Almost two thirds of Tennesseans voted for President Donald Trump in the November presidential election, the results of which were certified in December. However, over 60% of voters in Nashville, Tennessee, cast their ballots for Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Davidson County November ballot included candidates for president, U.S. senator, districts 5, 6 and 7 U.S. House representatives, as well as state-level senators and representatives. For all national seats on the ballot, the Democratic candidate gained more votes in Davidson County, even though the Republican candidate won the statewide election.
Presidential election results
Trump earned 64% of the votes in Tennessee compared to 50% nationwide. However, in Davidson County, Trump received 35% of the votes, while Vice President Kamala Harris earned 62%.
Senior Andrew Kyung, president of Vanderbilt College Democrats, said he viewed the election as an opportunity for change within the Democratic Party.
“Elections have consequences, as many say, and the consequences of this one will shape our political landscape for years to come,” Kyung said in a message to The Hustler. “Now is the time for the Democratic Party to seriously reflect on what Americans want and how [they] can better deliver on promises [they] make.”
Sophomore Samuel Bodwell, vice president of Vanderbilt College Republicans, shared his thoughts on the presidential election in a message to The Hustler.
“I think it was a resounding win that shows a shift in the country,” Bodwell said. “I was surprised by how minorities, primarily Latinos, turned out so strongly for Trump.”
Political science professor John Geer said he believes people should avoid over-interpreting the results of the election. The Fall 2024 Vanderbilt Poll, which Geer co-directs, revealed an increase in support for the “Make America Great Again” movement among Tennesseans and a 14% rise in total number of self-identified Republicans in the state.
“Americans should avoid over-interpreting the meaning of the election,” Geer said. “Claims of a [party] realignment are premature if not just wrong.”
Citywide and statewide election results
Senator Marsha Blackburn won the U.S. Senate race to keep her seat with 64% of the national votes but only 35% of the votes in Davidson County. Blackburn defeated Representative Gloria Johnson (D – Knoxville), a member of the “Tennessee Three,” who was almost expelled from the state General Assembly after calling for gun reform. Johnson won 63% of the votes in Davidson County.
The House seats for districts 5, 6 and 7, corresponding to the areas within greater Nashville, were won by Republicans Andy Ogles, John Rose and Mark Green, respectively. All three were incumbents and outperformed their 2022 results on a county level, with Ogles and Rose also outperforming their 2022 results on a state level. No state-level seats flipped this election cycle.
Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Education and political science and law professor Carrie Russell pointed to the 2022 gerrymandering of Nashville as a factor in the results of this election.
“Tennessee House District 6, once a reliable Democratic voting block in Nashville, was split into four pieces, which were then appended to their ruby red neighbor districts,” Russell said. “Legal challenges made their way to the United States Supreme Court, which said political gerrymandering is perfectly constitutional, which brings us to 2024.”
Also on the ballot in Davidson County was a referendum about a $3.1 billion “Choose How You Move” transit plan. The plan passed with 66% of the vote. There were more votes for the plan in early voting than total votes against the plan, meaning the referendum passed based on early voting numbers alone. The plan will build 86 miles of new sidewalks and expand bus services across the city.
Results from precincts near campus
Near Vanderbilt’s campus, voters strongly supported Democratic candidates. For the presidential race, in Precinct 18-1 — which contains Vanderbilt’s campus — 1,078 votes, or 77.8%, were cast for Harris, while 285 votes were cast in favor of Trump and 22 votes were cast for independent candidates.
District 7’s House race pitted Mark Green against former Democratic mayor Megan Barry. In Precinct 18-1, 1,028 votes were cast for the Democratic candidate — former mayor Megan Barry. Green, the Republican incumbent, received 302 votes.