In Tennessee’s 4th Congressional District, Democrat Victoria Broderick holds a 280-vote lead over Republican incumbent Rep. Scott DesJarlais in unofficial final results, according to the Tennessee secretary of state’s office as of Thursday afternoon.
Broderick has 95,585 votes (48.87%) to DesJarlais’s 95,305 votes (48.73%), with independents Jacob Kristopher Anders (2,833 votes) and Clay Faircloth (1,853 votes) trailing. The results remain uncertified, and neither campaign has filed a challenge or requested a recount as of publication.
Certification and next steps
Tennessee does not provide automatic recounts based solely on a narrow margin. Any contest must proceed through the state’s election contest process after certification. State law requires counties to reconcile and verify election records, including precinct tally tapes, before results become official. The state expects to certify results on December 1.
Broderick, in a victory speech, stated she expects the outcome to be contested, though neither campaign has filed a challenge. The Associated Press has not called the race.
Campaign spending and grassroots effort
Broderick’s campaign spent under $100,000 and aired no paid TV ads, relying instead on a grassroots operation built over two years. DesJarlais’s campaign raised $667,181 and spent $508,166 through October 14, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
The newly redrawn district, which now extends from rural border counties to eastern Nashville, was a target for Democrats amid historic House losses for Republicans. Broderick’s team described the outcome as a surprise to others but not to them.
District history and context
DesJarlais, first elected in 2010, has held the seat for 16 years. The district, which President Donald Trump carried by 24 points in 2024, has been a Republican stronghold. The redrawing of district lines this year altered its traditional boundaries, contributing to the competitive race.