Allie Phillips

Current office and 2026 campaign

Allie Phillips is a Democratic candidate running for election to the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 75 ¹. She is on the ballot in the Democratic primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹. Phillips completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey for the 2026 cycle ¹.

Phillips self-describes as a Tennessee native who was raised in Ashland City and graduated from high school in Hermitage before earning a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism from Middle Tennessee State University in 2017 ⁵¹⁶. She currently resides in Clarksville with her husband, Bryan, and their two daughters ⁵¹⁸. Phillips has stated that she previously worked in communications and as a caregiver ¹.

Her political motivation stems from a 2022 pregnancy that was found to be nonviable at 19 weeks ⁹. Under Tennessee’s abortion ban, Phillips was unable to terminate the pregnancy in-state and traveled approximately 900 miles to New York for care ⁴¹⁷. She has cited this experience as the primary driver for her political activism, advocating for reproductive healthcare rights ²⁷.

Phillips previously sought the Democratic nomination for District 75 in 2024, where she faced incumbent Republican Jeff Burkhart ¹². In that race, Phillips received 45.2% of the vote to Burkhart’s 54.7% ¹⁰. The district encompasses parts of Montgomery County, including Clarksville ¹⁵.

Background and education

Allie Phillips is a Tennessee native who was raised in Ashland City and graduated from high school in Hermitage ⁵⁹. She self-describes as a mother and wife ². Phillips earned a bachelor's degree in multimedia journalism from Middle Tennessee State University in 2017 ¹³⁹. Following graduation, she established her home in Clarksville, Tennessee ⁹.

Career

Allie Phillips earned a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism from Middle Tennessee State University in 2017 ¹³⁹. She was raised in Ashland City and graduated from high school in Hermitage before making her home in Clarksville, Tennessee ⁵⁹. Phillips self-describes as a Tennessee native who became a single mother at age 22, working three jobs while attending school full-time to support her daughter, Adalie ⁵¹⁶.

Professionally, Phillips has worked in communications and as a caregiver ¹. She also operated a day care business prior to entering politics ¹². Her professional background includes experience as an influencer, where she utilized social media platforms to share personal experiences and advocate for policy changes ²⁷.

Office history

Allie Phillips has not previously held elected or appointed public office ³. She announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination to represent Tennessee House District 75 in October 2023 ⁹¹⁶. The seat was established after the 2020 Census and encompasses a portion of Montgomery County, including parts of Clarksville ¹⁴¹⁵. Phillips ran against incumbent Republican Representative Jeff Burkhart in the general election on November 5, 2024 ¹¹. Burkhart won the race with 11,162 votes (54.7%) to Phillips’ 9,226 votes (45.2%) ¹⁰.

Phillips is currently seeking re-election as a Democrat for Tennessee House District 75 in the primary election scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹.

Legislative record and accomplishments

Allie Phillips has not held elected office prior to her 2026 campaign for Tennessee House District 75 ¹. Consequently, she does not have a legislative record of sponsored bills, votes, or committee assignments. Her political advocacy has been focused on the issue of reproductive rights, motivated by her experience in 2023 when she was denied a medically necessary abortion in Tennessee and forced to travel 900 miles to terminate a nonviable pregnancy ²⁴.

Phillips self-describes as an advocate for improved access to reproductive healthcare and has channeled her energy into raising awareness regarding the state's abortion ban ². She states that she is fighting to restore reproductive healthcare rights in Tennessee to ensure other women do not face similar traumatic situations ²⁴. Her campaign platform also highlights concerns over the cost of living, housing affordability, childcare, and public school funding ⁶.

In previous election cycles, Phillips sought the Democratic nomination for District 75. In the 2024 general election, she lost to incumbent Republican Jeff Burkhart, receiving 9,226 votes (45.2%) compared to Burkhart's 11,162 votes (54.7%) ¹⁰. She received endorsements from organizations including Run for Something, Vote Mama PAC, and Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood during that cycle ³.

Documented disputes and controversies

Allie Phillips’ 2024 campaign for Tennessee House District 75 was defined by her public dispute with incumbent Republican Rep. Jeff Burkhart, which centered on her personal experience of being denied a medically necessary abortion in Tennessee. Phillips announced her candidacy in October 2023, stating that her decision to run followed the traumatic loss of her second child, Miley Rose, who was diagnosed with fatal health issues at 19 weeks gestation ⁹¹⁴. Because Tennessee law prohibited the procedure, Phillips and her husband had to crowdfund travel to New York City for the termination ¹⁸. She documented this experience on TikTok, where she stated that doctors discovered the fetus was no longer compatible with life and that she faced grave danger of developing sepsis ¹⁷¹⁹.

The race drew national attention as a potential referendum on abortion rights in Tennessee, with Phillips positioning herself as a political newcomer challenging Burkhart on this issue ¹²¹³. Burkhart later described the contest as a "tough battle" in which his campaign had to contend with national interest from states like California and New York ¹⁰. The two candidates faced off in the general election, where Phillips received 9,226 votes (45.2%) and Burkhart won with 11,162 votes (54.7%) ¹⁰.

Phillips’ advocacy for reproductive rights involved legal action against the state of Tennessee. She joined a lawsuit challenging the state’s abortion restrictions after being denied care ⁷. Time magazine reported that Phillips sued Tennessee for denying her an abortion, noting that she had always wanted to be a mother but was forced into political activism by the legal barriers she faced ¹⁸. Her campaign also received endorsements from organizations such as Vote Mama PAC and Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood, which supported her efforts to restore reproductive healthcare rights ³.

Business interests and wealth source

Allie Phillips describes herself as a former day care operator who worked three jobs while attending Middle Tennessee State University full-time to support her family ⁵¹². She states that she and her husband lived paycheck to paycheck during the period when they were forced to crowdfund for her out-of-state abortion care ¹⁹. Phillips does not list specific business ownership stakes or significant personal wealth in available biographical profiles, instead characterizing her background through her work history and family circumstances ⁵¹².

Financial disclosure records for Phillips are not detailed in the provided source material. Her campaign operations utilize a post office box in Clarksville, Tennessee, for contributions ⁵. The sources do not provide information regarding sales of businesses or specific assets that would indicate a primary source of wealth beyond her employment as a caregiver and communications professional ¹.

Family

Phillips is a Tennessee native who was raised in Ashland City and graduated from high school in Hermitage ⁵. She earned a bachelor's degree in multimedia journalism from Middle Tennessee State University in 2017 ¹³⁹. Phillips self-describes as a wife and mother ². At the age of 22, she became a single mother to her daughter, Adalie, working three jobs while attending school full-time ⁵¹⁶.

Phillips and her husband, Bryan, welcomed their second child, Miley Rose, in November 2022 ⁷⁹. During a scan at 19 weeks of pregnancy, they learned that the fetus was not compatible with life ⁴⁹. Due to Tennessee's abortion ban, Phillips traveled approximately 900 miles to terminate the pregnancy ⁴. She has stated that this experience motivated her to run for office to advocate for reproductive healthcare rights ²⁸.

Sources