TJ Hardaway ends write-in campaign to keep TN House District 93 seat

State Rep. TJ Hardaway is no longer campaigning to keep his spot in the Tennessee General Assembly. Hardaway announced Sept. 14 that he would be ending his write-in campaign to represent Tennessee House District 93. The Shelby County Commission appointed him to the position after the death of his fa

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What is the story about?

State Rep. TJ Hardaway is no longer campaigning to keep his spot in the Tennessee General Assembly.

Hardaway announced Sept. 14 that he would be ending his write-in campaign to represent Tennessee House District 93. The Shelby County Commission appointed him to the position after the death of his father, G.A. Hardaway, who had represented the district, earlier this year.

No candidates officially qualified for the August primary election.

Willis Lincoln “TJ” Hardaway III, the son of State Rep. GA Hardaway, who died in April, has a tear roll down his cheek as he thanks the Shelby County Board of Commissioners for appointing him to fill his father’s seat in the Tennessee House in Memphis, Tenn., on May 6, 2026.

In June, Hardaway, a Democrat, announced his intention to run a write-in campaign in the November General Election to reclaim the seat. Hardaway will instead pursue law school, per his announcement.

He also publicized an endorsement

of Kyler Gilkey for the seat. Gilkey will also be running a write-in campaign.

Gilkey, also a Democrat, ran for Tennessee House District 84, but lost in the Democratic primary in August. Hardaway said he will service as an advisor and chief of staff to Gilkey in the next few months leading up to November's election.

Annie Goldman covers government for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at annie.goldman@commercialappeal.com or 901-930-7431, and followed on X @AnnieSGoldman.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: TJ Hardaway ends write-in campaign to keep TN House District 93 seat