Telisa Franklin

Current office and 2026 campaign

Telisa Franklin is a candidate for the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 96 ¹. She is running as a member of the Democratic Party and appears on the ballot for the Democratic primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹. The general election for this seat is set to take place on November 3, 2026 ¹.

Franklin has received endorsements from organizations featured in the Blue Voter Guide, which supports pro-democracy choices through its candidate profiles ². In recent months, she has remained active in local media and community engagement. On February 24, 2026, Franklin joined the Action News 5 Digital Desk to discuss upcoming city events, including the Black Women’s Health Expo and a Shelby County Mayoral Candidate Forum ¹¹. Prior to that, in March 2026, she participated in a video discussion with the Junior League of Memphis ¹⁰.

Her public appearances have frequently focused on highlighting community activities across the Mid-South. In December 2025, she highlighted events such as a New Year’s Eve Party for the Homeless and the Mickell Lowery New Year’s Day Prayer Breakfast ¹². Earlier in her career, Franklin was known for her work with WAVN The Trend, where she discussed topics ranging from housing crises to local parades ^{4 5 6 7 9}. She has also been involved in business ownership, previously operating a flower shop in Highland Heights before closing it due to repeated break-ins ⁸.

Career

Dr. Telisa Franklin is a business owner who previously operated Flowers & More, a flower shop located on Summer Avenue in the Highland Heights neighborhood of Memphis ⁸. She was forced to close the business permanently after it suffered at least twenty break-ins over a six-month period, with thieves stealing equipment and causing vandalism despite boarded-up windows ⁸.

In the media sector, Franklin has served as a host for WAVN The Trend (FM 104/AM 1240), where she appeared weekdays at 10 a.m. to discuss local events and community issues in the Memphis area ^{5 6 9}. She also regularly joined Action News 5’s Digital Desk to highlight upcoming events across the Mid-South, covering topics ranging from housing crises and political forums to cultural celebrations and health expos ^{3 4 7 11 12 13}.

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