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16 of the 33 seats in the Tennessee State Senate 16 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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  Results: Republican gain Republican hold Democratic hold No Election Vote Share: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% >90% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% >90% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2004 Tennessee State Senate election was held on November 2, 2004, to elect 16 of the 33 seats for the Tennessee's State Senate. The elections coincided with the Presidential, U.S. House, and State House elections. The primary elections were held on August 5, 2004. [2]
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Following the 2004 elections, Republicans gained control of the Tennessee Senate for the first time since 1869, holding a slim one-vote majority. Although Republicans held a majority, they were unable to take control of the Senate leadership. On January 11, 2005, Republican senators Michael Williams of Maynardville and Tim Burchett of Knoxville joined Democrats to re-elect long-time Speaker John Wilder. Wilder won 18–15 and was sworn in for his eighteenth term as lieutenant governor. Their defections, along with unanimous Democratic support, ensured Wilder remained in power. [3]
As part of the power-sharing arrangement that followed, Wilder named Williams Speaker pro tempore and gave Republicans majorities on seven of the Senate’s nine committees. However, he kept five Democratic chairmanships, leaving Democrats in charge of two committees, including the influential Finance Committee. The compromise angered many Republicans, who felt they had been unfairly denied full control despite their majority. [4]
