Tennessee Rep. Hemmer not seeking re-election in 2026

State Rep. Caleb Hemmer, a Nashville Democrat, announced on Nov. 10 he will not run for a third term in office. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Democratic Rep. Caleb Hemmer of Nashville is set to leave the Tennessee legislature after two terms.

Hemmer, who represents District 59 in southern Davidson County, announced Monday he will not seek a third two-year term in 2026.

A healthcare executive, Hemmer said he wants to spend more time with his two children and wife and meet work commitments as well.

Hemmer passed bills dealing with maternal health, university-sponsored lab schools, affordable housing and children’s mental health.

“These were all promises I made during my campaign, and I’ve stayed focused on delivering real legislation that makes a real difference in the lives of Tennesseans,” he said in a statement.

Hemmer made some noise as a lawmaker when he filed an ethics complaint against Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds for allowing ExcelinEd, a pro-charter and pro-voucher group that previously employed her, to pay for two out-of-state conferences.

The Tennessee Ethics Commission dismissed the complaint, mainly because she paid back more than $2,000 to the organization. She was later reimbursed by the state.

Acceptance of such a gift from groups that hire lobbyists is a violation of state law and an order by Gov. Bill Lee. The governor also ran afoul of state ethics laws by allowing Alliance Defending Freedom, an Arizona-based conservative Christian group, to fund his expenses to speak at a summer conference in South Florida. The group used a state lobbyist to push bills, but Lee refused to repay the money because it had a 501(c)3 nonprofit tax designation. Ultimately, the Ethics Commission ruled that he had to pay the group.

In Hemmer’s parting statement, he urged constituents to continue holding elected officials “to the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct.”