Theresa Gillespie Isom | |
|---|---|
| Mississippi State Senator-elect | |
| Assuming office January 1, 2026 | |
| Succeeding | David Parker |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Memphis,Tennessee,U.S. |
| Political 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.
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]
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]