Demetrus Coonrod

Current office and 2026 campaign

Demetrus Coonrod is an independent candidate running for election to the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 28 ¹. She is listed on the ballot for the general election scheduled for November 3, 2026 ¹. The primary election for this race occurred on August 6, 2026 ¹. Coonrod’s opponent in the general election is fellow independent Johnny Horne ¹.

Coonrod previously served as a Chattanooga City Councilwoman representing District 9 from 2018 to 2021 and again from April 24, 2021, until her departure in April 2025 ²⁴⁹. She announced in November 2024 that she would not seek reelection to the City Council seat ⁴⁶. Her tenure on the council was marked by advocacy for underserved communities and a residency investigation that was ultimately dismissed by a judge who found she resided within her district ²³.

Prior to her 2026 campaign, Coonrod ran for District 28 in the 2024 Democratic primary against incumbent Rep. Yusuf Hakeem ¹¹¹⁵. She lost that primary race ¹⁹. Following her departure from city council, she issued statements criticizing the Hamilton County Democratic Party regarding internal dynamics and resignations within the organization ¹³. For her current campaign, Coonrod self-describes as a principled, progressive leader who has risen from humble beginnings and a past felony conviction to pursue public service ²⁰²¹.

Background and education

Demetrus Coonrod was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on December 30, 1974 ²⁴. She self-describes as the oldest of four children who grew up in a working-class family in East Chattanooga ²⁰. Her early life included significant challenges; she has stated that she was convicted of a felony and served time in prison before rebuilding her life ¹². Coonrod is open about this past, noting it shaped her advocacy for police reform and justice-involved individuals ¹². She identifies with the Christian faith, describing her journey as one involving healing and faith ²¹.

Coonrod earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology with a minor in Criminal Justice from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga ¹². She was among the first in Tennessee and the United States to have her voting rights restored following her felony conviction ²⁴.

Career

Coonrod is the franchise owner of JanPro ⁵. She previously served as vice chairwoman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party ⁵ and later as its chairwoman ²². Outside of party leadership, she served as president of the Eastdale Neighborhood Association ²².

In 2024, Coonrod graduated from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga with a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology and a minor in criminal justice ¹². She has been open about her past felony conviction and time in prison, which she says helped shape her advocacy for police reform and second chances for justice-involved individuals ¹²²⁰²⁶. Coonrod is among the first in Tennessee, and the U.S., to have her voting rights restored after a felony conviction ²⁴.

Office history

Demetrus Coonrod served on the Chattanooga City Council representing District 9 from 2018 to 2025 ²⁴. She first assumed office in April 2018 after winning a special election on April 11, 2017, defeating incumbent Yusuf Hakeem ⁹¹⁶. During her tenure, she served as the chairwoman of the Council's Economic Development and Human Resources Committees ¹⁶. Her time in office was marked by advocacy for underserved communities and efforts to bridge political divides within the city ⁴¹⁰.

Coonrod was sworn in for a second term on April 19, 2021, having been re-elected in April 2021 ⁹²⁴. Her residency qualifications were challenged during this period, leading to an investigation by City Auditor Stan Sewell and a subsequent court ruling that dismissed the challenge, allowing her to continue serving ²³. In November 2024, she announced that she would not seek re-election for the District 9 seat in the upcoming March 2025 municipal elections ⁴⁶⁸. She completed her final day in office on April 8, 2025 ⁹.

In November 2023, Coonrod declared her candidacy for the Tennessee House of Representatives District 28 seat, challenging three-term incumbent Rep. Yusuf Hakeem in the Democratic primary ¹⁵¹⁶. She launched her campaign officially in February 2024 ¹⁷. In the 2024 election cycle, she lost the primary to Hakeem, who retained the seat ¹⁹.

Coonrod is currently running for election to the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 28 as an independent candidate ¹. She is on the ballot in the general election scheduled for November 3, 2026 ¹.

Legislative record and accomplishments

During her tenure on the Chattanooga City Council, Coonrod served as chairwoman of the Economic Development and Human Resources Committees ¹⁶. She also previously held the position of vice chairwoman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party ⁵²². Her legislative focus during this period included advocating for affordable housing, economic empowerment, and infrastructure improvements, such as those for the Wilcox Tunnel in her District 9 ²¹²².

Coonrod’s policy positions have centered on criminal justice reform and second chances for justice-involved individuals, drawing from her own experience with a prior felony conviction ¹²²¹. She has described herself as a champion for equity and has advocated for police reform ¹². In 2025, she publicly criticized the Hamilton County Democratic Party, stating that resignations within the party reflected systemic issues that made it unsafe or disrespectful for Black members and young leaders to serve ¹³.

In her campaign for Tennessee House District 28, Coonrod outlined a vision for an "inclusive and prosperous future" focused on representation for marginalized residents ¹⁴¹⁵. She has stated that she aims to bridge political divides and ensure every resident has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of zip code or background ²⁰²³. As of May 2026, she is a candidate in the general election scheduled for November 3, 2026 ¹.

Documented disputes and controversies

In March 2024, Chattanooga City Auditor Stan Sewell launched an investigation into Coonrod’s residency qualifications after the city attorney requested a review of allegations that she did not live in her District 9 council district or within city limits ²¹⁸. The dispute centered on whether Coonrod resided at her Moss Street home or a property she purchased off Heritage Drive in January 2022, which was located outside city limits ³. A Hamilton County Circuit Court judge dismissed the legal challenge to her residency in June 2024, finding that Coonrod was a resident of the Moss Street home and could continue to serve on the council ³.

Coonrod’s tenure on the Chattanooga City Council included a public controversy regarding her conduct during a June traffic stop involving a driver cited for driving without a license ²⁵. Body camera footage showed Coonrod, who was a passenger in the vehicle, insisting that the officer contact Police Chief Fred Fletcher ²⁵. Coonrod later issued a public apology for her behavior during the incident, stating she did not know Chief Fletcher personally and had no reason to contact him at that time ²⁵.

During her 2024 campaign for Tennessee House District 28, Coonrod engaged in a contentious Democratic primary against incumbent Representative Yusuf Hakeem ¹¹¹⁵. The race was characterized by mutual criticism, with Coonrod accusing the Hamilton County Democratic Party of impeding her run through threats to supporters and negative campaigning ¹⁹. In response to these allegations, Coonrod described the contest as a "profound struggle against broader systemic challenges" rather than a simple two-candidate race ¹⁹.

In December 2025, following her departure from city council, Coonrod issued a statement criticizing the Hamilton County Democratic Party for internal resignations ¹³. She characterized these departures not as routine turnover but as evidence of a "systemic issue" that created an unsafe culture for Black members and young leaders who refused to acquiesce to internal power structures ¹³.

An FBI probe into Coonrod was reported as unresolved in October 2025 ⁷. The status of the investigation had not been clarified in available records by that date ⁷.

Business interests and wealth source

Coonrod’s business background includes ownership of a JanPro franchise ⁵. She has described her upbringing in a working-class family in East Chattanooga and states that she rose from humble beginnings to achieve financial stability ²⁰. Her public narrative emphasizes personal redemption following a felony conviction and time served in prison, which she cites as foundational to her advocacy work rather than as a source of wealth ¹²²⁶.

Specific details regarding her current business ownership stakes, the sale of any businesses, or the specific sources of her personal wealth are not detailed in the available records. While Coonrod has held public office and engaged in political fundraising, the provided sources do not list significant financial disclosure facts, such as asset values or income brackets, for her candidacy for Tennessee House District 28 ¹.

Family

Coonrod self-describes her most important titles as "Mom and Grandmother" ²⁰. She is the oldest of four children and grew up in a working-class family in East Chattanooga ²⁰. Her personal narrative includes a past felony conviction for which she served time, an experience she has cited as foundational to her advocacy for second chances and criminal justice reform ¹²²⁶.

Sources