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TN · Officeholder

John Clemmons

DState Representative · District 55

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Tennessee House District 55

Biography

John Clemmons is the Democratic state representative for Tennessee House District 55, part of Davidson County in Nashville, a seat he has held since November 2014, and he is the incumbent on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot.[1][2][3] He is an attorney and mediator.[1]

Clemmons earned a B.A. in history from Columbia University in 1999 and a J.D. from the University of Memphis Law School in 2006.[1] The legislature's biography lists him as an attorney and mediator.[1] Before joining the House he served on the Tennessee Civil Service Commission from 2009 to 2012 and on the Metropolitan Board of Fair Commissioners from 2012 to 2014.[1]

Clemmons has been a member of the House since the 109th General Assembly and chaired the House Democratic Caucus during the 113th General Assembly.[1] The House website lists him as a member of the Calendar & Rules and Government Operations committees and the Joint Judiciary and Government committee.[1] Ballotpedia reports that he advanced from the August 6, 2026 Democratic primary and will face Republican Jayla Thomas in the general election.[2] His community involvement includes service on the board of directors of Silent No Longer Tennessee since 2022 and on the board of Friends of Sevier Park since 2013.[1]

  1. 1.Representative John Ray Clemmons - Tennessee General Assembly · Tennessee General Assembly Official record
  2. 2.John Ray Clemmons · Ballotpedia Reference
  3. 3.Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.

Tennessee House District 55

John Clemmons is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Tennessee House District 55 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.

Ballotpedia ↗

Other candidates for this seat

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 25 of 614 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Rights & public safety (14), Health & care (5), Jobs & cost of living (4)

  • Criminal Offenses - As enacted, increases the penalty for assaulting a first responder from a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory fine of $5,000 and a mandatory minimum of 30 days incarceration to a Class E felony with a mandatory fine of…

    What it does: Abstract summarizes the bill.

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 7–12, Republicans 67–3

    Apr 22, 2026Official record ↗

  • Military - As enacted, recognizes the United States space force as a distinct branch of the United States armed forces by adding the space force to definitions and provisions related to the military. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 6; Title 8;…

    What it does: Present law recognizes the army, navy, air force, marine corps, and coast guard as distinct branches of the United States armed forces and groups them collectively under the broader term "armed forces" or "armed force…

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 6–10, Republicans 71–1

    Apr 16, 2026Official record ↗

  • Insurance, Health, Accident - As enacted, authorizes a health insurance entity to offer a short-term limited-duration plan and hospital indemnity coverage on the marketplace. - Amends TCA Title 3; Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8;…

    What it does: ON APRIL 15, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2503, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, authorize a health insurance entity to offer a short-term limited-duration plan and…

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 2–18, Republicans 72–2

    Apr 15, 2026Official record ↗

  • Insurance, Health, Accident - As enacted, authorizes a health insurance entity to offer a short-term limited-duration plan and hospital indemnity coverage on the marketplace. - Amends TCA Title 3; Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8;…

    What it does: ON APRIL 15, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2503, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, authorize a health insurance entity to offer a short-term limited-duration plan and…

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 19–2, Republicans 0–74

    Apr 15, 2026Official record ↗

  • Open Meetings - As enacted, authorizes a governing body to conduct an executive session for the purpose of interviewing applicants for employment as director-level staff of the body without providing public notice of such session. - Amends…

    What it does: This bill authorizes an executive session to be conducted by a governing body to interview applicants for employment as director-level staff of the body, and public notice of such an executive session is not required.…

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 8–11, Republicans 53–13

    Apr 14, 2026Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

HJR 8 · TN HOUSE

Memorials, Death - U.S. Senator James Ralph Sasser -

NoVOTED

Motion: REFER TO COMMITTEE

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 66–19·Procedural·May 6, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 47 · TN HOUSE

Education - As enacted, authorizes local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies to allow schools in the LEA or the public charter school, as applicable, to display the Ten Commandments, the first sentence of the…

NoVOTED

Motion: MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT

ON MARCH 19, 2026, THE SENATE SUBSTITUTED HOUSE BILL 47 FOR SENATE BILL 303, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 47, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 adds a preamble and rewrites the substantive provisions of this bill to require each local board of education and governing body of a public charter school to require all schools under their administration to display the Ten Commandments, the first sentence of the second paragraph of the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, and the preamble to the United States Constitution in a prominent location in each school building in order to…

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 70–17·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 1707 · TN HOUSE

Immigration - As enacted, requires, until February 1, 2029, each court to cooperate with the U.S. department of homeland security and federal immigration authorities acting in the enforcement of federal immigration law; authorizes, until…

NoVOTED

Motion: MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT

ON APRIL 2, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1707, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, require each court to cooperate with the United States department of homeland security ("department") and federal immigration authorities acting in the enforcement of federal immigration law. This amendment authorizes a judge who obstructs lawful operations by the department or such authorities to be referred to the board of judicial conduct for proceedings and any findings by the board that the judge committed judicial misconduct may be cause for removal.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 72–17·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 1708 · TN HOUSE

Motor Vehicles - As enacted, adds certain language comprehension requirements for certain driver licenses; requires documentation as a U.S. citizen or lawfully permitted in the U.S. for certain vehicle registrations; requires documentation…

NoVOTED

Motion: MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT

The Uniform Classified and Commercial Driver License Act of 1988 requires the department of safety to examine every applicant for a driver license, intermediate driver license, learner permit, temporary driver license, temporary learner permit, and temporary intermediate driver license. Such examination may include a written examination. WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS If an applicant for a driver license or intermediate driver license is unable to speak and read in English, then this bill authorizes the written examination required for licensure to be administered in a language other than English.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 69–17·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 2314 · TN HOUSE

Obscenity and Pornography - As enacted, prohibits the issuance of a license to operate certain adult-oriented establishments unless certain signage is posted. - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 51 and Title 39. HB2314 has been assigned Public…

YesVOTED

Motion: MESSAGE CALENDAR 2 MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT

ON APRIL 6, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2314, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes: • Removes the requirement for signs posted at each entrance of the establishment no smaller than 8 1/2" x 11" to have the required language printed in at least 48-point type in boldface, block letters, centered on the sign, and that the letters must be black on a white background.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 83–10·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 2366 · TN HOUSE

Tourism - As enacted, requires the department of tourist development to promulgate rules designating tourism development zones in this state as economic protection zones; places certain limitations on a local government blocking streets or…

NoVOTED

Motion: MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT 2

ON APRIL 6, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #1 AND 2, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2366, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes:  Changes the definition for the term "tourism development zone" to have the same meaning as the one in present law.  Removes the prohibition for a local government to ingress or egress into a tourism development zone by private or commercial vehicles or pedestrian traffic.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 68–13·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 1493 · TN HOUSE

Computers and Electronic Processing - As enacted, requires TACIR to study artificial intelligence and submit a report to the governor and both speakers by January 31, 2027. - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 33; Title 39 and Title 47. Companion…

YesVOTED

Motion: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 4 BY ZACHARY PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION

This bill creates a Class A felony offense for an individual, for-profit corporation, nonprofit corporation, or other business entity to knowingly train artificial intelligence to do any of the following:  Encourage or otherwise support the act of suicide.  Encourage or otherwise support the act of criminal homicide.  Provide emotional support, including through open-ended conversations with a user.  Develop an emotional relationship with, or otherwise act as a companion to, an individual.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 81–7·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 1585 · TN HOUSE

Education - As enacted, revises the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 12; Title 48; Title 49 and Title 67. Companion bill has…

NoVOTED

Motion: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION

ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1. SENATE BILL 1585, AS AMENDED, FAILED TO RECEIVE A CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to revise the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. Present law requires, as a condition of participating in the ESA program, participating students in grades three through 11 must be annually administered the TCAP tests for math and English language arts, or successor tests authorized by the state board of education for math and English language arts.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 54–39·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 1585 · TN HOUSE

Education - As enacted, revises the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 12; Title 48; Title 49 and Title 67. Companion bill has…

NoVOTED

Motion: REGULAR CALENDAR PREVIOUS QUESTION PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION

ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1. SENATE BILL 1585, AS AMENDED, FAILED TO RECEIVE A CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to revise the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. Present law requires, as a condition of participating in the ESA program, participating students in grades three through 11 must be annually administered the TCAP tests for math and English language arts, or successor tests authorized by the state board of education for math and English language arts.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 63–29·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 1585 · TN HOUSE

Education - As enacted, revises the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 12; Title 48; Title 49 and Title 67. Companion bill has…

YesVOTED

Motion: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 8 BY PEARSON PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION

ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1. SENATE BILL 1585, AS AMENDED, FAILED TO RECEIVE A CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to revise the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. Present law requires, as a condition of participating in the ESA program, participating students in grades three through 11 must be annually administered the TCAP tests for math and English language arts, or successor tests authorized by the state board of education for math and English language arts.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Failed 19–72·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 1074 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.