Gabby Salinas is a Democratic representative for District 96 in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Born in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, she moved to Memphis, Tennessee, at age seven with her family after being diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, receiving treatment at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. She made history as the first Latina Democrat and first openly LGBTQ+ woman elected to the Tennessee House. Notable achievements include her advocacy as a cancer survivor, scientist, and healthcare advocate for accessible care, better education, economic opportunity, and justice; she serves on the Judiciary Committee and State & Local Government Committee.

Education and Political Experience

Salinas graduated from Christian Brothers University in 2011. Prior to her successful 2024 campaign for House District 96—where she won the Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the general—she ran unsuccessfully for office twice: in the 2018 Tennessee Senate District 31 election and the 2020 District 97 House election .