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Voters in Knox County will have the opportunity to elect a woman on nearly every ballot this fall.
With Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race and two women vying for U.S. Senator from Tennessee, there are more women than men on the ballot in Knox County.
There are only two races in which there is no female candidate: the 15th Tennessee House of Representatives district, where two men are running against each other, and the 19th Tennessee House of Representatives district, where the current candidate has no opponent.
The number of women follows a national trend that could eventually close the large gap in political representation. In Tennessee, only 20 of 132 representatives, or 15 percent, are women.
Tennessee has the second lowest percentage of women in the state legislature
The Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University has been collecting data on women in American politics since 1975.
Tennessee’s numbers are among the worst.
“The people in power, especially in these very Republican legislatures, are overwhelmingly men,” Jean Sinzdak, the organization’s deputy director, told Knox News of Republican-majority states. “And they’re long-term incumbents. We’re living through this moment where people say, ‘Wait a minute, we need women’s voices in the chambers to address the realities that they face every day.'”
In recent years, the numbers have been somewhat better. In 2005 and 2006, 25 women represented Tennessee, or 19%.
The only state with fewer women in the legislature is West Virginia, where they make up only 11.9%. In states like Nevada, legislators are over 60% female.
If more women run for office, more of them could ultimately go to Nashville to represent their communities.
“I think what’s happening here in Tennessee right now reflects what we’ve seen broadly throughout history,” Sinzdak said.
Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision puts abortion in the spotlight
It’s no coincidence that more women are running for office this fall. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which affected women’s longstanding right to abortion, Tennessee state lawmakers backed down and enacted a ban.
The implications of the ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, Sinzdak said, affect not only abortion but reproductive rights in general, including concerns about the future of assisted reproduction.
“You see women saying, ‘Wait a minute, this is going too far. We are going too far,'” she said.
A Vanderbilt poll released in May found that there is a gender divide on important issues across Tennessee, with a majority of Tennessee women, 57%, now identifying as definitely or somewhat pro-choice regardless of their political affiliation.
The issue is a driving force for several Democratic candidates. Jane George is making women’s rights in general the focus of her campaign against U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett. Her goal is to improve economic conditions for women and give them the bodily autonomy that abortion provides.
US Senate candidate Gloria Johnson has spoken openly about how the medical procedure saved her life.
The debate over the future of abortion exemptions is also motivating Republicans. Monica Irvine unsuccessfully fought for her party’s nomination against Senator Becky Massey. Irvine told Knox News she entered the race because Massey co-sponsored a bill that would decriminalize abortions for victims of rape and incest. She believes the district deserves someone who is 100% pro-life.
Gender differences go far beyond abortion
The Vanderbilt poll also found a gender gap on several other election issues.
For example, a majority of the state’s voters want to expand Medicaid. A much larger share of women, 70%, support expansion compared to 54% of men.
“The differences we find among registered voters on issues such as reproduction, gun restrictions, Medicaid expansion and willingness to get vaccinated against serious diseases suggest that gender differences in opinion could have important implications for both voting and policy decisions in our state and across the country,” said Joshua Clinton, co-director of the Vanderbilt poll.
Sinzdak agreed. Women are often the primary caregivers of their families, and these life experiences are reflected in their legislation. A balanced legislative approach rounds out the voices on many issues.
“When you have a board that is diverse in every way — gender, race, socioeconomic status, etc. — you’re more likely to address issues that would otherwise go unnoticed because they reflect the life experience of each elected official,” she said. “It’s more about making sure voices are heard.”
Women participate in elections in Knox County
president
- Vice President Kamala Harris will run against former President Trump.
US Senate
- Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn is running against state Rep. Gloria Johnson
US House
State Senate, District 6
- Democrat Donomica Bryan will face state Senator Becky Duncan Massey.
State House, District 14
- Democrat Amanda Collins will face state Rep. Jason Zachary.
State House, District 16
- State Rep. Michele Carringer will face Democrat Lauren Carver.
State House, District 18
- State Rep. Elaine Davis will face Democrat Bryan Goldberg.
State House, District 89
- Democrat Cary Hammond is running against state Rep. Justin Lafferty
State House, District 90
- Democratic state Rep. Gloria Johnson is unopposed.
USA TODAY Network-Tennessee reporter Melissa Brown contributed to this report.
Allie Feinberg covers politics for Knox News. You can email her at [email protected] and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @alliefeinberg
