Excellent question, considering that's the trend all over the country. While Nashville/Davidson County (a unified Metro government) is deep Blue the State government in that capitol stays around 2/3 Republican.
Memphis is a failed African nation that somehow teleported to the right side of the Mississippi River, long ruled by dynastic families not too unlike Tudors and Plantagenets. The Democrat's iron grip has just been broken by favorable re-redistricting and Republican candidates have resumed running for offices with some chance for victory. Work in progress. President Trump's utilization of the National Guard has restored order there while Elon Musk is busy putting in a data center.
The East end city Knoxville remains sturdily conservative but liberal migration has created stress and tensions. South Eastern Chattanooga is about an even split, but has done wonders in the last few decades becoming a mecca for tourism.
The CNBC report utterly neglected to mention how we're a top automotive producer with thriving health care and I.T. industries, among others. If Tennessee can maintain the even keel it has it shouldn't worry overmuch about Democrat's uncanny ability to ruin everything. Did I mention the massive gun culture?
Thanks for the interesting and reassuring info on Tennessee.
Virginia was ruined by the post 9-11 influx of security state/government employees and contractors into Northern Virginia. The Republican Party here is very weak, and seemingly does not care to develop candidates or its rural voter base. Eastern Tennessee seems attractive. Western Tenn. seems like no place for old white folks.