# John Gillespie

John Gillespie is a Republican member of the Tennessee House for district 97.

- Party: Republican
- Seat: Tennessee House, district 97
- Serving since: 2020-11-03
- Current term: TN 2025–26 session
- Open States ID: ocd-person/927edca0-8b67-40c6-b786-4cbfac5b344f

Source: https://americaspoliticalpulse.com/p/927edca0-8b67-40c6-b786-4cbfac5b344f (America’s Political Pulse, Polarization Research Lab), data through 2026-10-27. Data under CC BY 4.0. Cite as: Westwood, Sean J., and Yphtach Lelkes. 2024. America's Political Pulse [data set].

## Headline

54% of Gillespie’s statements discuss policy, 1.7 times the State House Republican average of 32%.

## What Gillespie says (TN 2025–26 session)

545 classified statements: 545 posts on X. Each rate is the share of statements with the label, against the State House Republicans average; rank 1 is the highest rate.

| Label | Gillespie | State House Republicans average | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal attacks | 2.0% | 2.9% | 302 of 791 |
| Policy criticism | 4.2% | 9.3% | 487 of 791 |
| Policy discussion | 54.3% | 31.9% | 82 of 791 |
| Bipartisanship | 2.4% | 1.8% | 215 of 791 |
| Credit claiming | 26.4% | 12.7% | 92 of 791 |
| Extreme labels | 0.7% | 1.4% | 333 of 791 |

Most discussed policy areas: Crime and Law Enforcement 43% (State House Republicans 11%); Education 13% (State House Republicans 15%); Economics and Public Finance 11% (State House Republicans 12%); Armed Forces and National Security 10% (State House Republicans 4.9%); Health 8.5% (State House Republicans 10%).

## Ideology (CSIP)

CSIP score +0.30 (standard error 0.02), from 283 donors and 747 roll calls. Negative is left of 0, positive right of it, on one scale for every official. 40% of State House Republicans score lower.

## Votes (TN 2025–26 session)

3,839 roll calls. Attendance 99.9% (Tennessee House 99.1%). Party unity 95.3% (96.3%). 31 votes against the party majority.

Key votes:

- 2026-04-23 · voted yea · FLOOR VOTE: MESSAGE CALENDAR 2 CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENT # 4 4/23/2026 Passed · HB 2111 Correctional Programs - As enacted, creates the state families of incarcerated individuals advisory board within the department of correction for the… · pass · https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB2111/
- 2026-04-23 · voted yea · FLOOR VOTE: CONSENT CALENDAR 3 PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/23/2026 Passed · SJR 1240 Memorials, Interns - Aaron Sullivan - · pass · https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/SJR1240/
- 2026-04-23 · voted yea · FLOOR VOTE: PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/23/2026 Passed · SB 1849 Local Government, General - As enacted, enacts the "Essential Governmental Employee Housing Act of 2026"; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 5;… · pass · https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/SB1849/
- 2026-04-23 · voted yea · FLOOR VOTE: CONSENT CALENDAR 2 PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/23/2026 Passed · HJR 1657 Memorials, Academic Achievement - Dahee Yoon, Salutatorian, Cookeville High School - · pass · https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HJR1657/
- 2026-04-23 · voted yea · FLOOR VOTE: MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT 4/23/2026 Passed · HB 1707 Immigration - As enacted, requires, until February 1, 2029, each court to cooperate with the U.S. department of homeland security and federal… · pass · https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB1707/
- 2026-04-23 · voted yea · FLOOR VOTE: CONSENT CALENDAR 3 PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/23/2026 Passed · SJR 1258 Memorials, Sports - Qitarah Castlin - · pass · https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/SJR1258/
- 2026-04-23 · voted yea · FLOOR VOTE: CONSENT CALENDAR 3 PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/23/2026 Passed · SJR 1269 Memorials, Academic Achievement - McKenzie Greene, Salutatorian, Van Buren County High School - · pass · https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/SJR1269/
- 2026-04-23 · voted yea · FLOOR VOTE: MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT 4/23/2026 Passed · HB 47 Education - As enacted, authorizes local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies to allow schools in the LEA or the public… · pass · https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB47/
- 2026-04-23 · voted yea · FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO ADOPT 4/23/2026 Passed · HJR 1535 Memorials, Recognition - Sidney Ware, Brandon Randolph, Fatima Grandos Macareno, Mu Zeta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and No Labels at… · pass · https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HJR1535/
- 2026-04-23 · voted yea · FLOOR VOTE: CONSENT CALENDAR 2 PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/23/2026 Passed · HJR 1651 Memorials, Academic Achievement - Maureen O'Neil, Valedictorian, Upperman High School - · pass · https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HJR1651/

## Legislation (TN 2025–26 session)

Sponsored 21 bills: 20 reached committee, 4 passed one chamber, 2 passed both, 2 became law. Cosponsored 0. 61.9% of sponsored bills got out of committee (Tennessee House 71.0%; rank 73 of 97).

Recent sponsored bills:

- HB 2563: Public Defenders - As introduced, changes from 10 days to 10 business days the number of days' written notice the president of the district public defenders… (in committee, 2026-04-01) https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB2563/
- HB 2497: Civil Emergencies - As introduced, requires state agencies charged with responsibilities in connection with healthcare facilities to study emergency… (introduced, 2026-02-05) https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB2497/
- HB 2225: Consumer Protection - As introduced, authorizes the attorney general to establish a do not call registry; places certain restrictions upon telephone… (in committee, 2026-03-11) https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB2225/
- HB 2318: General Assembly - As enacted, revises and clarifies procedures of the joint committee on ways and means, including authorizing the committee to issue notice… (passed one chamber, 2026-05-01) https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB2318/
- HB 1483: Tort Liability and Reform - As introduced, creates a cause of action through which a victim can recover from a person, other than a professional bondsman or… (in committee, 2026-02-02) https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB1483/
- HB 1484: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, enacts "The Memphis Safe Task Force Accountability Act." - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 7 and Title 39. (became law, 2026-05-15) https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB1484/
- HB 1449: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, restates the criminal offense of drag racing as street drag racing; expands the offense to include acts committed on… (in committee, 2026-03-24) https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB1449/
- HB 1445: Finance and Administration, Dept. of - As introduced, creates a law enforcement officer recruitment fund and grant program administered by the department for… (in committee, 2026-02-02) https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB1445/
- HB 1444: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalty for aggravated cruelty to animals from a Class E felony to a Class D felony; adds aggravated cruelty… (in committee, 2026-04-07) https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB1444/
- HB 1233: Bail, Bail Bonds - As introduced, permits a professional bondsman to issue and retain the required receipt for money or other consideration received in a… (in committee, 2026-03-18) https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB1233/

## Campaign money (2026 cycle)

Itemized receipts $177.8K (State House Republicans median $33.7K). 97% of itemized individual money came from in state. Aggregates only; no individual donors.

## Recent statements

Newest first. Posts on X are listed by date and link only.

- 2026-10-22 · Post on X · https://x.com/repgillespie/status/2113075052149440720
- 2026-10-22 · Post on X · https://x.com/repgillespie/status/2113312952342450346
- 2026-10-20 · Post on X · https://x.com/repgillespie/status/2112657535073198299
- 2026-10-17 · Post on X · labels: policy discussion, bipartisanship, credit claiming · https://x.com/repgillespie/status/2111544979101274220
- 2026-10-16 · Post on X · labels: policy discussion, credit claiming · https://x.com/repgillespie/status/2111081474891927695
- 2026-10-15 · Post on X · labels: policy discussion, credit claiming · https://x.com/repgillespie/status/2110718835657769285
- 2026-10-14 · Post on X · labels: policy discussion · https://x.com/repgillespie/status/2110356447548575869
- 2026-10-13 · Post on X · labels: policy discussion · https://x.com/repgillespie/status/2109993556995621105
- 2026-10-12 · Post on X · labels: policy discussion · https://x.com/repgillespie/status/2109666615927136650
- 2026-10-10 · Post on X · labels: policy discussion · https://x.com/repgillespie/status/2108906644620952047

## Links

- Official site: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H97
- Campaign site: https://repjohngillespie.com/
- X: https://x.com/repgillespie
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/votejohngillespie
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.m.gillespie.3
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johngillespiefortnhouse/

Full profile, with every chart and the methods: https://americaspoliticalpulse.com/p/927edca0-8b67-40c6-b786-4cbfac5b344f