NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee voters will settle a familiar U.S. Senate matchup on Tuesday, as Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty seeks a second term against Democrat Marquita Bradshaw, the same opponent he beat in 2020.
Ten names are on the ballot. Besides the two party nominees, eight independents qualified by petition, from Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga to smaller towns such as Lawrenceburg, Jonesborough, Gray, Collierville and Goodlettsville.
Hagerty, of Nashville, had no challenger in the August Republican primary and drew 629,068 votes. Bradshaw, an environmental advocate from Memphis, took 54.8% in a crowded Democratic primary, a total of 186,154 ballots, well ahead of runner-up Maria Brewer at 18%.
The money tells a lopsided story. Federal Election Commission reports compiled through Oct. 14 show Hagerty’s campaign raised about $8.4 million over the cycle, spent about $5.4 million and still had nearly $5 million in the bank. Bradshaw’s campaign showed $35,195 raised, $27,022 spent and $8,252 on hand.
Outside groups have mostly stayed out of the general election. Independent spending since the primary totaled $278,120 as of late October, all of it on Hagerty’s side, with nothing reported for Bradshaw. Combined, about $5.7 million has been spent on the race. That total leaves out roughly $760,000 in outside spending that named either candidate before the Aug. 6 primaries, money tied to the nominating contests rather than the fall matchup.
Voters must bring a federal or Tennessee state photo ID to the polls. The Senate contest shares the ballot with the open governor’s race and three proposed amendments to the state constitution.
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