Steve Southerland
Tennessee State Senator, District 9 since 2002. Lost re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027. Ran in 7 elections between 2002 and 2022, winning 7.
Tennessee State Senator, District 9Born 1955
- In office
- 24 yrs
- Since 2002
- Bills became law
- 212
- 250 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.0%
- Chamber median 0.0%
- With party
- 97%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +65.8
- Won 2022
- Elections
- 8
- 2002–2026
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Commerce and Labor · second vice chair
- Finance, Ways and Means
- Fiscal Review
- Government Operations
- Government Operations
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Agents · Became law May 2026
Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission · Became law May 2026
Food and Food Products · Became law Apr 2026
Traffic Safety · Became law Apr 2026
Election Laws · Became law May 2025
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Southerland sits in the Tennessee State Senate
Southerland is closer to the center than 54% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Kerry Roberts, Rusty Crowe, Ed Jackson
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:02 PM ET
With Southerland’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans97%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Tennessee State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Southerland’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Southerland | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 2026 | HB 7002: Redistricting, Congressional - As enacted, removes prohibition on changing congressional… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 22–8 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | HB 1857: Education, Curriculum - As enacted, requires each director of schools for an LEA and each… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 28–5 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | HB 2251: Judges and Chancellors - As enacted, creates a pilot project to provide for criminal… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 28–5 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | HB 2175: Motor Vehicles - As enacted, requires a delivery network company or delivery network… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 19–9 |
| Apr 22, 2026 | HB 555: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, increases from a Class E felony to a Class D felony the… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 26–5 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Southerland was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tennessee Senate District 9 | Lost | — | — | — |
| 2022 | Tennessee State Senate, District 9 | Won | R+65.8 | R+59.8 | +6.0 |
| 2018 | Tennessee State Senate, District 1 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Tennessee State Senate, District 1 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Tennessee State Senate, District 1 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2010 | Tennessee State Senate, District 1 | Won | R+62.8 | — | — |
| 2006 | Tennessee State Senate, District 1 | Won | R+37.6 | — | — |
| 2002 | Tennessee State Senate, District 1 | Won | — | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Seats Southerland has held
- Tennessee State Senate, District 9 · since 2022
- Tennessee State Senate, District 1 · since 2002
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Southerland has run against
- Sara Thompson (D) · 2022 election, won
- Jackson B. West (D) · 2010 election, won
- Duran Williams (D) · 2006 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)
How we know Southerland
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/37dddeca-88ef-4254-b6f2-b2ddd6526665
- Wikidata Q7614007
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET