| Kenyatte Derone Hassell is an American politician who has served as a Democratic member of the Alabama House of Representatives since September 8, 2021, representing District 78, which covers parts of Montgomery, Alabama. He was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and is a lifelong resident of the 78th House District. Hassell is married and has four children.
Before entering politics, Hassell built his career in community service and business. He worked for 16 years with YoungLife, a nationwide faith-based organization, where he currently serves as Montgomery's Urban Director. In this role, he engages with youth and their families to build authentic relationships and help them grow in their faith. Additionally, Hassell manages Heritage Barbershop, which allows him to directly interact with community members and learn about their hopes, needs, and concerns.
Hassell's political involvement began through campaign work, where he served as campaign manager for Kirk Hatcher's successful run for House District 78 and later as a strategist for Hatcher's Senate District 26 campaign. He has also consulted for many other successful local campaigns and served as coordinator for the Montgomery County Democratic Conference, a position he held when the organization elected new leadership in 2017. He is also a member of the Alabama State Democratic Executive Committee.
The opportunity to run for the Alabama House of Representatives came when Kirk Hatcher was elected to the Alabama Senate in March 2021, creating a vacancy in District 78. Hassell entered the special Democratic primary, competing against three other candidates- Terance "Watchdog" Dawson, Roderick Thornton, and Donald Williams. In the May 25, 2021 primary, Hassell received 48.1% of the vote (554 votes), leading the field but falling short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff. In the June 22, 2021 runoff, he defeated Donald Williams with 64.8% of the vote (678 votes).
In the September 7, 2021 special general election, Hassell defeated Republican candidate Loretta Grant decisively, receiving 80.2% of the vote (1,031 votes) to Grant's 19.8% (254 votes). He officially assumed office on September 8, 2021. In the 2022 general election, Hassell ran for reelection unopposed in the Democratic primary and won the general election with 97.8% of the vote (6,991 votes), with only write-in candidates providing opposition.
As a state representative, Hassell serves on several committees, including the Constitution, Campaigns and Elections Committee, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, Ports, Waterways and Intermodal Transit Committee, and Montgomery County Legislation Committee. His legislative work has included sponsoring various bills, such as House Bill 360 in April 2023, which aimed to remove Robert E. Lee's birthday as a state holiday, though the bill died in committee. He has also been involved in military-related legislation, serving as the House sponsor for SB210, which was part of a pro-military legislative package enacted in 2024.
In 2025, Hassell co-founded and co-leads the Black Belt Caucus in the Alabama House of Representatives alongside Representative Brett Easterbrook, aimed at addressing economic and social challenges in Alabama's Black Belt region. Hassell stated that "For too long, the Black Belt has been underserved and underrepresented in allocating state resources. This Caucus will serve as a unified voice, ensuring that the people of the Black Belt receive the investments and opportunities they deserve".
During legislative debates, Hassell has taken positions on various issues, including expressing concern about a 2025 bill that would expand the death penalty to include child sexual assault cases, calling the legislation "extreme". He has also been rated 92% by NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) for his positions on marijuana-related legislation. His current term is set to end on November 4, 2026. |