Hakeem Wins Fifth Term in Tennessee House
Democratic incumbent Yusuf Hakeem secured reelection to represent Tennessee's 28th State House District, which covers areas surrounding downtown Chattanooga.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
Democratic incumbent Yusuf Hakeem was reelected to a fifth term representing Tennessee's 28th State House District, defeating independent challengers Demetrus Coonrod and Johnny Horne in the November 3 election.
Why it matters
The result keeps a longtime local official in a Chattanooga-area seat, giving Tennessee voters continuity in the state House district that surrounds downtown Chattanooga.
The result is drawn from the November 3, 2026 District 28 race, in which Hakeem faced two independent challengers. Vote totals and margins were not included in the available results.
The players
Yusuf Hakeem
Hakeem is the Democratic incumbent for Tennessee's 28th State House District and previously served on the Chattanooga Public School Board and Chattanooga City Council.
Demetrus Coonrod
Coonrod is an independent candidate who previously ran for the District 28 seat on the Democratic ticket in 2024 and once served on the Chattanooga City Council.
Johnny Horne
Horne is an independent candidate and Vietnam veteran who was born in Philadelphia.
The details
Hakeem previously served on the Chattanooga Public School Board and Chattanooga City Council and now serves on several Nashville committees, including ethics. Coonrod, a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga alumnus, had previously run for the District 28 seat on the Democratic ticket in 2024 and served on the Chattanooga City Council, while Horne is a Philadelphia native and Vietnam veteran.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Voters decided the District 28 race, with results coming in on election night.
Political Context
Coonrod's 2024 run for the District 28 seat on the Democratic ticket came before he returned as an independent challenger against Hakeem in 2026. That history places the race within an ongoing contest over who holds this Chattanooga-area seat.
Chattanooga-area voters in the 28th District now have Hakeem continuing in the state House for another term. The seat's representation in Nashville remains unchanged following the November 3 election.
The takeaway
Continuity in a legislative seat often reflects voter familiarity with a candidate's record across prior local offices. Readers following Tennessee politics can track how the district's representation evolves over the coming session.
Further reading
For more on the candidates and the broader race, see Elections coverage across Tennessee.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Local3News.
