Tennessee State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2022
Tennessee Senate District 16
A district of about 217,000 people, 20% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes R+57.7 relative to the nation for president.
2024 election
Nov 5, 2024- Janice Bowling (R) · won75.9%
- Wayne Steele (D)18.2%
- Scott Bean (OTH)5.8%
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 12:13 PM ET
Where it sits among all 33 seats
Every Tennessee State Senate seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.
Democratic
Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET
Every election for this seat
15 races since 1968. District numbers are redrawn after each census: each group is one set of lines.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Won by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lines first used in 2022 | |||
| 2024 | Janice Bowling (R) | Wayne Steele (D) | 57.7 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2020 | Janice Bowling (R) | Sheila Younglove (D) | 52.0 |
| 2016 | Janice Bowling (R) | Mike Winton (D) | 35.7 |
| 2012 | Janice Bowling (R) | Jim Lewis (D) | 25.9 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2008 | Jim Tracy (R) | Jean Anne Rogers (D) | 18.4 |
| 2004 | Jim Tracy (R) | Larry G. Trail (D) | 3.4 |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 2000 | Larry G. Trail (D) | Howard Wall (R) | 10.6 |
| 1996 | Andy Womack (D) | Kevin Wax (R) | 11.9 |
| 1992 | Andy Womack (D) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1988 | Andy Womack (D) | Terry Cox (R) | 51.4 |
| 1984 | John R. Rucker (D) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1980 | John R. Rucker (D) | Thomas Lee Smith (R) | 44.0 |
| 1976 | John R. Rucker (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 1972 | Reagor Motlow (D) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1962 | |||
| 1968 | Reagor Motlow (D) | — | Unopposed |
Primaries: 1988 Democratic primary · 1984 Democratic primary · 1976 Democratic primary · 1972 Democratic primary
Won by: the winner's lead over the runner-up, in points of the vote. Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Districts that overlap District 16
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 16's area in each.
Every race on these lines
Results recomputed from precinct returns as if today's boundaries had always existed, so years compare like for like.
| 2024 | |
|---|---|
| President | R+63.6 |
| U.S. Senate | R+60.9 |
Outlined: the race for this seat itselfBlank: no race that year
Source: 99chambers results archive: precinct results allocated to current lines; 2026: civicAPIUpdated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Who lives here, compared
Grey bars show the spread of all 33 seats. Small marks are other seats in Tennessee. The black marker is District 16.
Lower than 84% of seats.
Higher than 84% of seats.
Lower than 56% of seats.
Lower than 75% of seats.
Lower than 69% of seats.
Less dense than 88% of seats.
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET
Seats most like this one
Nearest seats on demographics, density and lean.
District 1522% college gradsR+56.6Held RDistrict 23
23% college gradsR+50.6Held RDistrict 8
TennesseeR+65.9Not up in 2026District 1
21% college gradsR+61.6Held R
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current lines; 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET