Nashville, Tennessee: Victoria Broderick Upsets Scott DesJarlais by 280 Votes in District 4

Democrat Victoria Broderick defeated Republican Rep. Scott DesJarlais in Tennessee's 4th Congressional District on Tuesday night, in one of the closest and least expected results of the midterm elections. According to unofficial final results from the Tennessee Secretary of State, with all precincts reporting, Broderick had 95,585 votes to 95,305 for DesJarlais, a margin of 280 votes. The Nashville Banner reported the same totals with 100 percent of the vote counted.

DesJarlais, a physician from Sherwood, has held the seat since 2011 and was seeking a ninth term. Broderick, 34, is a tech worker who described herself during the campaign as a working class mom from rural Tennessee. The result was a rematch of the 2024 election, which DesJarlais won by more than 40 percentage points. President Donald Trump won the district by 24 points two years ago, and national analysts had rated the seat safe or solid Republican before Tuesday.

A redrawn district

Tennessee Republicans redrew the state's congressional map in a mid decade redistricting during a special session called by Gov. Bill Lee in May. The new 4th District added the southeastern corner of Davidson County, which includes part of southeast Nashville, to a district that still covers Murfreesboro, much of Rutherford County and the southern half of the Cumberland Plateau. Republican leaders had aimed to make all nine Tennessee House districts favor their party and to end Democratic representation from the state in the House. Broderick's win blocks that sweep. She becomes the only Democrat in Tennessee's congressional delegation.

Broderick won the Democratic primary in August, defeating Nashville Council Member Mike Cortese, who was better funded. In the general election she reported raising less than $100,000 as of Oct. 14, compared with more than $600,000 raised by DesJarlais, according to the Nashville Banner. She told the Banner after a campaign forum in Smyrna in September that she did not stop campaigning after the 2024 election and hit the ground again the next month.

What Broderick ran on

Broderick focused her campaign on affordability and on giving the district closer representation. The Tennessean reported that she centered reproductive freedom. The Banner reported that she supports Medicare for All, raising the minimum wage, and universal prekindergarten and childcare aid. A campaign spokesperson told the Banner that Broderick is thankful to the people of District 4, wants to be held accountable, and wants to hear people and their needs and work in their best interest.

Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Rachel Campbell pointed to the margin in a statement reported by the Tennessean. "280 votes," Campbell said, calling the result a rejection of rising costs and one party control. Other Tennessee House races stayed close on Tuesday. In District 5, Republican Charlie Hatcher beat Democrat Chaz Molder by 5 percentage points. In District 9, Republican Brent Taylor beat Democrat Justin J. Pearson by about 2,500 votes, just over 1 percentage point.

The results remain unofficial until they are certified. The Associated Press results page for the race listed it as too early to call late on Tuesday night, with 98.97 percent of precincts reporting in its count and the same 95,585 to 95,305 totals. Certification by the state will make the outcome official.