This is the 1978 race. The latest: 2026 →

1978Final results

1978 election for Tennessee's 8th District

U.S. House · Tennessee

Harold Ford (D) won with 69.7% of the vote, defeating Duncan Ragsdale (R) by 40.6 points.

Harold FordDemocrat · winner
69.7%80,776
Duncan RagsdaleRepublican
29.1%33,679
Richard WhitmoreIndependent
1.3%1,460
115,917 votes

Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET

The seat over time

D − R margin in this seat's races around 1978

Races before and after

EvenD+49.71982D+60.81986D+24.91988D+27.61994D+37.31996D+44.52000

Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET

The candidates

Harold Ford (D)Duncan Ragsdale (R)

Also on the ballot: Richard Whitmore (Independent), 1.3%