1976 Tennessee Republican presidential primary

The 1976 Tennessee Republican presidential primary was held on May 25, 1976, as part of the Republican Party primaries ahead of the 1976 United States presidential election. It was one of several late-May contests between incumbent President Gerald Ford and former California Governor Ronald Reagan.

Although President Gerald Ford narrowly won the statewide popular vote, receiving about 49.8% to Ronald Reagan’s 49.1%, the state’s delegate rules produced a different outcome. Tennessee Republicans selected delegates largely by congressional district, with three delegates awarded per district, in addition to statewide. Reagan’s campaign performed better at the district level, winning more congressional districts or winning the districts by slightly larger margins. Because delegates were distributed proportionally within districts (rather than strictly statewide), Reagan was able to secure an extra delegate even though Ford’s statewide vote total was slightly higher.