List of United States senators from Tennessee

Last updated

Current delegation
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) official headshot - 116th Congress (cropped).jpg
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R)
Sen. Bill Hagerty official Senate portrait, 117th Congress (cropped).jpg
Senator Bill Hagerty (R)

Tennessee was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1796. Its United States Senate seats were declared vacant in March 1862 owing to its secession from the Union. They were again filled from July 1866. Tennessee's current senators are Republicans Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty. Kenneth McKellar was Tennessee's longest-serving senator (1917–1953).

Contents

List of senators

Class 1

Class 1 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 2000, 2006, 2012, and 2018. The next election will be in 2024.

C

Class 2

Class 2 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 2002, 2008, 2014, and 2020. The next election will be in 2026.

#SenatorPartyDates in officeElectoral historyTTElectoral historyDates in officePartySenator#
VacantJun 1, 1796 –
Aug 2, 1796
Tennessee did not elect its senators until two months after statehood.1 4th 1Tennessee did not elect its senators until two months after statehood.Jun 1, 1796 –
Aug 2, 1796
Vacant
1 William Cocke, US Senator.jpg
William Cocke
Democratic-Republican Aug 2, 1796 –
Sep 26, 1797
Elected in 1796. Elected in 1796.
Expelled for conspiracy with the Kingdom of Great Britain.
Aug 2, 1796 –
Jul 8, 1797
Democratic-Republican William Blount.jpg
William Blount
1
Appointed to begin the term due to legislature's failure to elect. [1]
Lost re-election.
2 5th
 Jul 8, 1797 –
Sep 26, 1797
Vacant
2 Charles Willson Peale - portrait of Andrew Jackson, 1819.jpg
Andrew Jackson
Democratic-Republican Sep 26, 1797 –
Apr 1, 1798
Elected to finish Cocke's term.
Resigned.
Elected to finish Blount's term.
Resigned when elected to the class 1 seat.
Sep 26, 1797 –
Mar 3, 1799
Democratic-Republican JosephAnderson.jpg
Joseph Anderson
2
VacantApr 1, 1798 –
Oct 6, 1798
 
3 Daniel Smith Democratic-Republican Oct 6, 1798 –
Mar 3, 1799
Appointed to finish Jackson's term.
Retired.
4 JosephAnderson.jpg
Joseph Anderson
Democratic-Republican Mar 4, 1799 –
Mar 3, 1803
Elected in 1798 to finish Jackson's term. 6th 2 Elected in 1798.
Retired or lost re-election.
Mar 4, 1799 –
Mar 3, 1805
Democratic-Republican William Cocke, US Senator.jpg
William Cocke
3
7th
VacantMar 4, 1803 –
Sep 22, 1803
Legislature failed to elect.3 8th
JosephAnderson.jpg
Joseph Anderson
Democratic-Republican Sep 22, 1803 –
Mar 3, 1809
Re-elected late in 1803.
9th 3 Elected early in 1803.
Resigned.
Mar 4, 1805 –
Mar 31, 1809
Democratic-Republican Daniel Smith 4
10th
Mar 4, 1809 –
Apr 11, 1809
Appointed to begin the term due to legislature's failure to elect. [1] 4 11th
 Apr 1, 1809 –
Apr 11, 1809
Vacant
Apr 11, 1809 –
Mar 3, 1815
Re-elected late in 1809.
Retired.
Elected to finish Smith's term.Apr 11, 1809 –
Oct 8, 1811
Democratic-Republican Jenkin Whiteside 5
12th 4 Re-elected early in 1809.
Resigned.
Elected in 1811 to finish Whiteside's term. [2]
Resigned.
Oct 8, 1811 –
Feb 11, 1814
Democratic-Republican GeorgeWCampbell.jpg
George W. Campbell
6
13th
 Feb 12, 1814 –
Mar 16, 1814
Vacant
Appointed to continue Campbell's term.
Retired when his successor was elected.
Mar 17, 1814 –
Oct 10, 1815
Democratic-Republican Jesse Wharton 7
VacantMar 4, 1815 –
Oct 10, 1815
5 14th
5 GeorgeWCampbell.jpg
George W. Campbell
Democratic-Republican Oct 10, 1815 –
Apr 20, 1818
Elected late in 1815.
Resigned.
Elected to finish Campbell's term.
Legislature failed to elect.
Oct 10, 1815 –
Mar 3, 1823
Democratic-Republican Sen John Williams TN.jpg
John Williams
8
15th 5Appointed to begin the term. [3]
VacantApr 20, 1818 –
Sep 27, 1818
 
6 John Eaton.jpg
John Eaton
Democratic-Republican Sep 5, 1818 –
Mar 4, 1821
Appointed to continue Campbell's term.
16th
VacantMar 4, 1821 –
Sep 27, 1821
Legislature failed to elect.6 17th
John Eaton.jpg
John Eaton
Democratic-Republican Sep 27, 1821 –
Mar 9, 1829
Re-elected late in 1821.
18th 6 Elected in 1823.
Resigned.
Mar 4, 1823 –
Oct 14, 1825
Democratic-Republican Charles Willson Peale - portrait of Andrew Jackson, 1819.jpg
Andrew Jackson
9
Jacksonian 19th Jacksonian
 Oct 15, 1825 –
Oct 27, 1825
Vacant
Elected to finish Jackson's term.Oct 28, 1825 –
Jan 13, 1840
Jacksonian HLWhite.jpg
Hugh Lawson White
10
Re-elected in 1826.
Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of War.
7 20th
21st 7 Re-elected in 1829.
VacantMar 9, 1829 –
Oct 19, 1829
 
7 Felix Grundy.jpg
Felix Grundy
Jacksonian Oct 19, 1829 –
Jul 4, 1838
Elected to finish Eaton's term.
22nd
Re-elected in 1833.
Resigned to become U.S. Attorney General.
8 23rd
24th 8 Re-elected in 1835. [4]
Resigned.
National
Republican
Democratic 25th Whig
VacantJul 5, 1838 –
Sep 16, 1838
 
8 EHFoster.jpg
Ephraim H. Foster
Whig Sep 17, 1838 –
Mar 3, 1839
Elected to finish Grundy's term.
Re-elected but declined to serve the next term.
VacantMar 3, 1839 –
Nov 19, 1839
 9 26th
9 Felix Grundy.jpg
Felix Grundy
Democratic Nov 19, 1839 –
Dec 19, 1840
Elected late in 1839.
Died.
 Jan 13, 1840 –
Feb 25, 1840
Vacant
Elected to finish White's term.
Retired.
Feb 25, 1840 –
Mar 3, 1841
Democratic Alexander O. Anderson (1794 - 1869).jpg
Alexander O. Anderson
11
VacantDec 19, 1840 –
Dec 25, 1840
 
10 Alfred Osborn Pope Nicholson.jpg
Alfred O. P. Nicholson
Democratic Dec 25, 1840 –
Feb 7, 1842
Appointed to continue Grundy's term.
Resigned.
27th 9Legislature failed to elect.Mar 4, 1841 –
Oct 17, 1843
Vacant
VacantFeb 7, 1842 –
Oct 17, 1843
 
28th
11 EHFoster.jpg
Ephraim H. Foster
Whig Oct 17, 1843 –
Mar 3, 1845
Elected to finish Grundy's term.
Retired or lost re-election.
Elected to finish the vacant term.
Lost re-election.
Oct 17, 1843 –
Mar 3, 1847
Whig JSpencer.jpg
Spencer Jarnagin
12
12 HLTurney.jpg
Hopkins L. Turney
Democratic Mar 4, 1845 –
Mar 3, 1851
Elected in 1844.
Retired or lost re-election.
10 29th
30th 10Legislature failed to elect.Mar 4, 1847 –
Nov 21, 1847
Vacant
Elected late in 1847 Nov 22, 1847 –
Mar 3, 1859
Whig JBell.jpg
John Bell
13
31st
13 James Chamberlain Jones Governor of Tennessee.jpg
James C. Jones
Whig Mar 4, 1851 –
Mar 3, 1857
Elected in 1851.
Retired.
11 32nd
33rd 11 Re-elected in 1853.
Retired or lost re-election.
34th
VacantMar 4, 1857 –
Oct 8, 1857
Legislature failed to elect.12 35th Know-Nothing
14 Younger Andrew Johnson.jpg
Andrew Johnson
Democratic Oct 8, 1857 –
Mar 4, 1862
Elected in 1857 to finish the term.
Resigned to become Military Governor of Tennessee.
36th 12 Elected in 1858.
Withdrew in anticipation of secession.
Mar 4, 1859 –
Mar 3, 1861
Democratic Alfred Osborn Pope Nicholson.jpg
Alfred O. P. Nicholson
14
37th Civil War and Reconstruction Mar 4, 1861 –
Jul 24, 1866
Vacant
VacantMar 4, 1862 –
Jul 24, 1866
Civil War and Reconstruction
13 38th
39th 13
15 Senator David T. Patterson.jpg
David T. Patterson
UnionistJul 24, 1866 –
Mar 3, 1869
Elected to finish the vacant term.
Retired.
Elected to finish the vacant term.
Retired.
Jul 24, 1866 –
Mar 3, 1871
Unionist JSFowler.jpg
Joseph S. Fowler
15
Democratic 40th Republican
16 William Gannaway Brownlow 2.jpg
Parson Brownlow
Republican Mar 4, 1869 –
Mar 3, 1875
Elected in 1867.
Retired.
14 41st
42nd 14 Elected in 1870 or 1871.
Retired.
Mar 4, 1871 –
Mar 3, 1877
Democratic Henry Cooper U.S. Senator - Brady-Handy.jpg
Henry Cooper
16
43rd
17 Andrew Johnson in the 1870s.jpg
Andrew Johnson
Democratic Mar 4, 1875 –
Jul 31, 1875
Elected in 1875.
Died.
15 44th
VacantJul 31, 1875 –
Aug 18, 1875
 
18 DMKey-PostmasGener.jpg
David M. Key
Democratic Aug 18, 1875 –
Jan 19, 1877
Appointed to continue Johnson's term.
Lost election to finish Johnson's term.
19 James E. Bailey - Brady-Handy.jpg
James E. Bailey
Democratic Jan 19, 1877 –
Mar 3, 1881
Elected to finish Johnson's term.
Lost re-election.
45th 15 Elected in 1877.Mar 4, 1877 –
Jul 8, 1897
Democratic Isham Harris.jpg
Isham G. Harris
17
46th
20 Justice Howell Jackson2.jpg
Howell Jackson
Democratic Mar 4, 1881 –
Apr 14, 1886
Elected in 1880 or 1881.
Resigned to become U.S. Circuit Judge.
16 47th
48th 16 Re-elected in 1883.
49th
VacantApr 14, 1886 –
Apr 16, 1886
 
21 Washington C. Whitthorne - Brady-Handy.jpg
Washington Whitthorne
Democratic Apr 16, 1886 –
Mar 3, 1887
Appointed to finish Jackson's term.
Retired to serve in the U.S. House.
22 William Bate.jpg
William B. Bate
Democratic Mar 4, 1887 –
Mar 9, 1905
Elected in 1887.17 50th
51st 17 Re-elected in 1889.
52nd
Re-elected in 1893.18 53rd
54th 18 Re-elected in 1895.
Died.
55th
 Jul 9, 1897 –
Jul 19, 1897
Vacant
Appointed to continue Harris's term.Jul 20, 1897 –
Mar 3, 1901
Democratic Thomas B. Turley.jpg
Thomas B. Turley
18
Re-elected in 1899 19 56th
57th 19 Elected in 1901.
Lost renomination. [6]
Mar 4, 1901 –
Mar 3, 1907
Democratic Edward Ward Carmack.jpg
Edward W. Carmack
19
58th
Re-elected in 1905.
Died.
20 59th
VacantMar 10, 1905 –
Mar 20, 1905
 
23 Frazier-james-beriah-bioguide.jpg
James B. Frazier
Democratic Mar 21, 1905 –
Mar 3, 1911
Elected to finish Bate's term.
Lost re-election.
60th 20 Elected in 1907. [6]
Died.
Mar 4, 1907 –
Mar 31, 1912
Democratic Robert Love Taylor - Brady-Handy.jpg
Robert Love Taylor
20
61st
24 Luke Lea TN Senator.jpg
Luke Lea
Democratic Mar 4, 1911 –
Mar 3, 1917
Elected in 1911.
Lost renomination.
21 62nd
 Apr 1, 1912 –
Apr 10, 1912
Vacant
Appointed to continue Taylor's term.
Retired when his successor was elected.
Apr 11, 1912 –
Jan 24, 1913
Republican Newell Sanders.jpg
Newell Sanders
21
Elected to finish Taylor's term.
Retired.
Jan 24, 1913 –
Mar 3, 1913
Democratic William R. Webb.jpg
William R. Webb
22
63rd 21 Elected in 1913.Mar 4, 1913 –
Mar 3, 1925
Democratic John Knight Shields.jpg
John K. Shields
23
64th
25 McKellarKenneth.jpg
Kenneth McKellar
Democratic Mar 4, 1917 –
Jan 3, 1953
Elected in 1916.22 65th
66th 22 Re-elected in 1918.
Lost renomination.
67th
Re-elected in 1922.23 68th
69th 23 Elected in 1924.
Died.
Mar 4, 1925 –
Aug 24, 1929
Democratic Lawrence-tyson-1911.jpg
Lawrence Tyson
24
70th
Re-elected in 1928.24 71st
 Aug 25, 1929 –
Sep 1, 1929
Vacant
Appointed to continue Tyson's term.Sep 2, 1929 –
Mar 3, 1931
Democratic William E. Brock I.jpg
William E. Brock
25
72nd 24 Elected in 1930.
Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of State.
Mar 4, 1931 –
Mar 3, 1933
Democratic Hull-Cordell-LOC.jpg
Cordell Hull
26
73rd Appointed to continue Hull's term.Mar 4, 1933 –
Apr 23, 1937
Democratic Nathan L. Bachman.jpg
Nathan L. Bachman
27
Re-elected in 1934.25 74th
75th 25 Re-elected in 1936.
Died.
 Apr 24, 1937 –
May 5, 1937
Vacant
Appointed to continue Bachman's term.
Retired when his successor was elected.
May 6, 1937 –
Nov 8, 1938
Democratic BerrySenatorD-TN.jpg
George L. Berry
28
Elected to finish Bachman's term.
Did not take his seat until 1939 in order to remain District Attorney General.
Nov 9, 1938 –
Jan 3, 1949
Democratic Arthur Thomas Stewart (1892-1972) - S000901.jpg
Tom Stewart
29
76th
Re-elected in 1940.26 77th
78th 26 Re-elected in 1942.
Lost renomination.
79th
Re-elected in 1946.
Lost renomination.
27 80th
81st 27 Elected in 1948.Jan 3, 1949 –
Aug 10, 1963
Democratic Estes Kefauver (1).jpg
Estes Kefauver
30
82nd
26 Albert Gore Sr..jpg
Albert Gore Sr.
Democratic Jan 3, 1953 –
Jan 3, 1971
Elected in 1952.28 83rd
84th 28 Re-elected in 1954.
85th
Re-elected in 1958.29 86th
87th 29 Re-elected in 1960.
Died.
88th
 Aug 10, 1963 –
Aug 20, 1963
Vacant
Appointed to continue Kefauver's term
Retired
Aug 20, 1963 –
Nov 3, 1964
Democratic Herbert S. Walters.jpg
Herbert S. Walters
31
Elected to finish Kefauver's term.
Lost renomination.
Nov 4, 1964 –
Jan 3, 1967
Democratic Ross Bass (1918-1993).jpg
Ross Bass
32
Re-elected in 1964.
Lost re-election.
30 89th
90th 30 Elected in 1966.Jan 3, 1967 –
Jan 3, 1985
Republican Howard Baker photo.jpg
Howard Baker
33
91st
27 Bill brock.jpg
Bill Brock
Republican Jan 3, 1971 –
Jan 3, 1977
Elected in 1970.
Lost re-election.
31 92nd
93rd 31 Re-elected in 1972.
94th
28 Jim Sasser (1).jpg
Jim Sasser
Democratic Jan 3, 1977 –
Jan 3, 1995
Elected in 1976.32 95th
96th 32 Re-elected in 1978.
Retired.
97th
Re-elected in 1982.33 98th
99th 33 Elected in 1984.Jan 3, 1985 –
Jan 2, 1993
Democratic Al Gore Senate portrait (cropped).jpg
Al Gore
34
100th
Re-elected in 1988.
Lost re-election.
34 101st
102nd 34 Re-elected in 1990.
Resigned to become U.S. Vice President.
Appointed to continue Gore's term.
Retired when his successor was elected.
Jan 2, 1993 –
Dec 2, 1994
Democratic Senator Harlan Mathews (D-TN).jpg
Harlan Mathews
35
103rd
Elected in 1994 to finish Gore's term.Dec 2, 1994 –
Jan 3, 2003
Republican Fred Thompson.jpg
Fred Thompson
36
29 BillFrist (1).jpg
Bill Frist
Republican Jan 3, 1995 –
Jan 3, 2007
Elected in 1994.35 104th
105th 35 Re-elected to a full term in 1996.
Retired.
106th
Re-elected in 2000.
Retired.
36 107th
108th 36 Elected in 2002.Jan 3, 2003 –
Jan 3, 2021
Republican Alexander Lamar-091417-RMB-004.jpg
Lamar Alexander
37
109th
30 Bobcorker.jpg
Bob Corker
Republican Jan 3, 2007 –
Jan 3, 2019
Elected in 2006.37 110th
111th 37 Re-elected in 2008.
112th
Re-elected in 2012.
Retired.
38 113th
114th 38 Re-elected in 2014.
Retired.
115th
31 Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) official headshot - 116th Congress.jpg
Marsha Blackburn
Republican Jan 3, 2019 –
present
Elected in 2018.39 116th
117th 39 Elected in 2020.Jan 3, 2021 –
present
Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty official Senate portrait, 117th Congress.jpg
Bill Hagerty
38
118th
To be determined in the 2024 election.40 119th
120th 40To be determined in the 2026 election.
#SenatorPartyYears in officeElectoral historyTCTElectoral historyYears in officePartySenator#
Class 1 Class 2

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Byrd, p. 169.
  2. "Tennessee 1811 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved January 29, 2018., citing Wilson's Knoxville Gazette (Knoxville, TN). Oct 7, 1811.
  3. 1 2 Byrd, p. 170.
  4. "WHITE, Hugh Lawson, (1773–1840)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress . U.S. Congress. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 Byrd, p. 171.
  6. 1 2 The Tribune Almanac and Political Register 1908. New York: The Tribune Association. 1908. p. 260.

References