Torrey C. Harris

Torrey C. Harris (born March 12, 1991) is a Democratic member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 91 in Shelby County ¹⁹. He assumed office on January 12, 2021, after defeating incumbent John DeBerry Jr. in the 2020 general election with 77.3% of the vote ⁹. Harris was redistricted to District 91 for the 2022 cycle and won re-election in an uncontested general election after defeating a challenger in the Democratic primary ⁹. He won the general election again in November 2024 with 100% of the vote (17,049 votes) ¹. Harris is currently running for re-election to District 91 in the August 6, 2026 Democratic primary against Arriell Gipson-Martin ¹.

Harris was one of the first two openly LGBTQ state representatives elected in Tennessee history, alongside Eddie Mannis ⁹³⁷. He is identified as a Christian and a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity ²³. Harris holds a Bachelor of Science in industrial and organizational psychology from Christian Brothers University, graduating in 2013 ²³. Prior to his legislative career, he worked as a regional human resources manager at Walmart (2010–2014), a recruitment manager at Morgan & Morgan law firm (2014–2015), and held HR roles at the nonprofit Friends for Life (2015–2018) ²³. He served as Human Resources Director for Shelby County Government from 2018 to 2021, including managing HR for the Shelby County Trustee office in 2020 ²³.

In the Tennessee General Assembly, Harris serves on the Children & Families, Government Operations, Education Instruction, and Civil Justice committees ¹². He has chaired the Shelby County Delegation and served as Minority Floor Leader for the Democratic Caucus ²³. His legislative priorities include education funding, healthcare access, mental health services, and criminal justice reform for juveniles ¹². In 2025, Harris sponsored House Bill 1448, which would allow recall elections for school boards and other local officials in Shelby County, citing a need to "restore the power of accountability" following controversy over the firing of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools superintendent ¹⁶. He also co-sponsored legislation with Republican Sen. Brent Taylor to reset school board election terms ¹⁶. Harris received the 2022 Harvey Milk Legislator of the Year award for his advocacy ²³.

Harris faced legal scrutiny in July 2022 when he was arrested in Nashville on felony theft and misdemeanor assault charges stemming from a domestic dispute with an ex-boyfriend ⁹²⁶. Harris released a statement maintaining his innocence, stating he would plead not guilty and that the incident demonstrated "steps in policy that lawmakers like myself must work to improve throughout the justice system" ²⁶. The charges were later resolved without conviction details being publicly specified in available records ²³.

In 2026, Harris is under investigation regarding allegations of fraud related to his role as treasurer of the WIN TENNESSEE PAC, which solicited funds for Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential campaign ³⁴. The Nashville Banner reported that the PAC never filed required financial disclosures and received delinquent reports from the Federal Election Commission; its website listed a fake phone number and did not provide a P.O. box number initially ³⁴. The PAC eventually filed reports claiming it raised only $1,850 with minimal expenditures ³⁴. Harris did not respond to requests for comment regarding the investigation ³⁴.

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