The 2026 Shelby County mayoral election will be held on August 6, 2026, to determine the mayor of Shelby County, Tennessee. The election will be held concurrently with primary elections for various state office primaries. Incumbent Democratic mayor Lee Harris, first elected in 2018, is term-limited and cannot seek a third term.[1][2]

Democratic primary

In February 2026, the Shelby County Democratic Party announced that the eligibility of several candidates, including former school superintendent Marie Feagins, had been referred to the Tennessee Democratic Party for a final determination on their bona fide status. Under state party bylaws, the TNDP has the authority to remove candidates from the primary ballot if they are found to be in violation of party membership requirements.[3]

Declared

  • Melvin Burgess, Shelby County property tax assessor[4]
  • Harold Collins, Shelby County chief administrative officer[4]
  • Marie Feagins, former school superintendent[5]
  • Heidi Kuhn, Shelby County Criminal Court clerk[6]
  • Mickell Lowery, Shelby County commissioner (District 8)[7]
  • Rusty Qualls[8]
  • JB Smiley Jr., Memphis City Council member and candidate for governor in 2022[9]

Withdrawn

  • JW Gibson, former Shelby County commissioner and candidate for mayor of Memphis in 2023[10]

Republican primary

Presumptive nominee

Disqualified

  • Joe Brown, former county criminal court judge and reality television host[12]

Independent candidates

Disqualified

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Informed Voter – Shelby County Mayor". Memphis Public Libraries. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  2. ↑ Muckerman, Brooke. "Here is who is running for Shelby County mayor in 2026 | The Week in Politics". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  3. ↑ Huff, Gabriel (February 20, 2026). "Marie Feagins may not meet requirements to run for Shelby County mayor". localmemphis.com. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  4. 1 2 Coleman, James (March 27, 2025). "Commissioner Mickell Lowery joins race for Shelby County mayor". TSDMemphis.com. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  5. ↑ Montgomery, Garner (December 20, 2025). "Shelby County election season kicks off Monday as mayoral candidates pick up petitions".
  6. ↑ "Criminal Court Clerk Heidi Kuhn announces run for Shelby County mayor". localmemphis.com. June 11, 2025. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  7. ↑ Coleman, James (March 27, 2025). "Commissioner Mickell Lowery joins race for Shelby County mayor". TSDMemphis.com. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  8. ↑ Montgomery, Garner (December 20, 2025). "Shelby County election season kicks off Monday as mayoral candidates pick up petitions".
  9. ↑ "They're Off!". MemphisFlyer. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  10. ↑ Montgomery, Garner (December 20, 2025). "Shelby County election season kicks off Monday as mayoral candidates pick up petitions".
  11. ↑ Hall, Jeremiah (February 17, 2026). "Meet the candidates: John DeBerry Jr., the former Democrat running as a Republican". localmemphis.com. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  12. ↑ Nguyen, Vivian (February 26, 2026). "Judge Joe Brown dropped from GOP ballot for Shelby County mayor". WREG. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
  13. ↑ https://electionsshelbytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Final-Candidate-List-May-5-2026-Election.pdf [bare URL PDF]
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Shelby_County,_Tennessee_mayoral_election