District 97 Flips: What Jesse Huseth’s Win Means for Memphis Voters

Jesse Huseth flips Tennessee House District 97. Explore what the change means for East Memphis, Cordova and the work voters should follow ahead.

By JR Robinson | JustMy

A legislative rematch has produced a different result in one of Shelby County’s closely watched districts.

Democrat Jesse Huseth defeated Republican incumbent John Gillespie in Tennessee House District 97, according to reported November 3 results. The district includes portions of East Memphis, Cordova and Shelby Farms Park.

The Tennessee election-results website listed Huseth with 13,895 votes, or 56.95%, and Gillespie with 10,502, or 43.05%. Those returns remain subject to certification.

For residents, the change is more than a shift in party representation. It is an opportunity to establish expectations for accessibility, communication and results before a new legislative term begins.

Huseth, a business owner and former teacher, previously challenged Gillespie in 2024 and lost by about 3.5 percentage points. His 2026 victory reverses that outcome.

The comparison is significant, but it has limits.

A change in election results does not by itself explain whether voters responded primarily to the candidates, campaign organization, state policy, national politics or turnout.

That requires additional analysis, including precinct-level results and interviews.

For now, the established story is straightforward: District 97 voters selected a different representative in a rematch, giving Huseth responsibility for serving supporters and opponents alike.

In election-night reporting, Huseth described the result as “a win well-earned for Memphis” and expressed interest in being a more visible presence for state government in the city.

Visibility is a useful starting point. Residents should now be able to learn what that means in practice.

Will there be regular district meetings? How will constituents submit questions? Where will legislative updates appear? How will the office distinguish a policy disagreement from a request for help navigating a state agency?

Those are not accusations that any system is missing. They are reasonable expectations to discuss during a transition.

A representative’s office becomes more useful when people understand how to contact it—and what assistance it can realistically provide.

State representatives work within a larger legislative institution. One member cannot independently pass a budget, change a law or direct every state agency.

That makes careful accountability important.

Residents can follow which measures a representative sponsors, how the member votes, what amendments are supported and how clearly decisions are explained.

They can also examine whether announced priorities produce concrete legislative activity.

A public statement and a filed bill are different milestones. A bill passing one chamber is not the same as becoming law.

Keeping those stages distinct helps voters judge performance fairly rather than rewarding announcements or assigning blame for decisions outside one office’s control.

District residents should not wait until the next campaign to explain what matters to them.

A small-business owner might document a recurring administrative obstacle. A parent might identify a specific concern about state education policy. A neighborhood group might organize questions that cross party lines.

The strongest request includes a clear problem, relevant evidence and a proposed outcome.

It also acknowledges which level of government holds responsibility. Some concerns belong with city or county agencies rather than a state legislator.

That distinction can save residents time and make advocacy more effective.

The next useful stories will examine Huseth’s priorities, constituent-service plans and early legislative decisions.

They should also give Gillespie’s constituents a clear understanding of the transition, without treating voters who preferred the incumbent as outsiders in their own district.

Elections create winners and losers. Representation carries a broader obligation.

For District 97, the campaign has delivered a new direction. Whether that direction becomes meaningful will depend on the work that follows—and whether residents can see, question and participate in it.