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County primary early voter turnout so far cracks 10K

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:59:21 -0500

Early voter turnout through the first four days of the period that ends April 30 is higher than it was at the same point in 2018.

A guide to the 13 races for Shelby County Commission

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 04:00:06 -0500

Here is everything you need to know about the 13 Shelby County Commission races on the May 5 ballot.

Meet the 2 Democrats running for Memphis’ school board election in District 8

bhatch@chalkbeat.org (Bri Hatch) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:30:44 -0500

A former Memphis teacher and longtime local lawyer are vying for the District 8 school board seat in the May 5 Democratic primary. The winner will face a third candidate, a school librarian running as an independent, in August’s general election.

Voter guide: Here are the Democratic Memphis school board candidates running in District 6

bhatch@chalkbeat.org (Bri Hatch) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:31:27 -0500

Five candidates are vying for the District 6 school board seat in the May 5 Democratic primary. The winner will face a sixth candidate, a longtime local pastor running as an independent, in August’s general election.

Meet the 5 people running for the Memphis school board election in District 9

bhatch@chalkbeat.org (Bri Hatch) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:32:00 -0500

The candidates vying for Memphis’ District 9 board seat range from a former board chair to the lone pro-state takeover candidate. The May 5 Democratic primary will determine who wins the spot.

Memphis school board election 2026: Who are the candidates in District 1?

bhatch@chalkbeat.org (Bri Hatch) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:32:33 -0500

Two Memphis educators and one longtime board member are vying for the District 1 school board seat this spring. The May 5 Democratic primary will determine who wins the spot.

Partisan MSCS board races begin as state considers takeover. Here's who is running for office.

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:15:42 -0500

As voters cast early ballots in the primary, Tennessee lawmakers are expected to take final votes on takeover legislation that would strip elected school board members of their powers by granting major decision-making authority to nine Shelby County state appointees.

Bailey: Germantown's debate on full-time mayor heats up

cbailey@dailymemphian.com (Clay Bailey) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:32:17 -0500

With early voting starting this week, the lobbying for Germantown voters to decide if they want to go the full-time mayor’s route has increased.

Fundraising picture for May county primary election remains unclear

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:22:48 -0500

The lack of financial forms makes it difficult to see how key candidates have fared with donors in the past three months.

Meet the candidates for Shelby County sheriff

afleming@dailymemphian.com (Aarron Fleming) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:27:12 -0500

The Daily Memphian interviewed the five Democratic and two Republican primary candidates for sheriff, asking them about 201 Poplar, recruiting and retention, the Memphis Safe Task Force, and more.

More than 3,400 show up for first day of early voting

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:30:01 -0500

Most of the opening day voters were Democrats, whose ballot boasts a race with the largest field of candidates.

Democratic primary race for county clerk is biggest field on May 5 ballot

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:00:08 -0500

Here is your guide to who is running in the May Democratic primary to succeed Wanda Halbert as County Clerk.

All 11 candidates in the Democratic primary for County Clerk

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:00:08 -0500

Here are brief bios of the 11 candidates in the May 5 Democratic primary for County Clerk. The winner meets Republican nominee Tina Montgomery in the August county general election.

The Democratic primary race for Shelby County mayor

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:10:45 -0500

Here’s an overview of the Democratic primary race for county mayor, the seven candidates and their interaction with each other as well as the shadow of the outgoing mayor on the race.

Ready. Set. Vote.

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:31:31 -0500

Early voting ahead of the May 5 election day in Shelby County begins Wednesday, April 15, at 26 locations across the county. Here’s everything you need to know about the start of the first election of 2026.

Harris backs Collins, a win for citizen journalism and Lowery weighs in on LeBron

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:23:29 -0500

In this week’s political roundup: Harris backs Collins, Memphis loses a public records case, Lowery weighs in on LeBron, and Green talks medical debt and executive orders.

Democrats and Republicans strategize ahead of May county primaries

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:24:33 -0500

Leaders of the local Republican and Democratic parties talked about the May Shelby County primary elections on “Behind The Headlines.”

St. Jude researcher wants to add new perspective to Collierville school board

awarren@dailymemphian.com (Abigail Warren) — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 04:00:06 -0500

“When you look at the board and how it’s made up,” said Jason Morrison, “I thought it would be nice to have some new blood in there and some differing perspectives.”

Contender joins race in Republican primary for Collierville Schools board seat

awarren@dailymemphian.com (Abigail Warren) — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:39:29 -0500

Another enters the battle in the Republican primary for Wanda Chism’s seat on the Collierville Schools board.

Democratic contenders for sheriff call for big changes

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:31:28 -0500

The candidate forum included discussion of a new jail and calls for more transparency in how the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office runs the jail and fights crime.