Trump wins big in Tennessee, GOP gains in state House


              Former U.S. attorney David Kustoff speaks with supporters at his victory party after he won the race in Tennessee's 8th Congressional District on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016 in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Adrian Sainz).
Former U.S. attorney David Kustoff speaks with supporters at his victory party after he won the race in Tennessee's 8th Congressional District on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016 in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Adrian Sainz).

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A look at the results from Election Day in Tennessee:

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TRUMP WINS BIG: Republican Donald Trump kept Tennessee in the Republican column for the fifth straight presidential election, defeating Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Gov. Bill Haslam has faced criticism from some fellow Republicans over his public rejection of Trump after the release of a video in which the candidate boasted about groping women. Haslam is the titular head of the state GOP, which is officially dedicated to supporting Republican candidates in elections. Some members of the party's executive party focused their anger at Chairman Ryan Haynes, a close ally of the governor.

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CONGRESS:

Former U.S. Attorney David Kustoff claimed the only open seat in Tennessee's congressional delegation, keeping the western 8th District in Republican hands. Incumbents won in the state's eight other districts, with Republicans Phil Roe in the 1st, John Duncan Jr. in the 2nd, Chuck Fleischmann in the 3rd, Scott DesJarlais in the 4th, Diane Black in the 6th and Marsha Blackburn in the 7th all returning to Congress. Democrats Jim Cooper in the 5th District and Steve Cohen in the 9th also retained their seats.

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STATE SENATE:

Republicans Steve Dickerson of Nashville and Todd Gardenhire of Chattanooga turned back Democratic challenges and the GOP maintained its 28-5 majority in the Senate.

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STATE HOUSE:

Republicans won two Democratic seats to bolster their supermajority to 75-24. Republican Michael Curcio easily defeated Democrat Dustin Evans to win the District 69 seat vacated by the retirement of Democratic Rep. David Shepard of Dickson. And Republican Paul Sherrell defeated incumbent Democratic Rep. Kevin Dunlap of Sparta by 7 percentage points.

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ONWARD TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE: With the dust settling on the presidential election, several potential candidates are expected to quickly start laying the groundwork for their bids to succeed term-limited Haslam in 2018. The potential Republican candidates include state U.S. Rep. Diane Black, Sen. Mark Green of Clarksville, House Speaker Beth Harwell of Nashville and state Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd. Democratic former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean is also mulling a bid.

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