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Tennessee, State House, District 59

Tennessee House of Representatives District 59
Current incumbentJason Potts Democratic Party

Tennessee's fifty-ninth state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Jason Potts.

Tennessee state representatives represent an average of 64,102 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 57,468 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Tennessee House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Tennessee legislators assume office the 15th of January following the election.

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the Tennessee House of Representatives, a candidate must be:

  • A U.S. citizen
  • 21 years old before the general election
  • A three-year resident of Tennessee before the general election
  • A county resident for 1 year prior to the general election
  • A qualified voter
  • The following situations would eliminate a candidate from qualifying for office:
    • Those who have been convicted of offering or giving a bribe, or of larceny, or any other offense declared infamous by law, unless restored to citizenship in the mode pointed out by law;
    • Those against whom there is a judgment unpaid for any moneys received by them, in any official capacity, due to the United States, to this state, or any county thereof;
    • Those who are defaulters to the treasury at the time of the election, and the election of any such person shall be void;
    • Soldiers, seamen, marines, or airmen in the regular army or navy or air force of the United States; and
    • Members of congress, and persons holding any office of profit or trust under any foreign power, other state of the union, or under the United States.

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$22,667/year$229/day

Vacancies

In Tennessee, there are two ways a vacancy can be filled in the house. When twelve months or more remain in a unfilled term, a special election must be held within the allowable time frame set by law. If less than twelve months remain in the term, the current members of the house must vote on a replacement.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Tennessee House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for August 6, 2020. The filing deadline is April 2, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 59

Jason Potts (D) defeated David Birdsong (R) in the general election for Tennessee House of Representatives District 59 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Jason Potts (D)
78.6
11,122

David Birdsong (R)
21.4
3,027

Total votes: 14,149
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 59

Jason Potts defeated Kyle Southern in the Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 59 on August 2, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Jason Potts (D)
72.0
3,070

Kyle Southern (D)
28.0
1,195

Total votes: 4,265
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 59

David Birdsong advanced from the Republican primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 59 on August 2, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

David Birdsong (R)
100
1,106

Total votes: 1,106

2016

Elections for the Tennessee House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on August 4, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 7, 2016.

Incumbent Sherry Jones ran unopposed in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 59 general election.

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 59 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Sherry Jones Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Tennessee Secretary of State

Incumbent Sherry Jones ran unopposed in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 59 Democratic primary.

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 59 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Sherry Jones Incumbent (unopposed)

2014

Elections for 99 seats in the Tennessee House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 7, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 3, 2014. Incumbent Sherry Jones was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Jones was unopposed in the general election.

2012

Elections for the office of Tennessee House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on August 2, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 5, 2011. Incumbent Sherry Jones (D) defeated Robert Duvall (R) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.

Tennessee House of Representatives, District 59, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngSherry Jones Incumbent 70.1% 11,358
Republican Robert Duvall 29.9% 4,839
Total Votes 16,197

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Tennessee House of Representatives District 59 raised a total of $639,342. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $45,667 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Tennessee House of Representatives District 59

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $29,160 1 $29,160
2014 $47,373 1 $47,373
2012 $148,620 2 $74,310
2010 $154,696 2 $77,348
2008 $30,533 1 $30,533
2006 $104,476 2 $52,238
2004 $65,997 2 $32,999
2002 $32,250 2 $16,125
2000 $26,237 1 $26,237
Total $639,342 14 $45,667