{"age":77,"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nYusuf A. Hakeem (Democratic Party) currently serves as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 28, having assumed office on November 6, 2018 [1][15]. His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1]. Hakeem is seeking re-election to represent District 28 in the upcoming 2026 election cycle [6]. He has secured a spot on the ballot for the Democratic primary, which is scheduled to take place on August 6, 2026 [1][6].\n\nDuring the early stages of the 2026 campaign, Hakeem has engaged in constituent outreach through town hall meetings held at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center in Chattanooga [8][9]. These events were designed to preview topics for the 2026 legislative session, including school funding, public safety, and voting rights [8][9]. In January 2026, Hakeem also raised questions regarding transparency in a state partnership with Turning Point USA and the introduction of \"Club America\" into Tennessee's public high schools [14][17].\n\nAs lawmakers reconvened for a special session to redraw congressional districts mid-decade, Hakeem issued statements criticizing the new maps as \"flat-out un-American,\" citing concerns over the weakening of Voting Rights Act protections [13]. His campaign has characterized his re-election bid as necessary to oppose what it describes as \"extreme, out-of-touch bills\" proposed by Republican leaders during the upcoming legislative session [6]. Hakeem self-describes as a fierce advocate for public education, equitable community investment, and funding for quality, accessible healthcare [6].\n\n## Background and education\n\nYusuf A. Hakeem was born on December 5, 1948, in Chattanooga, Tennessee [2][3]. He was born and raised in Chattanooga [5]. Hakeem is a graduate of Howard High School and Chattanooga State [10]. He attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to study political science and government from 1985 to 2004 [3]. In 2012, he attended the Second Missionary Baptist Church School of Evangelism [3]. Hakeem is certified in electronics [3].\n\nHakeem resides in Chattanooga with his wife, Baseemah, whom he has been married to for fifty years as of 2024 [5]. The couple has four children: Aaliyah, Sandra, Malika, and Malik [3][5].\n\n## Career\n\nYusuf A. Hakeem was born and raised in Chattanooga [5]. He attended Second Missionary Baptist Church School of Evangelism, graduating in 2012, and studied Political Science and Government at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga from 1985 to 2004 [3]. He is a graduate of Howard High School and Chattanooga State [10]. Hakeem holds a certification in Electronics from Chattanooga State [3].\n\nHakeem\u2019s professional background includes service on the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole, where he served for seven years [10]. He also served six years on the Tennessee Human Rights Commission [10]. Prior to his state legislative career, Hakeem served 19 years on the Chattanooga City Council [10]. During his tenure on the city council, he passed \"Ban the Box\" legislation, which required employers to remove questions about criminal history from initial job applications [18]. He also served ten years on the Chattanooga Public School Board [10].\n\n## Office history\n\nYusuf A. Hakeem served on the Chattanooga City Council from the 9th district for two non-consecutive terms, first from 1990 to 2006 and again from 2013 to 2017 [2]. During his tenure as a city council member, he passed \"Ban the Box\" legislation, which required employers to remove questions about criminal history from initial job applications [18]. In 2006, Hakeem was unseated from the Chattanooga City Council by Demetrus Coonrod [10][12].\n\nPrior to his state legislative service, Hakeem served on the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole for seven years [10][18]. He also served six years on the Tennessee Human Rights Commission and ten years on the Chattanooga Public School Board [10].\n\nHakeem was first elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2018, defeating four competitors in the Democratic primary for District 28 [10]. He assumed office on November 6, 2018, succeeding Joanne Favors [1][2]. In the 2024 general election, Hakeem won re-election to a second term, defeating independent candidate Dr. Thomas J. Brooks III [11].\n\nAs of May 2026, Hakeem is serving his current term in the Tennessee House of Representatives, which ends on November 3, 2026 [1]. He serves as a member of the Education Instruction Committee, the Senate Government Operations Committee, and the Health Committee [1]. In January 2026, he announced his intention to seek re-election to represent District 28 in the upcoming August Democratic primary and November general election [6].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nRep. Yusuf Hakeem has served in the Tennessee House of Representatives since November 6, 2018, representing District 28 [1]. During the 2023-2024 legislative session, he held assignments on the Education Instruction Committee, Senate Government Operations Committee, Health Committee, and Government Operations Committee [1]. His legislative history includes voting against several measures identified by the Family Action Council of Tennessee, including SB 16/HB 1 (Tennessee Sports Gaming Act), SB 1257/HB 1029 (Human Life Protection Act), SB 1373/HB 307 (Elective Religious Courses for Credit), and SB 2196/HB 2263 (Governor Lee's Pro-Life Bill) [16].\n\nHakeem has positioned himself as an advocate for public education, equitable community investment, and healthcare funding [6]. In January 2026, he raised questions regarding the transparency of a state partnership with Turning Point USA and the introduction of \"Club America\" into public high schools, sending a letter to Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds to clarify that his concerns were not based on opposition to civic engagement [14][17]. He also criticized the Tennessee Board of Regents for removing the Chattanooga Eastdale site from consideration as a future hospital location [17].\n\nIn May 2026, Hakeem issued a statement opposing new congressional maps drawn during a special session, describing them as \"flat-out un-American\" and citing the weakening of Voting Rights Act protections as a catalyst for the redistricting effort [13]. He has also engaged in broader political discourse, noting that increased voter registration efforts in Memphis have created legislative challenges for the city by prompting state laws that counter local initiatives [4]. Prior to his state service, Hakeem was credited with passing \"Ban the Box\" legislation while serving on the Chattanooga City Council [18].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\n\nIn 2018, Hakeem defeated four competitors in the Democratic primary for District 28, a race that included former Chattanooga City Council member Demetrus Coonrod, whom Hakeem had previously unseated from city council [10]. Hakeem secured the nomination with the endorsement of former representative JoAnne Favors [10].\n\nIn 2024, Coonrod announced her challenge to Hakeem in the Democratic primary for District 28 [12]. The contest also featured independent candidate Dr. Thomas J. Brooks III, a physician from Nashville [11]. Following the election, Coonrod stated that the Hamilton County Democrat Party had impeded her campaign and that she faced threats to supporters and negative campaigning [7]. Hakeem won the seat, defeating both Coonrod and Brooks [7].\n\nIn May 2026, Hakeem issued a statement criticizing new congressional maps being drawn during a special session, describing them as \"flat-out un-American\" and linking the redistricting to the weakening of Voting Rights Act protections [13].\n\nAlso in 2026, Hakeem sent a letter to Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds questioning the transparency of a state partnership with Turning Point USA and the introduction of its \"Club America\" program into public high schools [17]. Hakeem stated that his concerns were not based on opposition to civic engagement [17].\n\n## Family\n\nYusuf A. Hakeem is married to Baseemah [3]. The couple celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2024 [5]. They have four children: Aaliyah, Sandra, Malika, and Malik [3]. Hakeem also has four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren [5].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Yusuf Hakeem - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Yusuf_Hakeem)\n[2] [Yusuf Hakeem - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusuf_Hakeem)\n[3] [Vote Smart | Facts For All](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/160425/yusuf-hakeem)\n[4] [Tennessee Black Caucus holds town hall in Memphis to bring light to local issues \u2013 FOX13 News Memphis](https://www.fox13memphis.com/top-stories/tennessee-black-caucus-holds-town-hall-in-memphis-to-bring-light-to-local-issues/971415507/)\n[5] [Rep. Yusuf Hakeem running for re-election to Tennessee statehouse | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/oct/14/rep-yusuf-hakeem-running-for-re-election-to/)\n[6] [Yusuf Hakeem Seeks Re-Election To House District 28 - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/1/19/513633/Yusuf-Hakeem-Seeks-Re-Election-To-House.aspx)\n[7] [Different year, different seat: Incumbent Hakeem fends off challenger Coonrod](https://foxchattanooga.com/news/local/different-year-different-seat-incumbent-hakeem-hopes-to-fight-off-challenger-coonrod-yusuf-hakeem-demetrus-coonrod-tennessee-district-28-seat)\n[8] [Rep. Yusuf Hakeem To Host District 28 Town Hall March 21 - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/3/19/516223/Rep.-Yusuf-Hakeem-To-Host-District-28.aspx)\n[9] [Rep. Yusuf Hakeem To Host District 28 Town Hall Jan. 31 - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/1/27/513950/Rep.-Yusuf-Hakeem-To-Host-District-28.aspx)\n[10] [Yusuf Hakeem wins contested state House primary | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2018/aug/02/yusuf-hakeem-takes-early-lead/)\n[11] [Independent Dr. Thomas Brooks attempting to unseat Rep. Yusuf Hakeem | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/oct/14/independent-dr-thomas-brooks-attempting-to-unseat/)\n[12] [Chattanooga Council Member Coonrod announces 2024 challenge to state Rep. Yusuf Hakeem | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2023/nov/13/chattanooga-council-member-coonrod-announces-2024/)\n[13] [Hakeem Says New Congressional Maps Are \u201cFlat-Out Un-American\u201d - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/5/5/518365/Hakeem-Says-New-Congressional-Maps-Are.aspx)\n[14] [Stockard on the Stump: Chattanooga lawmaker questions Turning Point USA partnership \u2022 Tennessee Lookout](https://tennesseelookout.com/2026/01/16/stockard-on-the-stump-chattanooga-lawmaker-questions-turning-point-usa-partnership/)\n[15] [State Representative Yusuf Hakeem | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/22946)\n[16] [Rep. Yusuf Hakeem - Family Action Council of Tennessee](https://scorecard.factennessee.org/representatives/yusuf-hakeem)\n[17] [Rep. Yusuf Hakeem Archives \u2022 Tennessee Lookout](https://tennesseelookout.com/tag/rep-yusuf-hakeem/)\n[18] [Faculty Profile: Yusuf Hakeem](https://cle.tba.org/faculty/profile/67912)","birthdate":"Sun, 05 Dec 1948 00:00:00 GMT","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_028","county":"Hamilton","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"TN State House District 28"}],"cf_filings":[{"county":"hamilton","displayname":"Hakeem, Yusuf","documents":[{"datesubmitted":"08/16/19","documentid":"7DBAEB19-4096-48AD-86E3-DD28BB04F083","documentname":"2018 Mid-Year Supplemental","documentnameid":["7DBAEB19-4096-48AD-86E3-DD28BB04F083","2018 Mid-Year Supplemental"],"documenttype":"Campaign Financial Disclosure","electionname":null},{"datesubmitted":"04/02/18","documentid":"AE0C0915-EF87-44E6-BC88-0368A3E22D70","documentname":"2017 Year-End Supplemental","documentnameid":["AE0C0915-EF87-44E6-BC88-0368A3E22D70","2017 Year-End Supplemental"],"documenttype":"Campaign Financial Disclosure","electionname":null}],"filertype":"Candidate","officename":"Chattanooga Council Dist. 9","source_customer_id":"0F5A08EE-617A-4B11-AD30-E963AE98E120","source_filer_id":"61afb6210b3e4998826f874e78ba7311","source_system":"easyvote","state":"TN","status":"Inactive"}],"firstname":"Yusuf","fullname":"Yusuf Hakeem","lastname":"Hakeem","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_028","contest_title":"TN State House District 28","county":"Hamilton","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house_028","office_title":"State Representative District 28","party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"D","primary":{"contest":"state_house_028","contest_title":"TN State House District 28","county":"Hamilton","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house_028","office_title":"State Representative District 28","party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026},{"general":null,"party":"D","primary":null,"term":{"county":null,"electiondate":"2022-11-08","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house_028","office_title":"State Representative District 28","party":"D","state":"tn","term_end":"2024-12-31","term_start":"2023-01-01"},"year":2023}],"office_key":"state_house_028","office_title":"State Representative District 28","state":"TN","terms":[{"county":null,"electiondate":"2022-11-08","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house_028","office_title":"State Representative District 28","party":"D","state":"tn","term_end":"2024-12-31","term_start":"2023-01-01"}]}],"summary":"Yusuf A. Hakeem is a Democratic Tennessee State Representative for District 28, first elected in 2018 and seeking re-election in 2026.","terms":[{"county":null,"electiondate":"2022-11-08","office":"state_house_028","state":"tn","term_end":"2024-12-31","term_start":"2023-01-01","title":"State Representative District 28"}],"token":"0KjYzqmhNP"}