Mark Proctor Wins, Keeps Nashville’s District 59 Blue

Retired Tennessee Highway Patrol Major Mark Proctor was elected to the state legislature on Tuesday, keeping Nashville’s House District 59 in the hands of Democrats.

Proctor beat Republican businessman Bill Hancock handily in a race that was expected to be close because of the partisan split in the Nashville district. Proctor beat Hancock 57.4 percent to 42.6 percent and will fill the seat vacated by Rep. Caleb Hemmer (D-Nashville).

“I’m deeply grateful to the voters of House District 59 for their trust and support,” Proctor told the Banner late Tuesday. “This campaign was powered by neighbors who believe we can make life more affordable, strengthen public schools, and keep our communities safe. I’m proud of what we built together, and I look forward to serving our district.”

The district, which covers a portion of southern Davidson County spanning from Belle Meade to Cane Ridge, narrowly went to Hemmer when he was first elected in 2022 and has a pretty even partisan split, making it crucial for the outnumbered Democrats to win to maintain their already limited footing in the Republican supermajority General Assembly.

Stakes were high for Republicans, too, who saw the district as a chance to win a seat in Nashville. 

House Democrats also came out on top in another close race, District 60, where Rep. Shaundelle Brooks won a second term representing Old Hickory and Hermitage with more than 64 percent of the vote, despite a similar partisan split and republican challenger.

After Tuesday, Republicans still hold a supermajority in the state House, but Democrats were positioned to pick up at least five new seats.

Hancock did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

The post Mark Proctor Wins, Keeps Nashville’s District 59 Blue appeared first on Nashville Banner.