Leveraging a unique opportunity to make elections more competitive
Tennessee’s state legislature is overwhelmingly shaped by the results of primary elections rather than general elections. Due to the state's political landscape, nearly all state Senate and House districts are considered party-safe, meaning the winner of the dominant party’s primary is virtually guaranteed to win the general election. In 2022, over half of pivotal state Senate and House primaries were entirely uncontested, and in contested races, winning margins were often small—sometimes fewer than 2,000 votes.
The consequence? A system where a tiny fraction of voters effectively decides who represents millions of Tennesseans. Voter participation in primaries skews toward the most engaged and ideologically motivated individuals, leaving many general election voters with no real choice.
As a result, elected officials often represent the most partisan voices rather than the broader electorate.
The numbers tell a clear story: if more Tennesseans participated in primaries, election outcomes could change dramatically. With so many races being decided by a few thousand votes, increased turnout—particularly among moderate and independent-minded voters—could reshape the state’s leadership, making it more representative of Tennessee as a whole.
Tennessee’s open primaries offer a unique opportunity to make elections more competitive and representative. Any voter can participate in a party primary simply by declaring their allegiance at the polls. This means that the many Tennesseans who feel unrepresented by ideological extremes have the power to influence primary outcomes—if they turn out to vote.
Research confirms that non-primary voters tend to be less ideologically extreme than those who regularly participate. If more of these voters engage in primaries, they can shift election outcomes toward more moderate, broadly representative candidates. In Tennessee’s state House, moving as few as 2,000 votes in pivotal primaries could be enough to change who wins.
The impact of increased participation is evident: when moderate voters engage in primaries, they help nominate candidates who better reflect the values of the broader electorate. And because Tennessee’s primaries often determine the final winner, this shift directly translates into a more balanced and responsive state government.
A Science of Democracy Repair
The Electoral Innovation Lab (EIL) is building a science of democracy repair, using math, law, and practical strategies for change.
In some states, like Tennessee, a critical step in improving democracy is exploring existing rules to find maximum points of leverage. In other states, solutions may be found in ballot initiatives, court cases, and expert analysis.
We have resources to identify those pivotal points in Tennessee and in all fifty states.
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