2 candidates are tracked for Tennessee House District 97 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Jesse Huseth and John Gillespie. Candidate information follows official Shelby County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
August 6 primary result: Jesse Huseth was unopposed for the Democratic nomination; John Gillespie was unopposed for the Republican nomination. They meet on the November 3 ballot, per the Tennessee Secretary of State's official primary results. Independent candidates certified for November, if any, are added at the Secretary of State's certification. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.
This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, John Gillespie, is on the ballot.
Tennessee › Shelby County › Tennessee House District 97
Democratic
Per the JustMyMemphis.
Jesse Huseth is a teacher who has worked with Shelby County Schools, running to represent Tennessee House District 97 in Memphis, per the campaign site.
Republican Incumbent
Per the Tennessee House Republican Caucus page.
John Gillespie is a native Memphian who worked in banking before moving into grant research and writing for Trezevant Manor, per the Tennessee House Republican Caucus. He serves on the Memphis-Shelby County Crime Commission Board of Directors and represents District 97. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
Who is running for Tennessee House District 97 in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for Tennessee House District 97 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Jesse Huseth and John Gillespie. Candidate information follows official Shelby County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Tennessee House District 97 election in Tennessee?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Tennessee are on the Tennessee election hub at theballotbrief.com.
How do I see my exact Shelby County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.
Candidate roster from official Shelby County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official Tennessee election office, or see the full Shelby County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
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