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Tennessee Primary and Delegate Rules

Last reviewed: July 26, 2026. Tennessee primary election and presidential delegate rule information is summarized from the source links listed on this page. Confirm final rules, deadlines, and party procedures with the listed official sources.

Quick Answer​

  • Primary types: Democratic presidential: Closed; Democratic state: Closed; Republican presidential: Closed; Republican state: Closed.
  • Consolidated presidential and state primaries: No.
  • Democratic delegates: 70 total, 63 pledged, 7 unpledged, 5 alternates.
  • Republican delegates: 58 total, 58 pledged, 0 unpledged, 55 alternates.

Tennessee Primary Election Types​

Primary election types by party and contest
PartyContestPrimary type
DemocraticPresidentialClosed
DemocraticStateClosed
RepublicanPresidentialClosed
RepublicanStateClosed

Presidential and State Primaries Scheduling​

Consolidated Primaries: No

Tennessee is one of the states that have not merged their presidential and state primaries. On a Presidential Election year, presidential primary and State primary are scheduled to run on different days

In Tennessee, partisan primaries for congressional offices and state-level officials are closed; a voter must either be registered with a political party or must declare his or affiliation with the party at the polls on primary election day in order to vote in that party's primary. A registered voter is entitled to vote in a primary election for offices for which the voter is qualified to vote at the polling place where the voter is registered if: (1) The voter is a bona fide member of and affiliated with the political party in whose primary the voter seeks to vote; or (2) At the time the voter seeks to vote, the voter declares allegiance to the political party in whose primary the voter seeks to vote and states that the voter intends to affiliate with that party. Tenn. Code Ann. § 2–7–115

Tennessee Presidential Delegate Allocation​

The presidential primary process involves selecting delegates who will represent the state at the party's national convention. Delegates selected from the primary elections attend the party's national convention, where they officially nominate the presidential candidate. The candidate with the majority of delegates becomes the party's nominee for the presidential election. Candidates Ballot access rules vary depending on the candidate’s political party.

Tennessee presidential delegate counts
PartyTotal delegate votesPledgedUnpledgedAlternatesAllocation methodThreshold
Democratic Party706375Proportional15% minimum vote required
Republican Party5858055Winner-Take-MostNot specified

Democratic Party Primary Delegates Process​

Democratic Party's Delegates Allocation​

The Democratic party will send a total of 70 Delegate Votes (63 Pledged, 7 unpledged) and 5 Alternate delegates to the Democratic National Convention. The party will use a proportional representation system based on the results of the Presidential Primary Election for apportioning pledged delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

Presidential Candidates Ballot Access​

  • A presidential candidate gains access to the State presidential preference primary ballot if:
  • The candidate has filed the appropriate registration information with the federal election commission (FEC) to become a candidate for president of the United States; and
  • Please check with the State Democratic party for further requirements.

Delegates Breakdown​

  • District-level Delegates: 41
  • At-large Delegates: 14
  • Pledged PLEOs Delegates: 8
  • Automatic Delegates - Unpledged PLEOs: 7
  • Alternate Delegates: 5

Automatic Delegates (Unpledged PLEOs - Super Delegates) Breakdown​

  • DNC Members: 5
  • Dem. Members of Congress: 1
  • Dem. Governors: 0
  • Distinguished Party Leaders: 1

Republican Party Primary Delegates Process​

Republican Party's Delegates Allocation​

The Republican party will send a total of 58 Delegate Votes (27 district-level, 28 at-large, 3 RNC) and 55 Alternate delegates to the Republican National Convention. All 58 of Tennessee's delegates to the Republican National Convention are pledged to presidential contenders in Tennessee Presidential Primary

Presidential Candidates Ballot Access​

  • A presidential candidate gains access to the State presidential preference primary ballot if:
  • The candidate has filed the appropriate registration information with the federal election commission (FEC) to become a candidate for president of the United States; and
  • Please check with the State Republican party for additional requirements.

Delegates Breakdown​

  • District-level Delegates: 27
  • At-large Delegates: 28
  • RNC Delegates: 3
  • Alternate Delegates: 55

About These Rules​

This page contains primary election rules and presidential primary delegate allocation information for states and U.S. territories.

Primary voting rules and delegate allocation usually apply to statewide partisan primary elections. Check with your local election office for current guidance because rules, dates, and party procedures can change.

The information provided on this page was validated using the following resources: