Several familiar faces will be welcomed back to Nashville after the 2024 general election cycle, as numerous state-level incumbents were swept back into office on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
In the closest area race of the night, Republican State Rep. John Gillespie held off political newcomer Jesse Huseth to retain his District-97 seat.
The second-term statehouse member gained a slim majority, with 52% of the vote. Gillespie finished the race with 15,859 votes. Huseth, a 26-year-old Overton High Spanish teacher, gathered 14,600 votes for 48% of the total in his upstart bid.
He was considered a longshot going into the race.
For his part, Gillespie is a moderate member of the conservative-dominated GOP house caucus. He was first elected in 2020.
The win was the only competitive race of the night. In all, there were 13 seats in the state House of Representatives that were up for grabs on the Memphis ballot. The outcomes of the other contests were never in doubt.
Among Tuesday’s clear victors was Rep. G.A. Hardaway. The longest-tenured member of the house topped Republican candidate Renarda Renee Clariett 80% to 19%. The Democratic representative netted 12,047 votes, while his opponent managed 2,858. Hardaway has served as a member of the house since 2007.
He will be joined for another term by Democratic Rep. Justin J. Pearson, who once again faced off against independent candidate Jeff Johnston after defeating him in an Aug. 2023 special election. This time, the 29-year-old community activist toppled Johnston by a 15,136 to 4,351 vote margin. Overall, the community activist turned politician cleared over 77% of the District-86 vote.
The other state house incumbents on the ballot also found good fortune.
Democratic Rep. Larry Miller, District-88, easily defeated Republican Larry Hunter 71% to 28%. A retired Memphis Fire Department firefighter, Miller stockpiled 14,981 votes, while Hunter tallied 5,751. Fellow Democrat Antonio Parkinson, meanwhile, overcame Republican Cecil Hale by a 73% to 26% to hold onto his District-98 seat. The pair had a vote total of 14,640 to 5,289, respectively.
Area Republicans also had some luck in 2024.
Rep. Tom Leatherwood, District-99, beat independent William Mouzon 75% to 24%, while Mark White defeated Democrat Noah Nordstrom 58% to 41%. White topped his opponent by a 19,283 to 13,713 vote margin. The District-83 matchup was the second closest race of the night.
Other representatives experienced even smoother paths to victory. A total of six candidates ran unopposed. The Democrats include: Joe Towns, District-84; Jessie Chism, District-85; Karen Camper, District-87; Torrey Harris, District-91; and Gabby Salinas, District-96.
Republican Kevin Vaughn, District-95, also ran unopposed.
Salinas is the only freshman-elect. The rest are incumbents.
All 99 house seats were up for election. Each district is comprised of approximately 69,806 residents.
Prior to Election Day, House Republicans held a 75-23 majority.
In the two Tennessee State Senate races, the incumbents also fared well.
Democratic Sen. Sarah Kyle, District-30, collected the win by a 70% to 29% margin over Independent candidate Mitchell Morrison. Kyle is the wife of former state senator Jim Kyle.
Republican Paul Rose ran unopposed for his District-32 senate seat.
The GOP went into the election with a 27-6 majority. There were 16 senate races Tuesday.
All Memphis precincts reported just after 11 p.m.
