Tennessee — 1988 presidential election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate1988 presidential electionTennessee · PresidentBushR+16.3
How it voted
Share of the 1988 vote
| George H. W. Bush ✓Republican | 57.9% | 947,233 |
|---|---|---|
| Michael DukakisDemocratic | 41.5% | 679,794 |
| OtherAll other candidates | 0.6% | 9,224 |
1988presidential margin
D+60R+60
95 counties, each filled by 1988 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
Tennessee cast 11 electoral votes this cycle.
County-level results (95 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson County, TN | Republican | R+22.1 |
| Bedford County, TN | Republican | R+9.1 |
| Benton County, TN | Democratic | D+13.2 |
| Bledsoe County, TN | Republican | R+18.6 |
| Blount County, TN | Republican | R+35.0 |
| Bradley County, TN | Republican | R+44.1 |
| Campbell County, TN | Republican | R+10.7 |
| Cannon County, TN | Democratic | D+3.6 |
| Carroll County, TN | Republican | R+15.1 |
| Carter County, TN | Republican | R+44.1 |
| Cheatham County, TN | Republican | R+14.7 |
| Chester County, TN | Republican | R+22.5 |
| Claiborne County, TN | Republican | R+15.4 |
| Clay County, TN | Republican | R+4.3 |
| Cocke County, TN | Republican | R+43.7 |
| Coffee County, TN | Republican | R+15.8 |
| Crockett County, TN | Republican | R+11.9 |
| Cumberland County, TN | Republican | R+31.0 |
| Davidson County, TN | Republican | R+4.9 |
| Decatur County, TN | Republican | R+9.7 |
| DeKalb County, TN | Democratic | D+7.7 |
| Dickson County, TN | Republican | R+2.0 |
| Dyer County, TN | Republican | R+27.5 |
| Fayette County, TN | Republican | R+4.1 |
| Fentress County, TN | Republican | R+25.0 |
| Franklin County, TN | Democratic | D+0.6 |
| Gibson County, TN | Republican | R+5.4 |
| Giles County, TN | Democratic | D+5.3 |
| Grainger County, TN | Republican | R+31.4 |
| Greene County, TN | Republican | R+40.1 |
| Grundy County, TN | Democratic | D+25.6 |
| Hamblen County, TN | Republican | R+34.4 |
| Hamilton County, TN | Republican | R+24.7 |
| Hancock County, TN | Republican | R+27.2 |
| Hardeman County, TN | Republican | R+0.3 |
| Hardin County, TN | Republican | R+20.4 |
| Hawkins County, TN | Republican | R+28.3 |
| Haywood County, TN | Democratic | D+4.2 |
| Henderson County, TN | Republican | R+39.9 |
| Henry County, TN | Democratic | D+3.5 |
| Hickman County, TN | Democratic | D+8.1 |
| Houston County, TN | Democratic | D+24.7 |
| Humphreys County, TN | Democratic | D+17.4 |
| Jackson County, TN | Democratic | D+25.3 |
| Jefferson County, TN | Republican | R+36.4 |
| Johnson County, TN | Republican | R+47.0 |
| Knox County, TN | Republican | R+27.1 |
| Lake County, TN | Democratic | D+7.4 |
| Lauderdale County, TN | Republican | R+0.2 |
| Lawrence County, TN | Republican | R+12.3 |
| Lewis County, TN | Democratic | D+3.4 |
| Lincoln County, TN | Republican | R+7.7 |
| Loudon County, TN | Republican | R+34.1 |
| Macon County, TN | Republican | R+31.4 |
| Madison County, TN | Republican | R+21.2 |
| Marion County, TN | Republican | R+2.7 |
| Marshall County, TN | Republican | R+3.1 |
| Maury County, TN | Republican | R+14.3 |
| McMinn County, TN | Republican | R+29.8 |
| McNairy County, TN | Republican | R+13.6 |
| Meigs County, TN | Republican | R+17.9 |
| Monroe County, TN | Republican | R+22.7 |
| Montgomery County, TN | Republican | R+15.8 |
| Moore County, TN | Republican | R+3.6 |
| Morgan County, TN | Republican | R+14.0 |
| Obion County, TN | Republican | R+11.5 |
| Overton County, TN | Democratic | D+14.5 |
| Perry County, TN | Democratic | D+17.1 |
| Pickett County, TN | Republican | R+27.6 |
| Polk County, TN | Republican | R+5.1 |
| Putnam County, TN | Republican | R+18.1 |
| Rhea County, TN | Republican | R+32.8 |
| Roane County, TN | Republican | R+24.8 |
| Robertson County, TN | Democratic | D+1.5 |
| Rutherford County, TN | Republican | R+24.9 |
| Scott County, TN | Republican | R+22.7 |
| Sequatchie County, TN | Republican | R+16.1 |
| Sevier County, TN | Republican | R+53.0 |
| Shelby County, TN | Republican | R+2.5 |
| Smith County, TN | Democratic | D+8.2 |
| Stewart County, TN | Democratic | D+20.5 |
| Sullivan County, TN | Republican | R+30.6 |
| Sumner County, TN | Republican | R+24.9 |
| Tipton County, TN | Republican | R+22.5 |
| Trousdale County, TN | Democratic | D+10.3 |
| Unicoi County, TN | Republican | R+34.1 |
| Union County, TN | Republican | R+19.1 |
| Van Buren County, TN | Democratic | D+1.0 |
| Warren County, TN | Democratic | D+1.3 |
| Washington County, TN | Republican | R+31.9 |
| Wayne County, TN | Republican | R+38.2 |
| Weakley County, TN | Republican | R+14.6 |
| White County, TN | Republican | R+1.6 |
| Williamson County, TN | Republican | R+45.0 |
| Wilson County, TN | Republican | R+22.7 |
Tennessee results by county
95 counties. Third-party and independent votes are reported by the county source as one combined figure; every named candidate is listed in the complete result below.
| Led by | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson County | George H. W. Bush+5,467 | 15,05660.7% | 9,58938.7% | 1430.6% | 24,788 |
| Bedford County | George H. W. Bush+810 | 4,85654.3% | 4,04645.3% | 370.4% | 8,939 |
| Benton County | Michael Dukakis+659 | 2,16743.3% | 2,82656.4% | 160.3% | 5,009 |
| Bledsoe County | George H. W. Bush+584 | 1,85859.0% | 1,27440.5% | 150.5% | 3,147 |
| Blount County | George H. W. Bush+10,425 | 20,02767.3% | 9,60232.2% | 1470.5% | 29,776 |
| Bradley County | George H. W. Bush+9,707 | 15,82971.8% | 6,12227.8% | 800.4% | 22,031 |
| Campbell County | George H. W. Bush+1,009 | 5,19755.2% | 4,18844.5% | 310.3% | 9,416 |
| Cannon County | Michael Dukakis+122 | 1,60447.9% | 1,72651.6% | 180.5% | 3,348 |
| Carroll County | George H. W. Bush+1,484 | 5,63557.3% | 4,15142.2% | 440.4% | 9,830 |
| Carter County | George H. W. Bush+7,402 | 12,03671.7% | 4,63427.6% | 1080.6% | 16,778 |
| Cheatham County | George H. W. Bush+1,065 | 4,13257.0% | 3,06742.3% | 510.7% | 7,250 |
| Chester County | George H. W. Bush+1,024 | 2,78161.1% | 1,75738.6% | 170.4% | 4,555 |
| Claiborne County | George H. W. Bush+1,094 | 4,07157.5% | 2,97742.0% | 340.5% | 7,082 |
| Clay County | George H. W. Bush+108 | 1,29151.8% | 1,18347.5% | 190.8% | 2,493 |
| Cocke County | George H. W. Bush+3,315 | 5,43071.6% | 2,11527.9% | 340.4% | 7,579 |
| Coffee County | George H. W. Bush+2,151 | 7,83757.6% | 5,68641.8% | 920.7% | 13,615 |
| Crockett County | George H. W. Bush+472 | 2,21455.8% | 1,74243.9% | 140.4% | 3,970 |
| Cumberland County | George H. W. Bush+3,593 | 7,55765.2% | 3,96434.2% | 730.6% | 11,594 |
| Davidson County | George H. W. Bush+9,329 | 98,59952.2% | 89,27047.2% | 1,0770.6% | 188,946 |
| Decatur County | George H. W. Bush+406 | 2,28654.5% | 1,88044.9% | 250.6% | 4,191 |
| DeKalb County | Michael Dukakis+354 | 2,09845.8% | 2,45253.5% | 310.7% | 4,581 |
| Dickson County | George H. W. Bush+214 | 5,34350.7% | 5,12948.7% | 640.6% | 10,536 |
| Dyer County | George H. W. Bush+2,818 | 6,50863.5% | 3,69036.0% | 450.4% | 10,243 |
| Fayette County | George H. W. Bush+281 | 3,57351.6% | 3,29247.6% | 560.8% | 6,921 |
| Fentress County | George H. W. Bush+1,247 | 3,10362.2% | 1,85637.2% | 330.7% | 4,992 |
| Franklin County | Michael Dukakis+61 | 5,38149.4% | 5,44250.0% | 630.6% | 10,886 |
| Gibson County | George H. W. Bush+873 | 8,41552.5% | 7,54247.0% | 810.5% | 16,038 |
| Giles County | Michael Dukakis+400 | 3,51847.0% | 3,91852.4% | 420.6% | 7,478 |
| Grainger County | George H. W. Bush+1,311 | 2,73465.5% | 1,42334.1% | 170.4% | 4,174 |
| Greene County | George H. W. Bush+6,870 | 11,94769.7% | 5,07729.6% | 1080.6% | 17,132 |
| Grundy County | Michael Dukakis+986 | 1,42937.0% | 2,41562.6% | 130.3% | 3,857 |
| Hamblen County | George H. W. Bush+5,357 | 10,41866.9% | 5,06132.5% | 860.6% | 15,565 |
| Hamilton County | George H. W. Bush+27,121 | 68,11162.1% | 40,99037.4% | 6080.6% | 109,709 |
| Hancock County | George H. W. Bush+566 | 1,30362.6% | 73735.4% | 422.0% | 2,082 |
| Hardeman County | George H. W. Bush+21 | 3,54749.7% | 3,52649.4% | 650.9% | 7,138 |
| Hardin County | George H. W. Bush+1,444 | 4,25260.0% | 2,80839.6% | 290.4% | 7,089 |
| Hawkins County | George H. W. Bush+4,144 | 9,35663.9% | 5,21235.6% | 780.5% | 14,646 |
| Haywood County | Michael Dukakis+236 | 2,68747.6% | 2,92351.8% | 300.5% | 5,640 |
| Henderson County | George H. W. Bush+3,122 | 5,41869.3% | 2,29629.4% | 1051.3% | 7,819 |
| Henry County | Michael Dukakis+354 | 4,78448.0% | 5,13851.5% | 530.5% | 9,975 |
| Hickman County | Michael Dukakis+397 | 2,24645.7% | 2,64353.7% | 290.6% | 4,918 |
| Houston County | Michael Dukakis+585 | 88237.3% | 1,46762.0% | 180.8% | 2,367 |
| Humphreys County | Michael Dukakis+905 | 2,13241.1% | 3,03758.5% | 190.4% | 5,188 |
| Jackson County | Michael Dukakis+794 | 1,16837.2% | 1,96262.4% | 140.4% | 3,144 |
| Jefferson County | George H. W. Bush+3,664 | 6,83267.9% | 3,16831.5% | 690.7% | 10,069 |
| Johnson County | George H. W. Bush+2,386 | 3,71573.1% | 1,32926.2% | 350.7% | 5,079 |
| Knox County | George H. W. Bush+31,263 | 73,09263.3% | 41,82936.2% | 6000.5% | 115,521 |
| Lake County | Michael Dukakis+129 | 80646.1% | 93553.4% | 90.5% | 1,750 |
| Lauderdale County | George H. W. Bush+12 | 3,30849.8% | 3,29649.6% | 350.5% | 6,639 |
| Lawrence County | George H. W. Bush+1,370 | 6,27356.1% | 4,90343.8% | 70.1% | 11,183 |
| Lewis County | Michael Dukakis+95 | 1,32448.0% | 1,41951.4% | 180.7% | 2,761 |
| Lincoln County | George H. W. Bush+616 | 4,28853.5% | 3,67245.8% | 570.7% | 8,017 |
| Loudon County | George H. W. Bush+3,642 | 7,12266.7% | 3,48032.6% | 770.7% | 10,679 |
| Macon County | George H. W. Bush+1,424 | 2,96265.4% | 1,53833.9% | 310.7% | 4,531 |
| Madison County | George H. W. Bush+5,951 | 16,95260.5% | 11,00139.2% | 860.3% | 28,039 |
| Marion County | George H. W. Bush+232 | 4,40751.1% | 4,17548.4% | 360.4% | 8,618 |
| Marshall County | George H. W. Bush+180 | 2,97551.4% | 2,79548.3% | 210.4% | 5,791 |
| Maury County | George H. W. Bush+2,117 | 8,39756.8% | 6,28042.5% | 1110.8% | 14,788 |
| McMinn County | George H. W. Bush+3,894 | 8,46264.7% | 4,56834.9% | 480.4% | 13,078 |
| McNairy County | George H. W. Bush+1,115 | 4,62556.5% | 3,51042.9% | 560.7% | 8,191 |
| Meigs County | George H. W. Bush+459 | 1,50758.7% | 1,04840.8% | 130.5% | 2,568 |
| Monroe County | George H. W. Bush+2,355 | 6,35561.1% | 4,00038.5% | 380.4% | 10,393 |
| Montgomery County | George H. W. Bush+3,454 | 12,59957.6% | 9,14541.8% | 1120.5% | 21,856 |
| Moore County | George H. W. Bush+55 | 78651.4% | 73147.8% | 130.8% | 1,530 |
| Morgan County | George H. W. Bush+635 | 2,57656.7% | 1,94142.7% | 290.6% | 4,546 |
| Obion County | George H. W. Bush+1,252 | 6,03755.6% | 4,78544.1% | 360.3% | 10,858 |
| Overton County | Michael Dukakis+638 | 1,87342.6% | 2,51157.1% | 130.3% | 4,397 |
| Perry County | Michael Dukakis+354 | 85441.1% | 1,20858.2% | 140.7% | 2,076 |
| Pickett County | George H. W. Bush+484 | 1,11863.7% | 63436.1% | 40.2% | 1,756 |
| Polk County | George H. W. Bush+224 | 2,29752.3% | 2,07347.2% | 210.5% | 4,391 |
| Putnam County | George H. W. Bush+2,941 | 9,54758.6% | 6,60640.6% | 1320.8% | 16,285 |
| Rhea County | George H. W. Bush+2,549 | 5,14466.2% | 2,59533.4% | 370.5% | 7,776 |
| Roane County | George H. W. Bush+4,346 | 10,88162.2% | 6,53537.3% | 810.5% | 17,497 |
| Robertson County | Michael Dukakis+170 | 5,71449.0% | 5,88450.4% | 740.6% | 11,672 |
| Rutherford County | George H. W. Bush+8,152 | 20,39762.2% | 12,24537.3% | 1590.5% | 32,801 |
| Scott County | George H. W. Bush+951 | 2,56261.1% | 1,61138.4% | 200.5% | 4,193 |
| Sequatchie County | George H. W. Bush+463 | 1,65957.8% | 1,19641.7% | 140.5% | 2,869 |
| Sevier County | George H. W. Bush+8,277 | 11,92076.3% | 3,64323.3% | 680.4% | 15,631 |
| Shelby County | George H. W. Bush+7,698 | 157,45751.0% | 149,75948.5% | 1,7720.6% | 308,988 |
| Smith County | Michael Dukakis+384 | 2,13845.6% | 2,52253.8% | 260.6% | 4,686 |
| Stewart County | Michael Dukakis+677 | 1,30239.5% | 1,97960.0% | 150.5% | 3,296 |
| Sullivan County | George H. W. Bush+15,600 | 32,99664.7% | 17,39634.1% | 5851.1% | 50,977 |
| Sumner County | George H. W. Bush+7,821 | 19,52362.2% | 11,70237.3% | 1640.5% | 31,389 |
| Tipton County | George H. W. Bush+2,228 | 6,05261.0% | 3,82438.6% | 420.4% | 9,918 |
| Trousdale County | Michael Dukakis+224 | 96944.6% | 1,19354.9% | 110.5% | 2,173 |
| Unicoi County | George H. W. Bush+1,870 | 3,66466.8% | 1,79432.7% | 280.5% | 5,486 |
| Union County | George H. W. Bush+679 | 2,11059.2% | 1,43140.2% | 230.6% | 3,564 |
| Van Buren County | Michael Dukakis+16 | 78049.4% | 79650.4% | 40.3% | 1,580 |
| Warren County | Michael Dukakis+117 | 4,52949.1% | 4,64650.4% | 430.5% | 9,218 |
| Washington County | George H. W. Bush+9,528 | 19,61565.6% | 10,08733.8% | 1850.6% | 29,887 |
| Wayne County | George H. W. Bush+1,889 | 3,40568.8% | 1,51630.6% | 300.6% | 4,951 |
| Weakley County | George H. W. Bush+1,462 | 5,70157.1% | 4,23942.4% | 490.5% | 9,989 |
| White County | George H. W. Bush+84 | 2,64650.4% | 2,56248.8% | 410.8% | 5,249 |
| Williamson County | George H. W. Bush+12,983 | 20,84772.3% | 7,86427.3% | 1120.4% | 28,823 |
| Wilson County | George H. W. Bush+4,957 | 13,31761.1% | 8,36038.4% | 1160.5% | 21,793 |
Nominees: Michael Dukakis (D) · George H. W. Bush (R)
Tennessee's presidential margins
1892–2024, the 1988 contest in context
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1892 | +13.5% |
| 1896 | +6.0% |
| 1900 | +8.1% |
| 1904 | +10.8% |
| 1908 | +6.9% |
| 1912 | +28.9% |
| 1916 | +13.6% |
| 1920 | −2.8% |
| 1924 | +9.3% |
| 1928 | −11.1% |
| 1932 | +34.0% |
| 1936 | +37.9% |
| 1940 | +34.9% |
| 1944 | +21.2% |
| 1948 | +12.3% |
| 1952 | −0.3% |
| 1956 | −0.6% |
| 1960 | −7.1% |
| 1964 | +11.0% |
| 1968 | −9.7% |
| 1972 | −38.0% |
| 1976 | +13.0% |
| 1980 | −0.3% |
| 1984 | −16.3% |
| 1988 | −16.3% |
| 1992 | +4.7% |
| 1996 | +2.4% |
| 2000 | −3.9% |
| 2004 | −14.3% |
| 2008 | −15.0% |
| 2012 | −20.4% |
| 2016 | −26.0% |
| 2020 | −23.2% |
| 2024 | −29.7% |
Same ballot, 1988TN
Source. MIT Election Data + Science Lab — 1988 presidential returns · official county-level results. Real returns — nothing estimated.