Theresa Gillespie Isom
Theresa Gillespie Isom | |
|---|---|
| Mississippi State Senator-elect | |
| Assuming office January 1, 2026 | |
| Succeeding | David Parker |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic Party |
| Occupation | politician, healthcare administrator, nurse |
Theresa Gillespie Isom is an American politician and former healthcare administrator. A Democrat, she was elected to the Mississippi State Senate, representing the 2nd District, which includes parts of DeSoto and Tunica counties. Isom won a special election on November 4, 2025, becoming the first African American and first female senator to represent DeSoto County. Her victory helped break a Republican supermajority in the state senate.
Early life
A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Isom moved to Mississippi in 2005.[1] She served as the director of nursing at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology.[1] Isom also chaired the Tennessee Board of Regents Practical Nursing Coordinators.[1]
Mississippi State Senate
2025 election
Isom ran as the Democratic candidate for Mississippi State Senate District 2 in a special election held on November 4, 2025.[2][3] The election was held after a federal court ordered Mississippi to create new, majority-Black legislative districts, ruling that the state's previous maps had diluted Black voting strength.[2][3] The newly drawn District 2, which Isom sought, covers portions of DeSoto and Tunica counties.[2][3][1] The seat was previously held by Republican David Parker, who retired following the redistricting.[3][1]
Isom won the election, defeating Republican candidate Charlie Hoots by a margin of 63 percent to 37 percent.[2][3] She both the first African American senator and the first female senator in DeSoto County's history.[2] Isom's win, along with another Democratic victory the same night, broke the Republican supermajority in the Mississippi Senate for the first time in six years.[2][3]
During her 2025 campaign, Isom's platform focused on healthcare and education. She advocated for the expansion of Medicaid in Mississippi and for the protection of rural hospitals.[3][1] She also prioritized improving public schools, boosting public school funding, and making career and technical education more accessible.[1] Other priorities included creating more jobs in underserved areas, hosting community job fairs, and helping families obtain affordable healthcare.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Harrison, Heather; Pittman, William (2025-10-29). "Candidate Guide: Mississippi Senate Special Elections on Nov. 4". Mississippi Free Press. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
- ^ a b c d e f Coleman, Alex (November 5, 2025). "Democrat Theresa Isom wins historic Mississippi Senate race". WREG. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
- ^ a b c d e f g Pittman, Ashton (2025-11-05). "Democrat Theresa Gillespie Isom Flips GOP-Held Mississippi Senate Seat in North Mississippi". Mississippi Free Press. Retrieved 2025-11-06.