Why It Matters
The appointment fills a vacancy in Tennessee House District 93 representing south Memphis and Orange Mound. The timing coincides with a critical legislative session in which the Republican-controlled legislature is redrawing the Memphis-area congressional district, currently the only Democratic-majority district among Tennessee’s nine House seats.
What Happened
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted Wednesday to appoint Willis Lincoln “T.J.” Hardaway to his late father’s Tennessee House seat. Rep. G.A. Hardaway died in April at age 71 following a brief illness. The elder Hardaway had represented Memphis in the state legislature since 2007, first in House District 92 and later, after redistricting, in House District 93.
T.J. Hardaway will serve in the seat until the November general election. He was sworn in Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m., according to the Tennessee House Democratic Caucus.
Speaking to commissioners before his appointment, Hardaway became emotional while invoking his father’s legacy. He told the board he would travel to Nashville immediately after the vote to participate in the ongoing legislative session.
By the Numbers
G.A. Hardaway served in the Tennessee House for 18 years, beginning in 2007. He was 71 years old at the time of his death. Tennessee House District 93 covers south Memphis and Orange Mound. The state’s congressional map currently includes one Democratic-majority district out of nine total House districts.
Zoom Out
The appointment comes during a special legislative session focused on redistricting. Republican lawmakers are advancing a plan to redraw the Memphis-area congressional boundaries, a move Democrats say will dilute the voting power of Memphis, a majority-Black city. Similar redistricting battles have played out in other states where Republican-controlled legislatures have redrawn maps to consolidate partisan advantage.
What’s Next
T.J. Hardaway will serve in the Tennessee House through the remainder of the current term. The seat will be on the ballot in the November general election. Hardaway stated his immediate priority is casting votes during the ongoing legislative session, including on the congressional redistricting proposal.