About
On November 4, 2014, Nashville voters first elected John Ray to represent them as their State Representative for District 55 in the Tennessee General Assembly and re-elected him in 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024.
John Ray is a Rule 31 Listed General Civil Mediator and an experienced civil litigator. He and his lifelong friend Michael Clemons co-founded and operate their law practice, Clemmons & Clemons, PLLC. As a litigator, John Ray has represented clients on a wide range of legal issues in federal and state courts, from civil rights to contracts. As a mediator, John Ray has the opportunity to do what he enjoys most – working with multiple parties to find common ground, solve problems, and resolve difficult issues.
John Ray is serving his sixth term as the State Representative for District 55 in the Tennessee General Assembly.
He and Tamara are the proud parents of John, Finn, Henry, their dog, Walter, and their two guinea pigs, Frankie and Martha. John Ray practices law with the Nashville firm Clemmons & Clemons, PLLC, a boutique civil litigation firm that he co-founded with a lifelong friend in 2013. In his free time, he coaches Little League, exercises, reads, and spends as much time with Tamara and their boys as possible.
John Ray is a Fellow with the Nashville Bar Foundation, a former Barrister with the American Inns of Court, and a member of the Nashville and Tennessee Bar Associations. He has enjoyed providing pro bono legal services to local artists and entrepreneurs through the Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts, a program of the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville.
On November 4, 2014, Nashville voters first elected John Ray to represent them as their State Representative for District 55 in the Tennessee General Assembly and re-elected him in 2016, 2018 and 2020.
Prior to elected office, John Ray served our community in multiple capacities. As chairman of the board for Nashville RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner-Cities), he enjoyed the opportunity to combine two of his passions – baseball and public service. As the former president of Belmont-Hillsboro Neighbors, Inc., John Ray remains an active ex officio member of its steering committee, and he sits on the board of directors for Friends of Sevier Park, Inc., a non-profit he co-founded with other neighborhood leaders. He also served on the Metro Board of Fair Commissioners, as an appointee of Mayor Karl Dean, and the Tennessee Civil Service Commission, as an appointee of Gov. Phil Bredesen. Additionally, John Ray continues to represent his alma mater as an active member of the Columbia Alumni Association of Nashville and Columbia’s Alumni Representative Committee.
A Journey of Service
2014 – 2024
Elected to serve District 55 as State Representative in the Tennessee House of Representatives (109th-114th Tennessee General Assembly)
Nov. 2022
Elected Chairman of the Tennessee House Democratic Caucus
2012 – 2014
Member, Metropolitan Board of Fair Commissioners
2011 – 2014
Chairman, Nashville RBI
Aug. 2014
Elected as the Democratic candidate for District 55 in the Tennessee House of Representatives
2012 – 2013
President, Belmont-Hillsboro Neighbors, Inc.
Aug. 2013
Co-founded Clemmons & Clemons, PLLC
April 2013
Founding Member, Friends of Sevier Park, Inc.
2009-2012
Member, Tennessee Civil Service Commission
2008
Consumer Member, Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers
2007
Admitted to Tennessee Bar
Dec. 2006
Juris Doctorate, University of Memphis School of Law
Aug. 6, 2006
Married Tamara Baxt
2003 – 2004
Political Director, Tennessee Democratic Party
1999-2001
Legislative Aide, U.S. Congress
May 1999
Bachelor of Arts, History, Columbia College, Columbia University (NYC)
May 1995
Honors Diploma, Lebanon High School (TN)
Awards & Honors
2015-2019
Barrister, Harry Phillips American Inn of Court
Oct. 2018
Cecil D. Branstetter Award by Davidson County Democratic Party
2014-2017
“Rising Star” in Business Litigation by Super Lawyers – MidSouth
Sept. 2017
Public Policy Advocacy Award by NAMI Tennessee
August 2017
Legislative Leadership Award by Tennessee AFL-CIO
April 2017
Appreciation Award by Tennessee Assoc. of Marriage & Family Therapists
March 2017
Named a Fellow by Nashville Bar Foundation
Jan. 2016
Ally Award by Nashville Pride
Community Involvement
2019 - Present
McCabe Park Little League: Volunteer Coach
2022 - Present
Tennessee Association of Professional Mediators: Member
2022 - Present
Silent No Longer Tennessee: Board of Directors
2014 - Present
Belmont-Hillsboro Neighbors, Inc. - Ex Officio Member
2012 - 2013: President
2009 - 2013: Steering Committee Member
2013 - Present
Friends of Sevier Park, Inc.: Member of Board of Directors
2009 - Present
Columbia Alumni Association of Nashville: Member
2013 - 2014: Co-President
2015 - 2025
Waverly-Belmont Elementary School PTO: Member
2007 - Present
Nashville Bar Association
2007 - Present
Tennessee Bar Association
2022 - 2023
CORE Hoops: Volunteer Coach
2000 - 2023
Columbia University Alumni Representative Committee: Member
2000 - 2023
Columbia University Alumni Representative Committee: Member
2009 - 2022
Volunteer Lawyers and Professionals for the Arts, Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville: Pro Bono Attorney
2018 - 2022
Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Nashville: Advisory Board Member
2015 - 2019
Harry Phillips American Inn of Court: Barrister
2015 - 2017
Nashville MTA nMotion 2015 Transit Master Plan: Member of Oversight Committee
2014 - 2015
Boys & Girls Club of Middle Tennessee’s Nashville Reviving Baseball in Inner-Cities (RBI) Program: Chairman of RBI Advisory Board
2012 - 2014
Metropolitan Board of Fair Commissioners: Commissioner
2009 - 2014
Nashville RBI, Inc.: Member
2011 - 2014: Chairman of Board of Directors
2009 - 2012
Tennessee Civil Service Commission: Commissioner
2008
Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers: Consumer Member
A Progressive, Unifying Voice
John Ray is committed to having honest, open conversations about issues that impact you and your family. Connecting with people will always be a priority. He regularly attends community events and neighborhood association meetings, hosts informational public meetings, and emails newsletters to keep constituents informed about his policy agenda, provide legislative updates, and share other pertinent information.
