Theresa Gillespie Isom
Theresa Gillespie Isom (Democratic Party) is a member-elect of the Mississippi State Senate, representing District 2.
Gillespie Isom (Democratic Party) ran in a special election to the Mississippi State Senate to represent District 2. She won in the special general election on November 4, 2025.
Gillespie Isom completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Theresa Gillespie Isom was born in Memphis, Tennessee. She graduated from Douglass High School. She earned an associate degree from Shelby State Community College in 1981, a bachelor's degree from the College of St. Francis in 1990, and an M.D. from the University of Knoxville in 1992. Her career experience includes working as a registered nurse, as the chief nursing officer of the Methodist Hospital System in Memphis, as the director of nursing of the Practical Nursing School in Memphis, and as a nursing consultant.[1]
Gillespie Isom has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]
- AARP
- Democratic Women's Federation
- Southaven Chamber of Commerce
- Olive Branch, MS Mayor's Advisory Board
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
- Links Incorporated
- Tennessee Nurse Association
- Mississippi Nurse Association
- American Nurse Association
Elections
2025
See also: Mississippi state legislative special elections, 2025
General election
Special general election for Mississippi State Senate District 2
Theresa Gillespie Isom defeated Charlie Hoots in the special general election for Mississippi State Senate District 2 on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Theresa Gillespie Isom (D)  | 62.8 | 3,539 |
 | Charlie Hoots (R) | 37.2 | 2,099 | |
| Total votes: 5,638 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Special Democratic primary for Mississippi State Senate District 2
Theresa Gillespie Isom defeated Robert Walker in the special Democratic primary for Mississippi State Senate District 2 on August 5, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Theresa Gillespie Isom | 78.2 | 841 |
| Robert Walker | 21.8 | 234 | ||
| Total votes: 1,075 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Kelly Andress (D)
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Charlie Hoots advanced from the special Republican primary for Mississippi State Senate District 2.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Gillespie Isom in this election.
2019
See also: Mississippi House of Representatives elections, 2019
General election
General election for Mississippi House of Representatives District 7
Incumbent Steve Hopkins defeated Theresa Gillespie Isom in the general election for Mississippi House of Representatives District 7 on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Steve Hopkins (R) | 65.8 | 3,740 |
| Theresa Gillespie Isom (D) | 34.2 | 1,943 | |
| Total votes: 5,683 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Mississippi House of Representatives District 7
Theresa Gillespie Isom defeated Zelda Hill in the Democratic primary for Mississippi House of Representatives District 7 on August 6, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Theresa Gillespie Isom | 69.9 | 545 |
| Zelda Hill | 30.1 | 235 | ||
| Total votes: 780 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Mississippi House of Representatives District 7
Incumbent Steve Hopkins defeated Kimberly Remak in the Republican primary for Mississippi House of Representatives District 7 on August 6, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Steve Hopkins | 58.0 | 1,818 |
 | Kimberly Remak | 42.0 | 1,316 | |
| Total votes: 3,134 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Wanda Jennings (R)
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Theresa Gillespie Isom completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Gillespie Isom's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
- DeSoto County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Mississippi. Families move here because of our strong schools, safe neighborhoods, and opportunities to build a better life. But with growth also it brings challenges. We need better infrastructure to keep up with traffic and new development.
- We need to fully fund our schools so that every child—whether in Olive Branch, Southaven, Horn Lake, Walls or Tunica—has access to an excellent education.
- And we need to make sure healthcare is accessible and affordable, especially for our seniors and working families.Full
Healthcare: Expanding access to Healthcare and making Healthcare more affordable.
Accountability
Fairness
Service
1. Legislating / Lawmaking
Sponsor, draft, introduce, amend, and vote on bills covering all state policy areas (education, health, environment, transportation, etc.).
Review bills proposed by others through committee work (committees are central to vetting legislation).
2. Budget & Appropriations Oversight
Participate in the process of writing, debating, and approving the state budget. Decide how funds are allocated to state agencies, programs, infrastructure, etc.
Review spending, monitor agency performance, ensure programs are delivering as intended.
3. Representation & Constituent Services
Be the voice for people in their district; understand local problems and advocate for them in state government.
Assist constituents in navigating state government (licenses, state benefits, regulatory issues).
4. Oversight & Checks and Balances
Monitor and review how state agencies implement laws. Hold hearings or inquiries when laws are not working or agencies are mismanaging.
Confirm or reject executive or judicial appointments, where state law gives the Senate that role.
5. Policy Leadership & Agenda Setting
Identify emerging problems and policy gaps, propose solutions. Set priorities based on needs, values, and evidence.
Negotiate with other legislators, stakeholders, sometimes across party lines, to build coalitions and move legislation.
6. Communication & Public Engagement
Keep constituents informed about state issues and legislative developments. Hold town halls, listen to feedback, be accessible.
Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents draws striking parallels between America’s social hierarchy and the rigid caste systems of India and Nazi Germany. Her analysis of how power, privilege, and prejudice are maintained over generations really resonates with what we see today — especially in how leadership, policy, and public discourse continue to reflect deep divisions and inequities.
I believe medical expenses should be more affordable .
MS Federation Democratic Women
DeSoto Marshall County Federation Democratic Women
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee
Mississippi State Democratic Party
Blue Magnolia
Democratic National Committee
Mayor Jimmy Stokes of Horn Lake
I am deeply honored to have received the MAD Lady Award for Women Over 50, which recognizes those who are Making A Difference in their communities. This award reminds me that it’s never too late to lead, inspire, and create positive change. I share this honor with every woman who continues to dream, serve, and stand strong — proving that our best work can begin at any age.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2019
Theresa Gillespie Isom did not complete Ballotpedia's 2019 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
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Candidate Mississippi State Senate District 2 |
Personal |
Footnotes
