Amber Mills is a Republican candidate seeking election to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 99 in the August 2026 primary. She currently serves as a Shelby County Commissioner for District 1, a position she assumed in August 2018 and was re-elected to in 2022. Her term is scheduled to end on September 1, 2026. Mills challenges the incumbent Republican representative, Tom Leatherwood, in the upcoming contest. Professionally, Mills holds an associate degree in music education from Wallace State College and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Auburn University. Her career includes approximately two decades as a Delta Air Lines flight attendant, followed by roles as a National Accounts Manager for an anti-terrorism consulting firm and Executive Director of the Republican Party of Shelby County. On the county commission, she holds leadership roles in conservation and public works. Mills highlights her legislative record against proposed tax increases, including property and wheel taxes, as well as her efforts to expand Veterans Service Officers from one to ten full-time staff members. She also points to securing American Rescue Plan Act funds for rural broadband and streetlighting for the Northaven neighborhood. Her campaign slogan emphasizes being "Principled. Proven. Conservative." A residency dispute arose during her husband Lee Mills’ 2022 congressional run, questioning whether their shared address near the Shelby-Fayette county line qualified them as Shelby County residents. The Shelby County Election Commission referred the matter to chancery court, which ruled that they are indeed Shelby County residents. Mills cited state law and local assessors to support this determination. She resides in Arlington with her husband and two sons.

Tom Leatherwood is a Republican candidate seeking election to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 99. A long-time public servant, he previously served in the Tennessee Senate from the 98th through the 101st General Assemblies and as a member of the House during the 111th through 113th General Assemblies. Professionally, Leatherwood is a retired Register of Deeds who holds a teaching certification from Middle Tennessee State University, in addition to degrees from Germantown High School and the University of Memphis. He is married to Melissa and has five children. In his current legislative role, Leatherwood serves as Vice-Chairperson of the Health Committee and holds membership on the Education Instruction and State Government Committees, including their respective subcommittees. His public service record includes receiving the Gateway Christian Schools Legislative Award, the TSBA Legislative Award, and the Bob James Public Servant Award from the Shelby County Republican Party. Community involvement extends to his membership in the NRA, the Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary Development Council, and local Republican clubs in Shelby County. Voters considering his candidacy will note his extensive experience in both legislative chambers and his focus on health, education, and state government oversight.