Tennessee legislative election results: Social justice activist wins Democratic primary; two GOP incumbents lose

Tennessee voters are sending an outspoken social justice activist from Nashville to the General Assembly and two incumbent Republican lawmakers packing in GOP primary upsets.

In Nashville, activist Justin Jones, long a presence at the Capitol advocating for racial justice, defeated Metro Council member Delishia Porterfield in the Democratic primary for House District 52.

Meanwhile, in House District 40, incumbent Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver, R-Lancaster, lost her Republican primary to Michael Hale. And in East Tennessee, incumbent Rep. Bob Ramsey, R-Maryville, lost his primary to Bryan Richey in a rematch of the 2020 GOP race.

Still, only a handful of primaries for state legislative seats were competitive around Middle Tennessee on Thursday.

The general election takes place on Nov. 8

Here's who advanced in each state House and Senate primary in the Middle Tennessee area.

Middle Tennessee State House elections

State House District 40

Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver, R-Lancaster, lost her Republican primary election to Michael Hale.

Hale will face Democrat Tom Cook, who was unopposed in his primary, in the general election.

State House District 41

Rep. John Mark Windle, I-Livingston, will face Republican Ed Butler in the general election

Butler won 53.4% of the Republican vote, beating Michael Swisher and Bradley Hayes.

Windle switched from a Democrat to an independent for this election. He's served in the state House since 1994.

State House District 42

Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville, is running unopposed in the general election and faced no primary challenge.

State House District 43

As of 12:45 a.m. Friday, Rep. Paul Sherrell, R-Sparta, led Bobby Robinson in the Republican primary, but the race is to close to call, with Sherrell leading by 73 votes will 99% of the vote counted.

The winner will face Democrat Cheryl Womack Uselton, who was unopposed in the primary.

State House District 44

House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, faces Democrat Kesa Fowler in the general election.

State House District 45

Rep. Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville, is running unopposed in the general election and faced no primary challenge.

State House District 46

Rep. Clark Boyd, R-Lebanon, is running unopposed in the general election and faced no primary challenge.

State House District 47

Rep. Rush Bricken, R-Tullahoma, was unopposed in the Republican primary, and faces independent Veronica Owens in the general election.

State House District 48

Rep. Bryan Terry, R-Murfreesboro, was unopposed in the Republican primary, and faces Democrat Matt Ferry in the general election.

State House District 49

Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna, was unopposed in the Republican primary, and faces Democrat Morgan Woodberry.

State House District 50

Rep. Bo Mitchell, D-Nashville, is running unopposed in the general election and faced no primary challenge.

State House District 51

Rep. Bill Beck, D-Nashville, is running unopposed in the general election and faced no primary challenge.

State House District 52

Activist Justin Jones defeated Metro Council member Delishia Porterfield in the Democratic primary.

Jones won 53.3% of the vote, and is unopposed in the general election.

State House District 53

Rep. Jason Powell, D-Nashville, was unopposed in the Democratic primary, and faces Republican Dia Hart in the general election.

State House District 54

Rep. Vincent Dixie, D-Nashville, is running unopposed in the general election and faced no primary challenge.

State House District 55

Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, is running unopposed in the general election and faced no primary challenge.

State House District 56

Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Nashville, is running unopposed in the general election and faced no primary challenge.

State House District 57

Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet, is running unopposed in the general election and faced no primary challenge.

State House District 58

Rep. Harold Love, D-Nashville, is running unopposed in the general election and faced no primary challenge.

State House District 59

Republican Michelle Foreman beat Wyatt Rampy in the Republican primary. Foreman won 62.1% of the vote.

Foreman will face Democrat Caleb Hemmer who was unopposed in the primary.

State House District 60

Rep. Darren Jernigan, D-Old Hickory, was unopposed in the primary, and will face Republican Christopher Huff in the general election.

State House District 61

Republican Gino Bulso beat Bob Ravener in the Republican primary. Bulso won 61.6% of the vote.

Bulso will face Democrat Steve Cervantes, who was unopposed in the primary.

State House District 62

Rep. Pat Marsh, R-Shelbyville, is running unopposed in the general election and faced no primary challenge.

State House District 63

Republican Jake McCalmon narrowly beat Laurie Cardoza-Moore and James Sloan in the Republican primary. McCalmon had 44.4% of the vote, Cardoza-Moore 41.9% and Sloan 13.8%

McCalmon will face Democrat Kisha Davis, who was unopposed in the primary.

State House District 64

Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, beat Jason Gilliam in the Republican primary. Cepicky won 54.5% of the vote.

Cepicky will face Democrat Jameson Manor, who was unopposed in his primary.

State House District 65

Rep. Sam Whitson, R-Franklin, is running unopposed in the general election and faced no primary challenge.

State House District 66

Rep. Sabi "Doc" Kumar, R-Springfield, is running unopposed in the general election and faced no primary challenge.

State House District 67

Tommy Vallejos beat John Dawson in the Republican primary. Vallejos won 63.3% of the vote.

Vallejos will face Democrat Ronnie Glynn, who was unopposed in the primary.

State House District 68

Rep. Curtis Johnson, R-Clarksville, was unopposed in the primary, and will face Independent Monica Meeks in the general election.

State House District 69

Jody Barrett beat Jeff Eby, Brian Johnson and Angela Redden in the Republican primary. Barrett had 39.7% vote, Johnson 34.1%, Eby 20.1% and Redden 6.2%.

Candie Hedge beat Val Sloan in the Democratic primary. Hedge had 55% and Sloan 45%.

Barrett and Hedge will also face independent Leonard Ladner in the general election.

State House District 92

Rep. Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill, defeated Matt Fitterer and Jeff Ford in the primary. Warner won 54.4% of the vote, Fitterer 27.7% and Ford 17.9%

Warner will face Democrat Angela Hughes, who was unopposed in the pri

Middle Tennessee State Senate elections

State Senate District 17

Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, is running unopposed in the general election and faced no primary challenge.

State Senate District 19

Charlane Oliver defeated Jerry Maynard, Ludye Wallace, Barry Barlow and Rossi Turner in the Democratic primary. Oliver won 43.7% of the vote, Maynard won 39% Wallace won 11.4%, Barlow won 3.4% and Turner won 2.5%.

Oliver will face Republican Prime Hernandez, who was unopposed in the primary.

State Senate District 21

​​​​​​Senate Minority Leader Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, was unopposed in the primary, and will face independent Rueben Dockery in the general election

State Senate District 23

Sen. Kerry Roberts, R-Springfield, is running unopposed in the general election and faced no primary challenge.

State Senate District 27

Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, beat Gary Humble in the Republican primary. Johnson won 51.6% of the vote.

Johnson doesn't face an opponent in the general election.

Adam Friedman is The Tennessean’s state government and politics reporter. Reach him by email at afriedman@tennessean.com.

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee legislative election results: Who won, lost in Aug. primary