1990Final results
1990 election for Tennessee's 4th District
U.S. House · Tennessee
Jim Cooper (D) won with 67.4% of the vote, defeating Claiborne "clay" Sanders (R) by 37.8 points.
Jim CooperDemocrat · winner
67.4%52,101
Claiborne "clay" SandersRepublican
29.6%22,890
Gene M. BullingtonIndependent
3.0%2,281
77,276 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 1990
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Jim CooperClaiborne "clay" Sanders
$183.5K
Raised by the campaign
$16.5K
$56.9K
Spent by the campaign
$12.6K
$205.6K
Cash on hand
$3.9K
Other candidates' campaigns: Gene M. Bullington $1.4K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1990.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1990
The candidates
Jim Cooper (D)Claiborne "clay" Sanders (R)
Also on the ballot: Gene M. Bullington (Independent), 3.0%