Esther Helton-Haynes is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 30, which includes East Ridge, East Brainerd, Apison, and Collegedale. She was first elected in November 2018 with 51.7 percent of the vote. She also serves on the East Ridge City Council since 2016. She currently serves as Vice-chair for the Health Committee.
In 2023, Helton-Haynes voted in favor of a resolution to expel three Democratic representatives for violating chamber decorum rules following a gun-control protest. She serves on the Facilities, Licensure, and Regulation Subcommittee, the Property and Planning Subcommittee, and the Local Committee. She has also been reappointed chair of the House Insurance Subcommittee.
Helton-Haynes was born on November 6, 1961, in East Ridge, Tennessee. She earned her practical nursing degree from Chattanooga State Community College in 1981.
She worked as a nurse for approximately 35 years, specializing for many of those years as a hemodialysis nurse at Dialysis Clinics Inc.
Her recognitions include the Tennessee Oncology Practice Society Champion for Cancer Patients award, the Bobby Wood Public Service Award, the Tennessee Hospital Association Hospital Hero award, and three awards from the Kidney Foundation of Greater Chattanooga. She is a member of Grace Works Church, the Alumni Association, the Optimist Club, and Republican Women's groups.