{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nDeVante Hill is a candidate in the 2026 election for Tennessee's 9th Congressional District [1]. He competes in a Democratic primary against incumbent Representative Steve Cohen and State Representative Justin Pearson [14]. Hill announced his candidacy on January 20, 2026, during an event in Covington [1].\n\nHill is known for organizing protests in Memphis following the death of George Floyd and serving as a community voice after the death of Breonna Taylor [1]. He previously worked with Mayor Jim Strickland\u2019s office on police reform initiatives and helped select finalists for the Memphis Police Director position [4]. Hill has also faced legal challenges, including an arrest in March 2021 for violating probation related to a 2016 false report charge [11].\n\n## Background and education\n\nDeVante Hill is a Memphis native who grew up in a family of ministers [10]. He self-describes as having overcome issues such as child abuse during his upbringing [10]. Hill identifies with the Christian faith and serves as a pastor at One Church Memphis [13].\n\nHill previously worked in public service, serving as an intern for U.S. Representative Steve Cohen [12]. Specific details regarding his early education, schools attended, or degrees earned are not provided in the available sources.\n\n## Career\n\nHill has described himself as a pastor at One Church Memphis [13]. He previously served as an intern for U.S. Representative Steve Cohen [12]. Hill also worked for FedEx for 26 years before his employment ended following the disclosure of a breast cancer diagnosis to a senior Human Resources executive [15].\n\nIn 2016, Hill was arrested and charged with filing a false police report regarding a burglary at a rooming house where he claimed his laptop had been stolen [8]. He pleaded guilty to the charge in 2019 and was sentenced to diversion [8]. In March 2021, Hill was arrested on an outstanding warrant for violating the terms of that diversion, which included failing to report to his probation officer and failing a drug screen [11]. He posted a $7,500 bond and was released [5].\n\n## Office history\n\nHill served as an intern for U.S. Representative Steve Cohen [12]. He later worked in Cohen\u2019s office as a constituent services representative [15].\n\nIn 2016, Hill was arrested on charges related to filing a false police report regarding a burglary at his rooming house [8]. In 2019, he pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to diversion [8]. In March 2021, Hill was arrested on an outstanding warrant for violating the terms of that diversion program, which included failing to report to his probation officer and failing a drug screen [11]. He posted bond and was released [5].\n\nHill self-describes as a pastor at One Church Memphis [13]. In 2020, he organized protests in Memphis following the death of George Floyd, including a march that shut down the I-40 bridge [1][10]. Following these events, he met with Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland\u2019s office to discuss police reform and the Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board [7][9]. In March 2021, Hill participated in a process led by Mayor Strickland to help select finalists for the position of Memphis Police Director [6][11].\n\nIn January 2026, Hill announced his candidacy for Tennessee\u2019s 9th Congressional District [1][14]. He is running on the Democratic ticket against incumbent Steve Cohen and State Representative Justin Pearson [1][14].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\n\nHill\u2019s 2016 arrest for filing a false police report regarding a stolen laptop resulted in a 2019 guilty plea and a diversion sentence that was terminated earlier in the month of his March 2021 arrest [8]. Following the termination, an outstanding warrant was issued for Hill on March 4, citing violations of probation terms including failure to report to a probation officer and failing a drug screen [11]. Hill was taken into custody by Shelby County Sheriff's deputies on this warrant while he was in court addressing a separate charge for driving with a suspended license [2][5].\n\nHill\u2019s lawyer characterized the outstanding warrants as a clerical error, but the Tennessee Department of Correction confirmed that Hill had violated his probation terms, leading to the active arrest warrant [6]. The Commercial Appeal reported that Hill received death threats following his participation in protests, including messages containing racial slurs and images of lynching [3].\n\nDuring the 2026 Democratic primary for Tennessee's 9th Congressional District, Hill challenged incumbent Rep. Steve Cohen alongside State Rep. Justin Pearson and Republican Charlotte Bergmann [14]. Cohen, who previously employed Hill as an intern, described him as \"idealistic\" and \"talented,\" noting fond memories of Hill\u2019s involvement in public affairs [12]. In a separate dispute regarding his employment at FedEx, Hill stated that he was denied protections guaranteed under the Americans with Disabilities Act after disclosing a breast cancer diagnosis, leading to the abrupt end of his 26-year career [15].\n\n## Family\n\nHill self-describes as having grown up in a family of ministers [10]. He is associated with One Church Memphis [13]. The provided sources do not contain information regarding his spouse or children.\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [DeVante Hill announces candidacy for Tennessee's 9th congressional district | localmemphis.com](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/devante-hill-announces-candidacy-for-tennessees-9th-congressional-district/522-4d8a870c-8711-4c79-a7b6-61bd568c9f36)\n[2] [Activist DeVante Hill set to reappear in court next week](http://archive.commercialappeal.com/news/courts/activist-devante-hill-arraigned-on-felony-warrant-37a0543f-9d3c-6542-e053-0100007f161a-386979131.html/)\n[3] [Protester DeVante Hill receives death threats, taken into custody on warrant](https://archive.commercialappeal.com/topstories/protester-devante-hill-receives-death-threats-taken-into-custody-on-warrant-379c1ebd-bf97-0ed2-e053--386838321.html)\n[4] [Mayor Strickland\u2019s office describes local activist\u2019s probation violation as \u2018minor\u2019](https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/local/mayor-stricklands-office-describes-local-activists-probation-violation-minor/WAPKDYAG3ZHPRM3UTOPTSZAVII/)\n[5] [Activist Devante Hill posts $7,500 bond](https://www.actionnews5.com/story/32447206/activist-devante-hill-arrested/)\n[6] [Community activist\u2019s lawyer says outstanding warrants is a clerical error](https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/local/community-activists-lawyer-says-outstanding-warrants-is-clerical-error/ZPM4QLANVBBIBPKUYNKXHJP5IU/)\n[7] [Changes can happen within Memphis Police Department in a few weeks, according to pastor and protest leader Devante Hill](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/protests/changes-can-happen-within-memphis-police-department-in-a-few-weeks-according-to-pastor-and-protest-leader-devante-hill/522-e4b2a2ec-fdf1-477d-ac08-42babb6310ea)\n[8] [Pastor and activist Devante Hill arrested - Memphis](https://wreg.com/news/pastor-and-activist-devante-hill-arrested/)\n[9] [Beyond the photo op: An interview with Devante Hill on racial and economical reform in Memphis | News | fox13memphis.com](https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/local/beyond-photo-op-an-interview-with-devante-hill-racial-economical-reform-memphis/3POF6OOZEBFK5BN7VQAN5XIG3U/)\n[10] [Speaking with Black Lives Matter march organizer Devante Hill | WREG.com](https://wreg.com/news/speaking-with-black-lives-matter-march-organizer-devante-hill/)\n[11] [Community activist DeVante Hill arrested on diversion charge stemming from 2016 arrest](https://www.actionnews5.com/2021/03/31/community-activist-devante-hill-arrested-diversion-charges-stemming-arrest/)\n[12] [Three\u2019s a Crowd - Memphis Flyer](https://www.memphisflyer.com/threes-a-crowd/)\n[13] [ABC 24 message hope Pastor Devante Hill, One Church Memphis | localmemphis.com](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/life/faith/message-of-hope-from-pastor-devante-hill-one-church-memphis/522-f208c8a3-2f70-48d1-9c10-a0285f78a7db)\n[14] [Memphis activist challenging Rep. Cohen for House seat](https://www.actionnews5.com/2026/01/21/memphis-activist-challenging-rep-cohen-house-seat/)\n[15] [Meet the candidates: Community activist DeVante Hill sits ...](https://www.facebook.com/ABC24Memphis/posts/meet-the-candidates-community-activist-devante-hills-sits-down-with-abc24s-peppe/1533206538277262/)","campaigns":[],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"DeVante","fullname":"DeVante R. Hill","lastname":"Hill","middlename":"R.","office_history":[],"summary":"DeVante R. Hill is a Memphis activist and former intern for Rep. Steve Cohen who announced his candidacy for Tennessee's 9th Congressional District in the 2026 election.","terms":[],"token":"mYn0AXvTQ4"}