Political party strength in Tennessee

Tennessee's politics are currently dominated by the Republican Party. Republicans currently hold both of the state's U.S. Senate seats, a majority of Congressional seats, and the state legislature. Democratic strength is largely concentrated in Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga and parts of Knoxville, Clarksville, Murfreesboro and Jackson. Several rural Black Belt areas of West Tennessee and suburban areas of the Nashville/Murfreesboro, Chattanooga and Knoxville metropolitan areas also contain significant Democratic minorities. On the other hand, Republicans have a solid base of support in Cookeville and its suburbs, most exurban areas around Nashville except in Rutherford County and Franklin, most suburbs of Memphis, the Tri-Cities outside of Johnson City itself and most white-majority rural areas, regularly outperforming even their statewide results there.