Republican state House candidate Joe Carr, left, is congratulated by Sen. Jim Tracy.

The results in the national elections may have surprised some, but on the local level no one was surprised by an upset.

Overall incumbents kept their seats and Republicans kept control of the county.

The one toss up race, the 48th House District now vacated by John Hood, went to the Republicans in a close race between Joe Carr and Tim Tipps.

Carr pulled out a victory by a few hundred votes. Carr got 51.43 percent to Tipps’ 48.39 percent. Tipps carried 13,130 votes and Carr got 13,955. He thanked the voters in the district for his win.

“They share the vision and the values of the district,” Carr said. “I will take these things to Nashville that will positively affect the people of the 48th District.”

49th House District

Rep. Kent Coleman pulled out a win against Republican challenger Rick Womick in a race that became progressively more negative in the final stretch.

Coleman took the lead in early voting and Womick couldn’t make up the difference in the end.

Coleman took 15,655 votes or 52.74 percent to Womick’s 14,006 votes or 47.18 percent.

 “I’m extremely happy about the large turnout of the voters here in Rutherford County,” Coleman said. It’s certainly better to exercise the right to vote than allow the election of our representatives through a small number of voters.”

Coming on the heels of two local elections and primaries where the turnout barely topped 10 percent, more than 70 percent of voters showed up at the polls during early voting and on election day to cast ballots.

In his concession speech on WGNS, Womick thanked the many voters, his family and volunteers who supported him in the election. He also said this wouldn’t be his last race.

“I’ve already got some calls from people who want me to run again,” Womick said.

16th Senate District

On the other hand, Democrat Jean Ann Rogers said she probably won’t seek another office, after her loss to incumbent Sen. Jim Tracy.

“I don’t see myself running again. I see myself being involved,” Rogers said. “If this isn’t what I’m supposed to be doing then there are other things I can do.”

Tracy received 33,948 votes (55.32 percent) and Rogers received 27,372 (or 44.60 percent) in Rutherford County.

He performed even better in Bedford and Moore counties and garnered 59.2 percent of the vote district-wide.

Tracy said he’s excited to represent the people of the 16th Senate District for another term and thanked Rogers for running a clean, respectful race.

“I’m excited and humbled and overwhelmed by the turnout and support from the people of Rutherford County,” Tracy said.

Other races

Rep. Donna Rowland (R-34th House Dist.) held on to her seat against the Democratic challenger Dr. Rishi Saxena.

Rowland received 24648 votes to Saxena’s 12998, carrying 65.41 percent of the vote. 

Rep. Curt Cobb (D-62 House Dist.) may have lost to Republican challenger Barbara Blanton in Rutherford County, but he took the vote in Lincoln and Bedford counties where most of the district lies.

Cobb received 55.1 percent of the vote district-wide compared to Blanton’s 44.9 percent.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.