In a strong showing for Republicans, all state House incumbents were successfully returned to office in the latest round of local elections. Among the tightest races, Republican Mike Sparks defeated challenger Luis Mata in District 49, securing 57% of the vote—3,866 votes—compared to Mata's 43%.
Meanwhile, fellow Republicans Robert Stevens, Tim Rudd, Charlie Baum, and Brian Terry all emerged victorious with margins of 60% or more in their respective districts, further solidifying the GOP’s hold on the region.
In the race for State Senate District 14, incumbent Shane Reeves was re-elected after securing nearly 60% of the vote in Rutherford County. Reeves also enjoyed strong support in surrounding counties, including Bedford, Cannon, and Moore, where he won by even larger margins.
For U.S. House, incumbent Scott DesJarlais easily secured re-election to Congress, winning 59% of the vote in Rutherford County and maintaining a solid lead across the district.
One of the closest contests of the night was for the open seat on the Smyrna Town Council. Incumbent Steve Sullivan fended off challenger Tony Dover by a slim margin of 261 votes, claiming the third of three available seats. Racquel Peebles, another incumbent, led the race with 8,393 votes (23%), followed by newcomer Jerome Dempsey with 7,231 votes (20%).
In a closely watched local referendum, the City of Eagleville voted overwhelmingly in favor of allowing package stores to sell alcoholic beverages. The measure passed with a decisive 72% to 28% margin, paving the way for package stores in the area.
In uncontested races, the Eagleville City Council saw the election of Jason Blair, Chris Hendrix, and Ryan Edwards. La Vergne also saw unopposed victories, with Steve Noe and Graeme Coates elected as aldermen.
Overall, this election cycle featured strong support for Republican incumbents, with key local races and referendums reflecting significant voter interest and engagement across the region.
FINAL ELECTION TOTALS FROM RUTHERFORD COUNTY
Bart Walker, reporting from the Rutherford County Election Commission, talks to Commission Chair Ransom Jones:
