← Back to Shelby County, Tennessee: Election on 2026-08-06
Contest for Tennessee House District 99
State House District 99
primary - Partisan - State Representative District 99
About this office
The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the state legislature, with 99 members elected from single-member districts to two-year terms. Representatives pass state laws, originate revenue bills, approve the state budget, and — together with the Senate — confirm gubernatorial appointments and propose constitutional amendments. Candidates must be at least 21 years old, U.S. citizens, Tennessee residents for at least three years, and district residents for at least one year.
Term length: 2 years.
This role calls for
- Integrity — Acts in the interest of constituents and the public good rather than for personal gain, and remains independent of undue influence from donors, lobbyists, and party leadership.
- Understanding of the constituency — Grasps both the economic-development needs of the district and the day-to-day concerns of individual residents — safety, healthcare, education, infrastructure.
- Persuasion — Engages, listens to, and persuades both fellow legislators and constituents. Can change minds and explain votes honestly.
- Legislative craft — Reads, drafts, and amends statute with care. Understands how specific bill language translates to outcomes, and knows the body of law being modified.
- Coalition-building — Finds common ground across partisan and factional lines, brokers compromises that hold, and forms working majorities even when consensus is hard to reach.
Derived from the office's statutory duties and operational reality. Candidate summaries below map each candidate's documented experience to these requirements.
Campaigns
Republican Primary
2 candidates
Amber Mills
👍
👎
🤡
😡
🤷
As Shelby County Commissioner since 2018, she chairs Conservation and serves on Public Works and Transportation committees, demonstrating direct experience with local budget appropriations and infrastructure policy. Her record includes opposing county tax increases and securing ARPA funds for broadband, indicating fiscal judgment and constituent service capabilities. She previously served as Executive Director of the Republican Party of Shelby County, suggesting familiarity with political coordination. However, her background lacks explicit evidence of state-level legislative process experience, such as drafting or amending bills in Nashville.
Tom Leatherwood
👍
👎
🤡
😡
🤷
Leatherwood served in the Senate from the 98th through 101st General Assemblies and the House from the 111th through 113th, providing direct experience with legislative processes including drafting, sponsoring, and voting on bills. His committee assignments include Vice-Chair of the Health Committee and membership on Education Instruction and State Government committees, indicating engagement with policy areas such as health, education, and state administration. As a retired Register of Deeds, he holds an Archival Advancement Award, suggesting administrative competence relevant to constituent relations and record-keeping.
Independent
1 candidate
Know something about this race we don't?
Submit a contribution →