Tuesday’s election continues Tennessee’s move toward a solid-red Republican state:
- In the governor’s race, Republican Bill Haslam won with an overwhelming majority, replacing two-term Democrat Phil Bredesen, who was prohibited from running for a third term.
- It also appears that Tennessee Republicans will make gains in both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly, extending and increasing the Republican control of both state houses.
- Tennessee’s congressional delegation will be made up of seven Republicans and two Democrats, a net gain of two seats for the GOP. (Both U.S. senators are Republicans, though neither was up for election this year.)
Tennessee is one of the reddest states in the United States. Despite being one of the Deep South states that was solidly Democratic for decades, Tennessee is now overwhelmingly Republican.
From a state perspective, it’s doubtful that the results will make much difference in terms of the Tennessee General Assembly’s legislative developments. From a federal perspective, the state will be made up of a significant Republican majority that most likely won’t be favorably disposed to support legislation sponsored by President Obama. Thus, Tennessee will become part of the opposition to any significant labor and employment legislation — unless it is employer-friendly.
John B. Phillips, Jr., is an editor of Tennessee Employment Law Letter and an attorney in the Chattanooga office of Miller & Martin PLLC. You can read his employment law blog at www.wordonemploymentlaw.com.