Representative Jesse Chism Contact information

Jesse Chism (born March 4, 1980) is an American politician and a Democrat serving in the Tennessee House of Representatives. He has been the incumbent representative for District 85 since November 6, 2018, succeeding Johnnie Turner.

Early Life and Education: Chism attended Overton High School and later earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Morehouse College, with a focus on Marketing and Economics. In 2012, he received a Master of Arts in Education from Union University. Before entering politics, Chism worked as a high school teacher in Memphis City Schools and as a Disaster Inspector for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He also served as the Program Director for the Tennessee Mental Health Consumers Association.

Political Career: In 2018, Chism ran for the District 85 seat after Johnnie Turner decided not to seek re-election. He won a four-way Democratic primary with 35.7% of the vote and faced no opposition in the general election. Chism was successfully re-elected in 2020 and is currently running for re-election in 2024. As of April 2024, he serves on several committees, including Education Instruction, Government Operations, State Government, and Joint Judiciary and Government.

Honors and Awards: Chism has received recognition for his leadership and contributions. Notably, he was a Fair Fight Fellow in 2021 and a Center for Advancement of Leadership Skills Scholar in the same year. Additionally, he served as the Chairman of Freshmen Democrats during the 2019-2020 term.

Chism’s commitment to public service and advocacy continues to shape his legislative work in Tennessee.