Democrats in Hamilton County and across Tennessee are excited because they believe the unpopularity of President Donald Trump, the war in Iran, high gasoline prices and the recent redistricting of the state’s congressional districts give them a shot at winning elections they have been shut out of for years.
Locally, for instance, the last time Democrats won a Hamilton County constitutional office was 2010, when Gwen Tidwell, Paula Thompson and Bill Knowles were reelected Criminal Court clerk, Circuit Court clerk and county clerk, respectively. Tidwell was defeated in 2014, Thompson didn’t run in 2014 and Knowles became a Republican.
The last time Democrats had a majority on the Hamilton County Commission was 1994. The last time a Democrat was elected to represent the 3rd Congressional District was 1992. The last time Tennessee elected a Democratic governor was 2006. And the last time the state elected a Democratic U.S. senator was 1990.
And since 1948, Volunteer State voters have selected a Democrat for president in only four elections — 1964, 1976, 1992 and 1996.