Politics in the 901 have always been a little... loud. But honestly, if you've been looking at the Shelby County election results lately, things are getting weirder than usual. We aren't just talking about who won a seat; we’re talking about a massive "mega-election" that has basically set the entire local government on fire.
If you're just here for the quick numbers from the last big dance, the November 2024 general election saw a 55% voter turnout in Shelby County. That’s 329,855 ballots cast out of over 600,000 registered voters. Kamala Harris took the county with 61.48% of the vote, while Donald Trump pulled 36.24%. It was a classic blue-dot-in-a-red-state scenario. But that’s the rearview mirror. What’s happening right now in early 2026 is where the real drama lives.
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The 2026 Primary: A "Change" Election or Just Chaos?
Right now, as we move through January 2026, everyone is eyeing the May 5, 2026, County Primary. It’s not just another Tuesday at the polls. This is a massive realignment.
Because of some heavy-handed moves by the Shelby County Commission, the electoral calendar was essentially blown up. They decided to realign the Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) board elections with the Commission's own cycle. The result? Every single one of the nine school board seats is up for grabs at once.
The School Board "Legislative Punishment"
Let’s be real: this didn't happen in a vacuum. Most local experts, like those reporting for Chalkbeat Tennessee, point straight back to the firing of former Superintendent Marie Feagins last year. The board fired her after only seven months, and the backlash was immediate.
The County Commission responded by halving the terms of five board members. Natalie McKinney, Sable Otey, Towanna Murphy, Michelle McKissick, and Tamarques Porter are all seeing their four-year terms cut short. They’ve called it "legislative punishment masquerading as reform." Whether you think the board deserved a shakeup or the Commission overstepped, the fact is that the Shelby County election results this August will determine the fate of the entire school district.
Who is Running for Shelby County Mayor?
Lee Harris is out. He’s term-limited, leaving a massive vacuum at the top. The Democratic primary for Mayor is already looking like a crowded elevator.
You’ve got:
- Heidi Kuhn: Currently the Criminal Court Clerk.
- Melvin Burgess: The Property Tax Assessor.
- Harold Collins: The county's Chief Administrative Officer.
- Mickell Lowery: Current County Commissioner.
- JB Smiley Jr.: A vocal member of the Memphis City Council.
- Marie Feagins: Yes, the former Superintendent is trying to turn her ouster into a political comeback.
It's a "who's who" of local government. Honestly, with this many heavy hitters, the winner might move forward with a tiny plurality of the vote. In a deep blue county like Shelby, the May primary is essentially the finish line for the Mayorship.
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The Race to Replace Wanda Halbert
If you've lived in Memphis for five minutes, you've heard about the Clerk's office. Long lines, "closed for training" signs, and a whole lot of frustration. With Wanda Halbert finally term-limited, the Shelby County Clerk race has drawn ten—yes, ten—Democratic contenders.
When people search for Shelby County election results, they’re often looking for hope that the license plate backlog will finally vanish. Candidates like County Commissioner Britney Thornton and Deputy CAO La Sonya Hall are banking on the idea that voters are tired of the "business as usual" dysfunction.
Why 2024 Still Matters for Context
You can't understand where we’re going without looking at the 2024 baseline. The Shelby County Election Commission certified those results back in November 2024, and they showed some fascinating divides.
In the U.S. Senate race, Gloria Johnson (D) dominated the county with nearly 60% of the vote, though she lost statewide to Marsha Blackburn. In the House, Steve Cohen cruised in District 9 with 73.89%. But look at District 8—David Kustoff (R) carried his portion of the county with 66.81%.
Shelby County isn't a monolith. The suburbs (Collierville, Germantown, Arlington) still lean heavily Republican, while the city core is a Democratic stronghold. This geographic tug-of-war is exactly why the 2026 Mayor's race is so tense. The suburbs are worried about "Memphis-style" politics taking over the whole county, while the city feels the county budget doesn't do enough for urban neighborhoods.
What You Need to Do Next
If you want to have a say in how this shakes out, you can't just wait for the results to pop up on your phone in August.
- Check your registration now: The deadline to register for the May primary is April 6, 2026. You can do this online at the Tennessee Secretary of State's website.
- The Qualifying Deadline: If you’re thinking of running (or just want to see the final list of who is), the deadline for candidates to file their petitions is February 19, 2026.
- Know your new district: Because of the school board realignment and recent redistricting, your polling place or your representatives might have changed. Don’t just go to your "usual" spot.
- Early Voting: Historically, about 70-80% of Shelby County voters cast their ballots during the early voting period. For the May primary, this usually starts in mid-April.
The Shelby County election results aren't just numbers on a screen—they are the direct result of whether or not people actually show up to the ballot box in the middle of a random Tuesday in May. Given the current state of the school board and the Clerk's office, staying home isn't really an option this time around.
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Go to the Shelby County Election Commission website to download your specific sample ballot. It’s the only way to see exactly which of those 25+ positions you’ll be voting on before you step into the booth.