Heather McClendon

Current office and 2026 campaign

Heather McClendon is a member of the Tennessee Democratic Party who serves as State Executive Committeewoman for District 10 ¹. She is running in the 2026 election for the Tennessee House of Representatives District 30 seat, which covers East Ridge and parts of East Brainerd, Apison, and Collegedale ⁷. McClendon previously challenged incumbent Republican Esther Helton-Haynes for this same district seat in the 2024 general election, where she received 40% of the vote to Helton-Haynes's 60% ²⁷.

McClendon launched her 2026 campaign as a school psychologist and cancer survivor, emphasizing her background as a dedicated mother and single parent to three children ⁴⁵. Her platform focuses on substantial reforms for District 30 and Tennessee, with core priorities including enhancing public education, improving healthcare accessibility, and addressing policies she argues have stripped away rights for women and safety for children ⁴⁵. She has secured endorsements from the Hamilton County Democratic Party, the Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women, Communications Workers of America Local 3865 Tennessee, and other organizations ¹.

Background and education

Heather McClendon grew up in Ringgold, Georgia, and graduated from Ringgold High School ³. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Georgia before moving to Chattanooga to complete an education specialist degree in school psychology at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ³.

Career

Heather McClendon holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Georgia and an education specialist degree in school psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ³. She has worked as a school psychologist since 2001 ⁹. A resident of Chattanooga, she is a single mother to three children ⁵.

McClendon identifies as a cancer survivor ⁴. Her professional background and personal experiences have informed her decision to enter public service, with self-reported motivations including a desire to make representatives more accessible to voters who feel disconnected from their government ¹⁰.

Office history

Heather McClendon served as a State Executive Committeewoman for the 10th District Primary ¹. In her professional life, she worked as a school psychologist ⁴⁵.

McClendon ran for election to the Tennessee House of Representatives in District 30 during the 2024 cycle. She officially launched her campaign in June 2024 ⁴ and formally accepted the Democratic nomination on August 1, 2024 ⁵. The district covers East Ridge and parts of East Brainerd, Apison, and Collegedale ⁷. In the general election held on November 5, 2024, she was defeated by Republican incumbent Esther Helton-Haynes, receiving 40% of the vote to Helton-Haynes's 60% ²⁷.

Legislative record and accomplishments

Heather McClendon has not held elected legislative office and therefore has no legislative record, sponsored bills, or committee assignments to cite. Her professional background is rooted in education and psychology; she holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Georgia and an education specialist degree in school psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ³.

In her 2024 campaign for Tennessee House District 30, McClendon focused on policy positions rather than legislative achievements. She self-describes as a school psychologist, cancer survivor, and single mother to three children ⁵. Her platform emphasized enhancing public education, improving healthcare accessibility, and addressing issues impacting Tennesseans ⁴. Specifically, she stated her commitment to rewriting rules to ensure every school and educator in Tennessee has the resources needed to prepare students for success ⁸.

McClendon’s policy positions included standing against policies pushed by the supermajority in the Tennessee General Assembly that she argued stripped away rights for women, safety for children, and healthcare for vulnerable populations ⁵. She pledged to expand funding for neighborhood public schools to inspire imagination and set children up for success regardless of their background or location ⁸.

During her 2024 run, McClendon received endorsements from several organizations, including the Tennessee Democratic Party, Gun Sense Voter, Hamilton County (TN) Democratic Party, Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood, Tennessee Families for Vaccines, Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women, United Campus Workers, and Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 3865 ¹.

Family

McClendon self-describes as a single mother to three children ⁵. She notes that her family members voted for her during the 2024 general election ⁶. There is no available information in the provided sources regarding her spouse or other family members holding public office.

Sources