Senator Donnie Chesteen

James Donald Chesteen Jr., known as Donnie Chesteen, was born on August 27, 1953, in Hartford, Alabama. He is a Republican member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 29th District, which includes the counties of Dale, Geneva, and Houston. A Baptist, Chesteen comes from a family with a strong tradition of education and athletics—his father, James Donald "J.D." Chesteen, was a high school football coach and educator who was inducted into the Alabama High School Athletic Association Sports Hall of Fame.

Education and Professional Background

Chesteen is a graduate of Troy University. Throughout his career, he has worked as a high school football coach and athletic director, serving as head football coach and athletic director at Geneva High School. He is also a retired pharmaceutical sales representative for Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Political Experience

Chesteen was first elected to the Alabama House of Representatives on November 3, 2010, representing the 87th district, where he served until November 7, 2018. He was subsequently elected to the Alabama Senate on November 6, 2018, and has represented the 29th District since that date.

In the Senate, Chesteen serves as Chair of the Education Policy Committee and Vice Chair of the Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Safety Committee. He also serves on committees focused on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; Finance and Taxation Education; Healthcare; and Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development.

Beyond his legislative duties, Chesteen is involved in various community and agricultural organizations, including the Choctawhatchee, Pea and Yellow Rivers Watershed Management Authority, Alabama Farmers Federation, and Alabama Cattlemen's Association. He previously served on the Geneva City Board of Education, where he served as chairman in 2005.