{"county":null,"description":"The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the state legislature, with 99 members elected from single-member districts to two-year terms. Representatives pass state laws, originate revenue bills, approve the state budget, and \u2014 together with the Senate \u2014 confirm gubernatorial appointments and propose constitutional amendments. Candidates must be at least 21 years old, U.S. citizens, Tennessee residents for at least three years, and district residents for at least one year.","district":"055","districtgroup":"state_house","id":234,"key":"state_house_055","lastchangeby":null,"name":null,"next_election":null,"notes":null,"officegroup":"tn_house","partisan":1,"party":null,"qualities":"- **Integrity** \u2014 Acts in the interest of constituents and the public good rather than for personal gain, and remains independent of undue influence from donors, lobbyists, and party leadership.\n- **Understanding of the constituency** \u2014 Grasps both the economic-development needs of the district and the day-to-day concerns of individual residents \u2014 safety, healthcare, education, infrastructure.\n- **Persuasion** \u2014 Engages, listens to, and persuades both fellow legislators and constituents. Can change minds and explain votes honestly.\n- **Legislative craft** \u2014 Reads, drafts, and amends statute with care. Understands how specific bill language translates to outcomes, and knows the body of law being modified.\n- **Coalition-building** \u2014 Finds common ground across partisan and factional lines, brokers compromises that hold, and forms working majorities even when consensus is hard to reach.","quantity":1,"source":null,"state":"tn","term_end":null,"term_start":null,"term_years":2,"terms":[{"current":1,"description":"","electiondate":"2022-11-08","name":"John Ray  Clemmons","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nJohn Ray Clemmons currently serves as a Democratic member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 55, having assumed office on November 4, 2014 [1]. His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1]. As of May 2026, Clemmons is running for re-election to represent the district in the Tennessee House of Representatives [1]. He is listed as a candidate in the Democratic primary election scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1].\n\n## Background and education\n\nJohn Ray Clemmons was born in Lebanon, Tennessee, on July 14, 1977 [2]. He later made Nashville his home city [3].\n\nClemmons earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Columbia University, completing his studies there between 1995 and 1999 [3]. He subsequently attended the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis, where he received his Juris Doctor in 2006 [3].\n\n## Career\n\nJohn Ray Clemmons was born in Lebanon, Tennessee, on July 14, 1977 [2]. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from Columbia University between 1995 and 1999 [3]. He subsequently attended the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis, where he received his Juris Doctor in 2006 [3].\n\nIn his professional life prior to and alongside his legislative service, Clemmons co-founded the boutique civil litigation firm Clemmons & Clemons, PLLC, with a lifelong friend in 2013 [5]. He continues to practice law at this Nashville-based firm [5].\n\n## Office history\n\nJohn Ray Clemmons began his legislative service in the Tennessee House of Representatives on January 4, 2014, representing District 55 [4]. He assumed office formally on November 4, 2014, following a prior assumption date of January 13, 2015 noted in some records [1][2]. His current term is scheduled to end on November 3, 2026 [1].\n\nIn addition to his role as a representative, Clemmons has served as the Democratic Caucus Chair for the Tennessee State House of Representatives since 2023 [3]. He is currently running for re-election in the Democratic primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nJohn Ray Clemmons has served in the Tennessee House of Representatives since assuming office on January 13, 2015 [2]. He represents District 55 and is a member of the Democratic Party [1]. In addition to his legislative duties, he practices law with the Nashville firm Clemmons & Clemons, PLLC, which he co-founded in 2013 [5].\n\nClemmons holds the position of Democratic Caucus Chair in the Tennessee State House of Representatives, a role he has held since 2023 [3]. He previously served as a Representative for District 55, succeeding Gary Odom [2]. His legislative career began after he was first elected to the chamber, with his term officially starting in early 2014 according to some records [4], though he assumed office in January 2015 [2].\n\nSpecific details regarding notable bills sponsored, specific vote records, or detailed committee assignments are not provided in the available source materials. The candidate\u2019s policy positions are not explicitly detailed in the provided texts beyond his party affiliation and leadership role within the Democratic caucus [1][3].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nJohn Ray Clemmons is an attorney and co-founder of Clemmons & Clemons, PLLC, a boutique civil litigation firm based in Nashville [5]. He established the practice in 2013 alongside his lifelong friend, J. Michael Clemons [5][11]. The firm operates from offices on Union Street in downtown Nashville and provides services in business litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and general civil litigation [6][7][9].\n\nClemmons serves as a Rule 31 Listed General Civil Mediator and has represented clients in both state and federal courts across Tennessee, including the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals [5][10][11]. His legal practice focuses on business litigation, with Super Lawyers repeatedly recognizing him as a \"Rising Star\" in this area [6][12]. He also represents corporate and individual clients on issues such as civil rights, contracts, and banking disputes [8][11].\n\nClemmons holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, having been admitted to the Tennessee Bar in May 2007 [5][10]. He previously earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Columbia University in 1999 [5][10]. As a co-owner of the firm, his professional income derives from legal services provided to private clients [6][9].\n\n## Family\n\nClemmons is married to Tamara Baxt [2]. Together they have three sons named John, Finn, and Henry [3]. The family also includes two guinea pigs, Frankie and Martha [5].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [John Ray Clemmons - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Ray_Clemmons)\n[2] [John Ray Clemmons - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ray_Clemmons)\n[3] [the facts - Vote Smart - Facts For All](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/153298/john-clemmons)\n[4] [State Representative John Clemmons | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/19660)\n[5] [State Representative John Clemmons](http://www.ciclt.net/sn/leg_app/po_detail.aspx?ClientCode=slt&P_IDEO=tnsh55)\n[6] [Clemmons & Clemons, Nashville law firm](https://www.clemlawfirm.com/)\n[7] [Clemmons & Clemons, PLLC in Nashville, Tennessee](https://profiles.superlawyers.com/tennessee/nashville/lawfirm/clemmons-and-clemons-pllc/377a414d-0dc3-4ac6-a88f-9f6ade1370f1.html)\n[8] [Member Directory](https://www.tba.org/?pg=MemberDirectory&dirAction=memberDetails&dirMemberid=1848834)\n[9] [OUR FIRM | clemlawfirm](https://www.clemlawfirm.com/our-firm)\n[10] [ATTORNEYS | clemlawfirm](https://www.clemlawfirm.com/attorneys)\n[11] [About - John Ray Clemmons](https://johnrayfortennessee.com/about/)\n[12] [Top Rated Nashville, TN Business Litigation Attorney | John Ray Clemmons | Super Lawyers](https://profiles.superlawyers.com/tennessee/nashville/lawyer/john-ray-clemmons/f1f81b74-eaa1-4e31-879f-ca3dd42081c7.html)","firstname":"John","lastname":"Clemmons","middlename":"Ray","token":"GFc5rAVhhn"},"term_end":"2026-12-31","term_start":"2023-01-01"}],"title":"State Representative District 55","type":"legislative","url":"https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H55","whenchanged":"2026-06-19 17:40:13"}