Jesse Chism is a Democratic candidate seeking election to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 85. An investor by profession, Chism holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Morehouse College and a Master of Education from Union University. He attended Overton High School and is married. His legislative career spans the 111th through 113th General Assemblies, during which he served as Treasurer of the Democratic Caucus and the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators, as well as Parliamentarian for the latter organization from 2019 to 2021. Chism’s committee assignments focus heavily on education and government oversight. He serves on the House Education Instruction Committee, the Government Operations Committee, and the State Government Committee, along with their respective subcommittees and special session counterparts. He is also a member of the Joint Judiciary and Government Committee. Prior to his current role, Chism worked as a high school teacher for Memphis City Schools and served as a disaster inspector with FEMA. His community involvement includes serving on the Board of Directors for the Memphis Mental Health Institute and engaging with the Shelby County Democratic Party. He has received recognition such as the Fair Fight Fellowship and was named an Emerging Leader in 2019.