2019 Nashville mayoral election

The 2019 Nashville mayoral election took place on August 1, 2019, to elect the Mayor of Nashville, Tennessee. Incumbent David Briley, who succeeded Megan Barry following her resignation and won a special election to fill the remainder of her term, was eligible to run for reelection.[1] In the August election, Briley came in second behind city councilman John Cooper; however, no candidate took more than 50 percent of the vote, forcing a runoff between Cooper and Briley on September 12, 2019.[2] Cooper won the runoff definitively with 69 percent of the vote.[3]

2019 Nashville mayoral election

August 1 and September 12, 2019

Candidate John Cooper David Briley Carol Swain Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan First round vote 35,676 25,786 22,387 First round percentage 34.98% 25.28% 21.95% Runoff vote 62,404 27,255 Runoff percentage 69.12% 30.19%   Candidate John Ray Clemmons Party Nonpartisan First round vote 16,391 First round percentage 16.07%

Mayor before election David Briley Democratic Elected Mayor John Cooper Democratic

Candidates

Declared

• David Briley, incumbent Mayor of Nashville[1]
• Jimmy Lawrence, small business owner
• Julia Clark-Johnson, professional driving administrator and instructor[4]
• John Ray Clemmons, incumbent State Representative for the 55th District[5]
• John Cooper, member of the Metropolitan Council[6]
• Harold "Hollywood Howie" Garoutte, retired U.S. Army sergeant, owner and operator of Southern Country Radio, actor[7]
• Carol M. Swain, former Vanderbilt professor

Potential

• Jeff Obafemi Carr, community organizer[8]
• Erica Gilmore, member of the Metropolitan Council[8]
• Daron Hall, Sheriff of Davidson County[8]
• James Shaw Jr., hero of the Nashville Waffle House shooting[9]

Declined

• Megan Barry, former Mayor of Nashville[8]
• Bill Freeman, real estate developer and owner of the Nashville Scene, Nashville Post, and Nfocus[10]
• Harold Love, State Representative[8]
• Bob Mendes, member of the Metropolitan Council[8]
• Renata Soto, nonprofit executive and former director of Conexión Américas[8]
• Jeffrey Napier, US Army Veteran, Former Mechanic for Metro Nashville Government, Limo Driver, Active Skydiver [8]

Results

First round

2019 Nashville mayoral election results (first round)[11]

Candidate		Votes	%
John Cooper		35,676	34.98
David Briley (incumbent)		25,786	25.28
Carol Swain		22,387	21.95
John Ray Clemmons		16,391	16.07
Julia Clark-Johnson		404	0.40
Bernie Cox		337	0.33
Jimmy Lawrence		305	0.30
Jody Ball		280	0.27
Jon Sewell		224	0.22
Nolan Starnes		129	0.13
Write-in		83	0.08
Total votes		102,002	100

Second round

2019 Nashville mayoral election results (runoff)

Candidate		Votes	%
John Cooper		62,404	69.12
David Briley (incumbent)		27,255	30.19
Write-in		621	0.69
Total votes		90,280	100

External links

• Briley campaign website
• Clark-Johnson campaign website
• Clemmons campaign website
• Swain campaign website
• Cooper campaign website
• Sewell campaign website

References

1. "Nashville Mayor David Briley kicks off re-election fundraising". The Tennessean. November 16, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
2. "John Cooper leads David Briley as two head to September runoff battle in Nashville mayoral race". The Tennessean. August 2, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
3. Jeong, Yihyun (September 12, 2019). "John Cooper wins Nashville mayoral race, defeats incumbent Mayor David Briley in landslide". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
4. "Nashville mayoral election: Meet Julia Clark-Johnson". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
5. "State Rep. John Ray Clemmons launches run for Nashville mayor". The Tennessean. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
6. "Cooper Set to Announce Mayoral Run". Nashville Scene. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
7. "Nashville man announces intention to run for mayor | News | wsmv.com". www.wsmv.com. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
8. "Tennessee elections: Nashville's next mayor's race about to take shape". Tennessean.com. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
9. "'Waffle House Hero' James Shaw Jr. Considers Running For Mayor « CBS New York". Newyork.cbslocal.com. November 8, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
10. "Bill Freeman Won't Run for Mayor". Nashville Scene. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
11. "August 1, 2019 Election Results (Certified)". Nashville Election Commission. Retrieved September 15, 2019.