DemocratIn office since Nov 2018

Jesse Chism

Tennessee State Representative, District 85 since 2018. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.

Tennessee State Representative, District 85Born 1980

In office
7 yrs
Since 2018
Bills became law
5
48 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed
0.1%
Chamber median 0.2%
With party
83%
On votes splitting the parties
Last margin
+99.8
Won 2024
Next election
2028
Nov 7, 2028

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

  • Calendar and Rules

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 48 sponsored · 5 became law
BillIntroCmteHouseSenateLaw
HB 2585 Damages - As introduced, states that the amount of damages awarded as noneconomic damages must not exceed $1…
Damages · Failed in the Senate Apr 2026
HB 659 Election Laws - As enacted, authorizes the county election commission to designate restroom facilities in…
Election Laws · Failed in the House May 2026
HB 1369 Health, Dept. of - As enacted, requires the department to make available and require educational materials…
Dept. of · Failed in the House May 2026
HB 1371 Criminal Offenses - As enacted, clarifies that a person commits the offense of unlawful exposure by…
Criminal Offenses · Failed in the House May 2025
HB 2589 Taxes, Sales - As introduced, changes the date, from February 1 to February 15, by which the department of…
Sales · Failed in committee Apr 2026

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Chism sits in the Tennessee House of Representatives

Chism is closer to the center than 84% of the chamber's Democrats.

Dem. medianRep. medianChismMore liberalMore conservative

Closest: T.J. Hardaway, Antonio Parkinson, Ronnie Glynn

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:02 PM ET

With Chism’s party

  • Votes with the chamber's Democrats83%

Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Tennessee House of Representatives.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Chism’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time Chism was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Elections

Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.

YearRaceResultMarginSeat+/−
2026Tennessee House District 85Won—D+76.5—
2024Tennessee House of Representatives, District 85WonD+99.8——
2022Tennessee House of Representatives, District 85Won———
2020Tennessee House of Representatives, District 85Won———
2018Tennessee House of Representatives, District 85Won———

Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET

How we know Chism

One person, matched across every source we use.

Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET