1996Final results
1996 election for Tennessee's 1st District
U.S. House · Tennessee
William Jenkins (R) won with 64.8% of the vote, defeating Kay C. Smith (D) by 32.5 points.
William JenkinsRepublican · winner
64.8%117,676
Kay C. SmithDemocrat
32.3%58,657
David DavisIndependent
1.1%1,947
James B. TaylorIndependent
0.6%1,089
Bill Bull DurhamIndependent
0.5%885
John CurtisIndependent
0.3%621
Mike FugateIndependent
0.2%440
Paul SchmidtIndependent
0.2%367
181,708 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 1996
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.
Kay C. SmithWilliam Jenkins
$32.5K
Raised by the campaign
$491.9K
$32.3K
Spent by the campaign
$458K
$248
Cash on hand
$33.9K
Other candidates' campaigns: David Davis $514.5K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 5, 1996; FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1996
The candidates
William Jenkins (R)Kay C. Smith (D)
Also on the ballot: David Davis (Independent), 1.1%; James B. Taylor (Independent), 0.6%; Bill Bull Durham (Independent), 0.5%; John Curtis (Independent), 0.3%; Mike Fugate (Independent), 0.2%; Paul Schmidt (Independent), 0.2%