released, there were only a handful of tight races in Rutherford County and when the votes were all counted, there were very few surprises.
The tightest race was in Tennessee House District 49 with Tim Morrell leading Mike Sparks with fewer than 10 votes for the Republican nomination after early voting. The two men went back and forth as results came in but in the end, the incumbent Sparks squeaked out the back-and-forth race with less than 100 votes.
A few of the County Commission races were close as were the at-large races for Murfreesboro City Council and School Board, as well as County School Board Zone 4, but that was mostly because of a four-way race.
Early results had Madelyn Scales Harris, Rick LaLance and Ronnie Martin leading in the council race and Becky Goff, Amanda Moore and Roseann Barton leading in the school board race. David LaRoche had a comfortable lead in the School Board special election.
In Zone 4 of the County School Board, fewer than 100 votes separated Tiffany Johnson, Marvin Whitworth and Katie Darby after half of the voting center had reported in.
Early voting numbers ended up predicting the winners, except in the Morrell-Sparks race. The rest is Republican domination at the local level.
Multi-county Races
Rutherford County teacher Mariah Phillips won the United States House of Representatives Democratic Primary for the 4th District.
Phillips garnered 45.71 percent of the vote to best Christopher J. Hale (36.73%) and Steven Reynolds (17.57%).
Phillips will face off against U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Jasper, in November.
The Republican Primary for District 13 of the Tennessee Senate had Dawn White facing off against Ernest G. Burgess for the seat vacated by new Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron. White came out on top with 57.87 percent of the vote across the district.
White will compete against Democrat Kelly Northcutt in November.
Early Voting
More than 22,000 Rutherford County voters cast early or absentee ballots in this election. That's an increase of 30 percent over 2014 (or 5,289 ballots).
Republican primary ballots outnumbered Democrats nearly two to one (14,531 to 8,079).
As compared to 2014, there was a 9 percent (1,198) in Republican ballots pulled and a whopping 122 percent increase (4,445) in Democratic ballots in Rutherford County.
Across the state, Democrats saw a 27.77 percent increase in primary ballots cast and Republicans saw a 12.39 percent increase over the last midterm primary in 2014.
Election Summary Report for Rutherford County
State and Federal Primaries
Republican
(R) Governor
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Diane Black |
|
5481 |
|
Randy Boyd |
|
4632 |
|
Beth Harwell |
|
4952 |
|
Bill Lee |
|
12624 |
|
Basil Marceaux Sr. |
|
43 |
|
Kay White |
|
108 |
|
Write-In |
|
18 |
(R) United States Senate
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Marsha Blackburn |
|
22418 |
|
Aaron L. Pettigrew |
|
4015 |
|
Write-In |
|
81 |
(R) US House District 4
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Scott DesJarlais |
|
17344 |
|
Jack Maddux |
|
8641 |
|
Write-In |
|
67 |
(R) Tennessee Senate District 13
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Ernest G. Burgess |
|
7632 |
|
Dawn White |
|
10637 |
|
Write-In |
|
20 |
(R) Tennessee House District 34
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Tim Rudd |
|
6894 |
|
Write-In |
|
56 |
(R) Tennessee House District 37
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Charlie Baum |
|
5829 |
|
Write-In |
|
37 |
(R) Tennessee House District 48
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Bryan Terry |
|
6415 |
|
Write-In |
|
31 |
(R) Tennessee House District 49
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Tim Morrell |
|
2335 |
|
Mike Sparks |
|
2430 |
|
Write-In |
|
7 |
(R) State Exec Cmmttmn D 13
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Adam Coggin |
|
14836 |
|
Write-In |
|
76 |
(R) State Exec Cmmttwmn D 13
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Kelsey Ketron |
|
14968 |
|
Write-In |
|
87 |
(R) State Exec Cmmttmn D 14
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Jim Sandman |
|
6926 |
|
Write-In |
|
27 |
(R) State Exec Cmmttwmn D 14
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Lynne Davis |
|
7012 |
|
Write-In |
|
23 |
(D) Governor
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Karl Dean |
|
11799 |
|
Craig Fitzhugh |
|
1754 |
|
Mezianne Vale Payne |
|
587 |
|
Write-In |
|
46 |
Democrat
(D) United States Senate
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Phil Bredesen |
|
13253 |
|
Gary Davis |
|
575 |
|
John Wolfe |
|
366 |
|
Write-In |
|
16 |
(D) US House District 4
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Christopher J. Hale |
|
4645 |
|
Mariah Phillips |
|
6958 |
|
Steven Reynolds |
|
1692 |
|
Write-In |
|
40 |
(D) Tennessee Senate District 13
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Kelly Northcutt |
|
8216 |
|
Write-In |
|
52 |
(D) Tennessee House District 34
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Jennifer Vannoy |
|
3381 |
|
Write-In |
|
17 |
(D) Tennessee House District 37
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Deanna D. Osborne |
|
2996 |
|
Write-In |
|
8 |
(D) Tennessee House District 48
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Matt Ferry |
|
2912 |
|
Write-In |
|
16 |
(D) Tennessee House District 49
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Chris Mayor |
|
1823 |
|
Richard C Petty |
|
830 |
|
Write-In |
|
6 |
(D) State Exec Cmmttmn D 13
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Andy Dickey |
|
2716 |
|
Brandon Thomas |
|
5385 |
|
Write-In |
|
27 |
(D) State Exec Cmmttwmn D 13
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Caroline Ford-McGee |
|
8125 |
|
Write-In |
|
31 |
(D) State Exec Cmmttmn D 14
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Mark Farrar |
|
3517 |
|
Write-In |
|
11 |
(D) State Exec Cmmttwmn D 14
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Tanea McClean |
|
3567 |
|
Write-In |
|
9 |
Rutherford County General
Circuit Court Judge Div III Dist 16
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Barry R. Tidwell |
|
30039 |
|
Write-In |
|
662 |
County Mayor
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Bill Ketron |
|
24013 |
|
(I) Heather Ann Brown |
|
14575 |
|
Write-In |
|
143 |
County Commission District 01
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) David Gammon |
|
626 |
|
Write-In |
|
24 |
County Commission District 02
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Steve Pearcy |
|
1687 |
|
(I) Jack Black |
|
812 |
|
Write-In |
|
7 |
County Commission District 03
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Michael A. Wrather |
|
1369 |
|
Write-In |
|
21 |
County Commission District 04
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Jon Jaques |
|
913 |
|
(I) Robert Peay Jr. |
|
1131 |
|
Write-In |
|
4 |
County Commission District 05
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Carol Cook |
|
722 |
|
Write-In |
|
24 |
County Commission District 06
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Joe Frank Jernigan |
|
1577 |
|
Write-In |
|
247 |
County Commission District 07
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Michael Kusch |
|
1395 |
|
(D) Jennifer Edwards |
|
982 |
|
Write-In |
|
1 |
County Commission District 08
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Edward M. Phillips Jr. |
|
1224 |
|
(I) Pettus L. Read |
|
1428 |
|
Write-In |
|
2 |
County Commission District 09
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Joe A. Gourley |
|
1713 |
|
Write-In |
|
50 |
County Commission District 10
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Brad Turner |
|
1261 |
|
Write-In |
|
34 |
County Commission District 11
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Rhonda Allen |
|
1052 |
|
Write-In |
|
21 |
County Commission District 12
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Robert Stevens |
|
798 |
|
Write-In |
|
11 |
County Commission District 13
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Paul Johnson |
|
1019 |
|
(D) Brian Rogers |
|
727 |
|
Write-In |
|
1 |
County Commission District 14
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Virgil M. Gammon |
|
2672 |
|
Write-In |
|
32 |
County Commission District 15
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Craig Harris |
|
1350 |
|
(D) David Settles |
|
913 |
|
Write-In |
|
0 |
County Commission District 16
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Phil Dodd |
|
1180 |
|
Write-In |
|
54 |
County Commission District 17
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Jeffrey W. Phillips |
|
509 |
|
Write-In |
|
19 |
County Commission District 18
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Allen McAdoo |
|
917 |
|
(D) Melinda K. Brown |
|
677 |
|
Write-In |
|
6 |
County Commission District 19
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Steve Ervin |
|
995 |
|
(D) Stacy Nunnally |
|
618 |
|
Write-In |
|
0 |
County Commission District 20
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Trey Gooch |
|
1650 |
|
(D) Lakshmi Giroti |
|
829 |
|
Write-In |
|
4 |
County Commission District 21
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Patsy Briley |
|
692 |
|
(D) Chantho Sourinho |
|
1018 |
|
Write-In |
|
3 |
County Trustee
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Teb Batey |
|
30366 |
|
Write-In |
|
578 |
General Sessions Judge Part II
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Ben E. Bennett |
|
29133 |
|
Write-In |
|
579 |
Sheriff
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Mike Fitzhugh |
|
24137 |
|
(I) Deric Haynes |
|
9504 |
|
(I) Bill West |
|
6046 |
|
Write-In |
|
62 |
Circuit Court Clerk
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Melissa Harrell |
|
30187 |
|
Write-In |
|
579 |
County Clerk
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Lisa Duke Crowell |
|
30281 |
|
Write-In |
|
469 |
Register of Deeds
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
(R) Heather Dawbarn |
|
29658 |
|
Write-In |
|
442 |
Road Board Zone 1
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
David Rabbit Victory |
|
2753 |
|
Write-In |
|
13 |
Road Board Zone 4
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Dick Steagall |
|
5129 |
|
Write-In |
|
27 |
Road Board Zone 7
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Mark P. Lee |
|
3759 |
|
Wendi Overcast McCluskey |
|
2419 |
|
Write-In |
|
12 |
School Board Zone 1
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Tammy Sharp |
|
1896 |
|
Dow Smith |
|
1328 |
|
Write-In |
|
13 |
School Board Zone 4
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Mike Belden |
|
1078 |
|
Katie Darby |
|
1548 |
|
Tiffany Johnson |
|
1575 |
|
Marvin L Whitworth |
|
1334 |
|
Write-In |
|
26 |
School Board Zone 7
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Jim C. Estes |
|
6072 |
|
Write-In |
|
39 |
Murfreesboro Municipal Election
Mayor
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Shane McFarland |
|
15671 |
|
Write-In |
|
198 |
City Council
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Byron Glenn |
|
2584 |
|
Madelyn Scales Harris |
|
9014 |
|
Rick Lalance |
|
7476 |
|
Ronnie Martin |
|
7267 |
|
Nancy Rainier |
|
5735 |
|
Terry Schneider |
|
3472 |
|
Shawn Wright |
|
4521 |
|
Write-In |
|
123 |
|
Write-In |
|
31 |
|
Write-In |
|
27 |
School Board
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Roseann H. Barton |
|
8677 |
|
Kevin N. Fisher |
|
4852 |
|
Becky Goff |
|
9255 |
|
Phil King |
|
5515 |
|
Amanda Moore |
|
8901 |
|
Write-In |
|
94 |
|
Write-In |
|
23 |
|
Write-In |
|
19 |
School Board-Unexpired Term
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
David LaRoche |
|
5356 |
|
Kari Neely |
|
4690 |
|
Write-In |
|
64 |
|
Geoffrey R.B. Herring |
|
2395 |
|
Jimmy L. Richardson |
|
1958 |
Smyrna
Town Court Clerk
|
Candidate |
|
TotalVotes |
|---|---|---|
|
Brittany Stevens |
|
4646 |
|
Write-In |
|
19 |