NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee Democrats began Election Day feeling like they had their best chance in years to regain some political clout in their conservative state.
Those aspirations quickly disappeared, as voters turned out in droves largely to give President Donald Trump a stamp of approval and echo much of what Republicans touted on the campaign trail.
From the U.S. Senate to the governor’s office to the statehouse, Republicans were able to fend off key Democratic challengers, despite running in a year that was expected to see a large swell of progressive voters across the country.
Republican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn delivered the biggest blow to Democrats by handily defeating their popular former governor, Phil Bredesen, in a Senate bid to replace retiring Republican Sen. Bob Corker, who had frequently clashed with the president.
One reason for the Republican success, according to a wide-ranging survey of Tennessee voters, was that voters were pleased with how things are going under Trump.