Shanda Yates
{{Short description|American politician from the state of Mississippi}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Shanda Yates
| image =
| office = Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 64th district
| termstart = January 7, 2020
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|3|29}}
| birth_place = Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
| party = Independent (since 2022)
Democratic (until 2022)
| birth_name = Shanda M. Yates
| alma_mater = Hinds Community College (AA)
University of Southern Mississippi, (BA)
Mississippi College School of Law, (JD)
| occupation = Politician, attorney
| predecessor = Bill Denny
| children = 1
| residence = Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
}}
Shanda M. Yates (born March 29, 1982) is an American politician, representing the 64th district in the Mississippi House of Representatives since 2020. She is an Independent.
Early life and education
Yates was born on March 29, 1982, in Jackson, Mississippi.{{Cite web|title=Shanda Yates|url=http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/members/house/yates.xml|access-date=March 14, 2021|website=billstatus.ls.state.ms.us|publisher=Mississippi House of Representatives}} She graduated from Hinds Community College in 2001 with an associate degree and then enrolled at the University of Southern Mississippi, graduating with honors and a bachelor's degree in English.{{Cite web|title=Shanda M. Yates {{!}} Burns & Associates, PLLC {{!}} Jackson, Mississippi|url=https://www.burnsandassociateslaw.com/attorney/shanda-m-yates/|access-date=March 14, 2021|website=Burns & Associates, PLLC|language=en-US}} She received her Juris Doctor from the Mississippi College School of Law in 2007, where she also served as an editor for the Mississippi College Law Review.{{Cite web|title=About Shanda|url=https://www.yatesforhouse64.com/about|access-date=2021-03-14|website=yatesforhouse64.com|publisher=Committee to Elect Shanda Yates|language=en}} She was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 2007.{{Cite web|title=The Mississippi Bar :: Lawyer Directory|url=https://www.msbar.org/lawyer-directory.aspx?type=2&term=Yates|access-date=2021-03-14|website=www.msbar.org|publisher=The Mississippi Bar}}
Career
Yates practices as a partner with her husband as an attorney.
In February 2019, Mississippi Democratic House Minority Leader David Baria asked Yates if she wished to run against Bill Denny in the Mississippi House, a 32-year house incumbent of the 64th district and House Republican Floor Leader.{{Cite news|last=Pittman|first=Ashton|date=November 27, 2019|title=A New Dynamic: Shanda Yates' Surprise Victory|work=Jackson Free Press|url=https://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2019/nov/27/new-dynamic-shanda-yates-surprise-victory/|access-date=March 14, 2021}}{{Cite news|last=Pittman|first=Ashton|date=November 18, 2019|title=It's Official: Dem Shanda Yates Ousts 32-Year Republican in Mississippi House|work=Jackson Free Press|url=https://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2019/nov/18/its-official-dem-shanda-yates-ousts-32-year-republ/|access-date=March 14, 2021}} She decided to run after initial reluctance, and over the months that followed, Yates and her campaign knocked on around 10,000 doors. Her campaign received assistance from national organizations like California-based Sister District, an organization that targets GOP-held seats. She proceeded through the Democratic Primary unopposed and, in the general election, won against Denny by 168 votes, a 51%–49% margin.{{Cite web|title=Shanda Yates|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Shanda_Yates|access-date=March 14, 2021|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}} She assumed office on January 7, 2020.
As of 2021, she serves on the following committees: Compilation, Revision and Publication; Corrections; Insurance; Judiciary B; Judiciary En Banc; and Transportation. Since 2020, she has served as Deputy Chair for the Mississippi House Democratic caucus leadership.{{Cite news|last=Corder|first=Frank|date=January 28, 2020|title=MS House Democrats announce Caucus Leadership|work=Y'all Politics|url=https://yallpolitics.com/2020/01/28/ms-house-democrats-announce-caucus-leadership/|access-date=March 14, 2021}}
In January 2022, she left the Democratic Party and became an Independent.{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Anthony |date=January 14, 2022 |title=North Jackson lawmaker gives up party affiliation third year into her first term |url=https://www.wlbt.com/2022/01/14/north-jackson-lawmaker-gives-up-party-affiliation-third-year-into-her-first-term/ |access-date=January 14, 2022 |website=www.wlbt.com}}
Political positions
Yate's top priorities when running for election were increasing school funding and addressing infrastructure problems.
In 2020, Yates voted yes on the bill to change the Mississippi State Flag.{{Cite news|last1=Bologna|first1=Giacomo|last2=Ramseth|first2=Luke|date=June 28, 2020|title=How every Mississippi lawmaker voted on historic state flag bill|work=Clarion Ledger|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/28/mississippi-flag-how-lawmakers-voted-historic-state-flag-bill/3276475001/|access-date=March 14, 2021}}
Personal life
Yates is married to Yancy Burns, and they have one child.{{Cite news|date=July 23, 2019|title=Candidate Questionnaire: Shanda Yates (House District 64)|work=Jackson Free Press|url=https://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2019/jul/23/candidate-questionnaire-shanda-yates-house-distric/|access-date=March 14, 2021}} She and her husband are Methodist.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Mississippi House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yates, Shanda}}
Category:Members of the Mississippi House of Representatives
Category:Mississippi Democrats
Category:Mississippi independents
Category:Hinds Community College alumni
Category:University of Southern Mississippi alumni
Category:Mississippi College School of Law alumni
Category:Women state legislators in Mississippi
Category:Politicians from Jackson, Mississippi
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:21st-century members of the Mississippi Legislature